Re: Do all memes die out or evolve? I think not.

From: Wade T. Smith (wade_smith@harvard.edu)
Date: Fri Jan 18 2002 - 19:05:34 GMT

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Subject: Re: Do all memes die out or evolve?  I think not.
Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2002 14:05:34 -0500
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From: "Wade T. Smith" <wade_smith@harvard.edu>
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    Hi salice@gmx.net -

    >>You'll ask how he's
    >>doing, then toss him a rope or go to find one or someone who can
    >>help you help him.
    >
    >Probably. It's still two different memes, related though.

    The written 'help' and the spoken 'help' are, of course, two related but
    different behaviors. Their ineradicable meaningful content is what is
    related- 'I need help'. (Although, sheer fraud is also possible. This is
    a human we're dealing with....)

    For the sake of the immediate response, contacting someone who can help,
    no differentiation is necessary. But for the sake of the expanded
    response, actually helping, it is.

    Voiceless? Or unable to move his legs? The emergency medical team will
    need to know. The exchange of behaviors to arrive at those answers and
    others is necessary to guarantee the victim's further survival.

    Anyway, many memes, like turtles, crocodiles, and others, stay just the
    same throughout the eons. I think someone did a nice post about that.

    Body decoration.

    Community buildings.

    Ritual dancing.

    Personally, I'd like to see some memetic analysis of things like those,
    and, indeed, I spit upon any and all usages of chain letters as memetic
    fodder.

    There, that rant was swift.

    - Wade

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