Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id KAA06315 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 30 Mar 2001 10:25:13 +0100 To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: taboo X-Remote_Addr: 195.195.65.222 Message-Id: <E14iv67-000Ire-00@gaea> From: Douglas Brooker <dbrooker@clara.co.uk> Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2001 10:21:35 +0100 Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> Hi Douglas Brooker -
>
> >what is the memetic take on taboo?
>
> Probably not too divergent from the dictionary's....
>
> 1. A ban or an inhibition resulting from social custom or emotional
> aversion.
>
> With the possible exception of incest, I'm not too sure there are
many
> 'natural' taboos,
how might incest be a natural taboo? first you have to define the
scope of the term, both in terms of consanguinity and in terms of acts
performed. first cousins? step-siblings/parents? is it a question of
law or nature?
>
> I'm only confused by your -
>
> >just another meme, but with different methods of transmission?
>
> - since, hmmm, you've found another method of transmission?
>
> What is it...?
The question was just a question, and a vague one at that because not
knowing the answer to what I'm asking, it's a bit difficult to pose the
question as if I knew.
The area of transmission that I'm interested in hearing comments about
is unconscious transmission within a group or society of habits which
group members are not be aware of but which would be apparent to a
knowledgable, but 'external' oberver.
perhaps slightly related, what is the difference in memetic language,
between a characteristic of a person or group, and information which
they may have stored in their minds or body? is the distinction just a
consequence of more or less arbitrary meme-systems relating to criteria
for classification? what's the hierarchy of classification here?
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