Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id KAA22620 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Sun, 15 Jul 2001 10:08:50 +0100 Message-ID: <000f01c10d13$3d259f20$8ba2bed4@default> From: "Kenneth Van Oost" <Kenneth.Van.Oost@village.uunet.be> To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> References: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3101745F6F@inchna.stir.ac.uk><995033871.3b4f030fe500c@www-th.phys.rug.nl><fc.005b8ff100dcf25a3b9aca00a0ef591b.dcf74f@amazon.shu.ac.uk><001701c10bd2$d09be580$94a2bed4@default> <fc.005b8ff100dd0cb63b9aca00a0ef591b.dd0d20@amazon.shu.ac.uk> Subject: Re: driving soap and tennis razors Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2001 11:47:25 +0200 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2314.1300 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2314.1300 X-RBL-Warning: (orbs.dorkslayers.com) 194.7.1.5 is listed by dorkslayers.com Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
----- Original Message -----
From: Andrew S. LORD(SED) <A.S.Lord@shu.ac.uk>
To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2001 3:42 PM
Subject: driving soap and tennis razors
>obviously a particular kind of soap cant directly improve your driving
(unless it was impregnated
> with some neurotransmitter enhancing substance or something) that would be
irrational.
> then again, in my experience, there seems to be only a minor overlap
between rationality and human
> activity.
> many of the limitations to human capability are results of self-imposed or
mediated (memetic)
> belief systems imposed by our culture.
> some of these are so deeply imprinted that we never conciously challenge
them - it is a daft idea
> to think of a special tennis razor in logical terms.
>
> the point is that logic has nothing to do cuturally imposed limitations or
overcoming them.
> it is possible that though imitating role models (adoping as many
behavioural patterns as possible)
> that actual limitations can be summounted and skills acquired
i often wonder (and worry) about peoples state of mind. mainly my own ;)
<< The point is, that people would act in a better way, belief that their
tennis and driving skills were improved by using a kind of razor
or soap !? I agree of course !!
It would mean that using a special kind of razor, people would actually
believe and in fact proove that they would overcome their personal
limitations and would upgrade their skills !? I agree of course !!
But there is a great gap between believing and actually doing the stuff.
Believing that you were a better driver by using a special soap is IMO
a very dangerous behavioural aspect.
And in fact, after noticing that your tennis is not improved by using
the razor could lead up to very serious psychological disavantages, not
to mention the damage if you wreck your car.
The whole point seems to me a dangerous one, not in the least that most
people are so well " weak " to resist such ads,...
Best regards,
Kenneth
( I am, because we are) strong
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