Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id LAA28981 (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 11:12:10 GMT Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3101745C02@inchna.stir.ac.uk> From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: this list Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 11:11:02 -0000 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
<I suppose a biological analogy, involving intelligence would be the
smart
> little annoying furry mammals out evolving the big ponderous lizards.
> While
> it's great to be moving ahead with the big picture and competing well
> amongst peers, disruptive change turns the tables towards those better
> equipped for a highly variable environment. Our ancestors didn't respect
> the role as dominant species played by Lizards, or later, by big nasty
> cats. Cut 'em down I say.>
>
Well, it would be if that's what happened.
<Insults, like respect is just more learned behaviour. The
biological basis
> of learned behaviour and its transmission is debated here on this list,
> sometimes in excruiting yet open ended detail. Attaching value to it's use
> or non-use I think would have to be subjective. My opinion is that it can
> have value in debate, particularly if you want to win the debate by use a
> strategic tool.>
>
Well personal abuse is about social hierarchy. If you are good at
putting others down (in a Machiavellian universe at least) you can climb up
the hierarchy, but usually at the risk that if someone comes along and
shoots you down, all those you've abused will start kicking when you hit the
ground!
Although recently the tone has got quite personal here (yes, a big
part of it my fault), most of the abuse thrown here, mild as Robin
suggested, is at people's ideas and claims. I personally think that's of
quite a different order, unless someone is the kind of person to conflate
attacks on their ideas (and beliefs) and attacks on their personality
(although sometimes of course there is an evident link, but it depends what
the subject is).
Vincent
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