Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id GAA23946 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Thu, 1 Feb 2001 06:19:49 GMT X-Originating-IP: [209.240.221.54] From: "Scott Chase" <ecphoric@hotmail.com> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: magnetic memetics Date: Thu, 01 Feb 2001 01:16:57 -0500 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Message-ID: <F61J0y0gheMjp1TpAJc000050c4@hotmail.com> X-OriginalArrivalTime: 01 Feb 2001 06:16:57.0528 (UTC) FILETIME=[9484E380:01C08C16] Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>From: <LJayson@aol.com>
>Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>CC: mcomm@total.net
>Subject: magnetic memetics
>Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2001 06:26:57 EST
>
>Subj: Re: magnetic memetics
>Date: 1/27/2001 12:13:32 AM Pacific Standard Time
>From: ecphoric@hotmail.com (Scott Chase)
>Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk
>Reply-to: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>
> >From: <LJayson@aol.com>
> >Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> >To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> >Subject: magnetic memetics
> >Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2001 02:27:01 EST
> >
> >Hi everyone,
> >
> >I thought this was an interesting quote because of its
> >memetic implications.
> >
> >"We always attract into our lives whatever we think about most,
> >believe in most strongly, expect on the deepest level, and
> >imagine most vividly."
> >
> > - Shakti Gawain
>
>
>Along with my responses, Scott answered my
>(Len Jayson) e-mail as follows.
>:
>Scott:
> >From the thread title, I was kinda expecting something
>mesmerizing.
>
>Len:
>Sorry that you found my post to be neither enthralling nor
>spellbinding; it wasn't meant to be.
>
>Scott:
> >From an
>history of ideas perspective, Franz Anton Mesmer seems like a
>fascinating figure. Ellenberger highlights where Mesmer fits into
>the scheme of dynamic psychiatry's history (hmmm, "scheme"
>might be an aptly chosen word here) in his book _The Discovery
>of the Unconscious_.
>
>Len:
>I have no clue as to what your references to Mesmer, Ellenberg or
>the "unconscious" have to do with my e-mail message.
>
>Scott:
>I'm no fan of synchronicity,
>but when I scanned the "for sale" rack at my local video rental
>place recently, there was an affordable copy of _Mesmer_ starring
>Alan Rickman. This was coincidental to my reading Ellenberger's
>book. I don't know how historically accurate this film is, but it has
>helped me gain a little perspective on Ellenberger's treatment of
>Mesmer. The film centers on the case of the blind pianist.
>
>Len:
>I'm pleased that you found an affordable copy of Mesmer. I
>similarly lucked out in recently finding cans of DelMonte
>Spaghetti Sauce on sale.
>
>Scott:
>The sway of imagination and suggestion and the rapport between
>people may be more important than "animal magnetism". It's
>amazing how people can get caught in a fervor.
>
>Len:
>I was remiss in not elucidating what I meant by "magnetic
>memetics." For that I apologize; it had absolutely zero
>reference to "animal magnetism."
>
>Please let me explain the thrust of my post. In my study of
>memetics, I have noticed an empahsis on individuals absorbing
>memes from their culture, consequently becoming socialized
>and sharing neuro-typical ideas with others. To counteract what
>I believe to be an over-emphasis of outside meme forces
>filling-up empty craniums, I believe that we should give greater
>credence to the natural propensity of each individual to pick and
>choose from the culture "buffet" of memes that which best suits
>him---based on his genetics, physical brain characteristics, and
>environment. Within any cultural subset, individual differences
>are vast.
>
>My use of the word *magnetic* referred to Gawain's quote: -- "We
>always *attract* into our lives whatever we think about most, believe
>in most strongly, expect on the deepest level, and imagine most vividly."
>
>Most of us would agree that any additional memes accepted into our
>brains are largely dependent on the memeplexes already in place.
>Therein lies a powerful concept, pointing out that each human brain is
>continually shaped and developed by new memes, that are either
>accepted or rejected, largely determined by the billions of memes
>that have already "taken up housekeeping" in his skull.
>
>I hope this clears up the mystery of what I meant by "magnetic
>memetics," nothing more serious than a metaphorical use of the
>word---magnetic.
>
>I meant no profound lesson to be learned, this stuff is mostly old
>hat to list members. I just felt that the Shakti Gawain quote neatly
>expresses an important memetic truth.
>
>
Mesmer's was a "meme" based on magnetism, so I didn't think co-opting your
thread title was much of a stretch. Mesmerism, kooky as it may have been,
fits subtlely somewhere into my individual "memeplex" (a portion of which is
devoted to the history of psychoanalytical thought).
I'm tempted to draw parallels with memetics, considering the tendency to
posit hypothetical entities into which human behavior can be shoehorned in a
Procrustean manner and also the old cult of personality tangent (D@D-not the
role playing game either), but I'll save that for a rainy day.
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