Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id EAA28006 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Thu, 25 Jan 2001 04:49:28 GMT From: "ddiamond@ozemail.com.au" <ddiamond@ozemail.com.au> To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> X-IPAddress: 192.18.17.3 X-SessionId: ps0dumvs.rmy Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 04:47:20 "GMT" X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-mailer: AspMail 2.62 (SMTP85107B) Subject: Re: this list & gene/meme Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Message-Id: <20010125044709.UDCV26092.mta02.mail.mel.aone.net.au@mymail> X-RBL-Warning: (orbs.dorkslayers.com) 203.2.192.82 is listed by dorkslayers.com Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
I think these 'discussions' between myself and, in particular, Joe, Aaron, and Vincent, show a fundamental distinction at work namely that of SAMENESS vs DIFFERENCE.
SAMENESS thinking is like-mindedness thinking where a shared context (i.e. same language, education level, social elements, ontologies etc) acts as a source of security. This context will force the emergence of paranoia etc when you introduce DIFFERENCE into to it.
Vincent has commented on my criticism of all disciplines as manifesting a degree of 'madness' and his comments reflect the reaction to DIFFERENCE.
My approach does not criticise disciplines other than the assertion that they express 'facts' when they are more localised metaphors used to describe object (WHAT)/relationships(WHERE) patterns. In that context their 'truths' are always qualified. (When taken literally this is not the case, the 'truths' are expressed as if 'real'.)
In the context of genetics/memetics, there is a general feeling applied to this dichotomy where the 'gene' is more 'solid', more 'object', something tangable, whereas 'meme' is more 'relationships' in that it is intangable, composed of 'wind' such that memes can share the same space, unlike genes (to some degree; code sharing is possible)
Thus a meme can consist of other memes in that the intangable characteristics allow for many memes to share the same space. This characteristic is a property of relational space where, for example, complex emotional expressions (memes?) can be made-up of blending more basic emotional expressions; you get into the concept of superpositions and wave forms.
I have emphasised before re memes, to get through ANY wall, real or imagined, you need to use waves and it is memes that do this in that they get through our object oriented filtering systems (emphasis on the PARTICULAR, EXPLICIT). Thus a meme is expressed as that irritating 'jingle' in your head that has soaked-in over a few days of exposure.
Now think of this in the form of 'murky' arguement. A GENERAL but murky arguement can work the same way as a 'jingle' in that pockets of LOCAL data seep into the perceiver's mind over time -- like the emergence of a wave pattern from firing electrons at two slits in a wall. The emerging wave pattern reflects a hidden element where all of the 'independent' electrons suddenely seem 'linked together'.
This process reflects insight, intuition etc and is a characteristic of object/relationship thinking to a degree where you can structure arguements in this way. What happens is that the frustration caused acts to intensify the association making, the drive to identify clearly "what could that be?". Eventually this can lead to the 'Ah-HA!' experience, an experience long remembered than learning from spoon-feeding.
best,
Chris.
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