RE: Virus or meme?

From: Vincent Campbell (v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk)
Date: Fri Aug 18 2000 - 12:30:25 BST

  • Next message: Austin Docking: "Re: Virus or meme?"

    Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id MAA05865 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 18 Aug 2000 12:32:54 +0100
    Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D31017459AC@inchna.stir.ac.uk>
    From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk>
    To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
    Subject: RE: Virus or meme?
    Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2000 12:30:25 +0100
    X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21)
    Content-Type: text/plain
    Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk
    Precedence: bulk
    Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
    

    Austin, this is very interesting, since this is the third version of this
    that I have seen.

    The first version I saw (sent to the memetics list in June actually) only
    said:-

    'This virus works on the honor system.
    Please delete all the files on your hard disk, then
    forward this message to everyone you know.
    Thank you for your cooperation.'

    Then a friend who works in computing I'd passed this on to, came across this
    version:-

    'IRISH VIRUS:
    Hello there, I'm a virus from County Kerry.
    Please forward this email to the contacts
    in your personal address book.
    Then delete all the files on your hard disk.
    That's grand, thanks very much.'

            And now I see your version.

    > "You have just received the Interactive Lunacy Virus.
    > Since we don't know a damned thing about programming,
    > this virus works on the honor system.
    > Please delete all the files from your hard drive and manually
    > forward this virus to everyone on your mailing list.
    > Thanks for your cooperation and support."
    >
    >
            I'm ashamed to say I don't get it, but my computer industry friends
    creased up on hearing it. Anyway, it will be interesting to see how many
    more varients crop up. Jokes in general, I suppose, are very good examples
    of memes.

            Vincent

    > ----------
    > From: Austin Docking
    > Reply To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
    > Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2000 11:04 am
    > To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
    > Subject: Re: Virus or meme?
    >
    >
    > I have just recieved the enclosed 'email virus'
    >
    > While it did bring a smile to my face, it is, imho, a classic example for
    > memetics!
    >
    > --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    > --
    > -------------------------------------------
    >
    > The Virus.
    >
    >
    >
    > ---
    > Austin Docking
    > www.docking.org.uk
    >
    > "Talent is the ability to say things well, but genius is the ability to,
    > well, say things."
    > Steve Martin.
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > ===============================================================
    > This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
    > Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
    > For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
    > see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
    >

    ===============================================================
    This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
    Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
    For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
    see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Aug 18 2000 - 12:34:15 BST