Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id PAA09451 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Sun, 20 Jan 2002 15:28:06 GMT X-Originating-IP: [199.183.183.165] From: "Grant Callaghan" <grantc4@hotmail.com> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: sex and the single meme Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2002 07:23:43 -0800 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Message-ID: <LAW2-F53K2zUnebRmw300007756@hotmail.com> X-OriginalArrivalTime: 20 Jan 2002 15:23:43.0554 (UTC) FILETIME=[7240F220:01C1A1C6] Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>
>Keith said:
>
>>As an example of mixing elements, I have been stirring evolutionary
>>psychology into memetics to answer the question of why some
>>memes--lethal to genes or individuals--are contagious.
>
>Have you read "The Botany of Desire?" The author says that certain
>plants have evolved to exploit human preferences, and use humans to
>enhance their reproduction - that it doesn't make sense for a plant
>like marijuana to devote it's resources to making chemicals which
>mimic human neurotransmitters unless there is a payoff for the plant.
>He also talks about animal intoxication.
>
I think the plants originally did it for the same reason some plants are
poisonous -- they prevent damage to themselves by confusing or killing the
animal that eats them.
Now, however, human memes have taken over the evolution of drug producing
plants and the payoff is wide proliferation throughout the world. Because
pot plants produce an effect humans like, you can now find the plant in
almost every country and environment. Humans are also altering the genetic
makeup of the plant to produce ever more potent flowers and higher highs.
Canabis is now spreading in a form that never existed on earth before. The
competition driving it is based on human reactions and the ability of humans
to make money and friends with it. We have effectively eliminated all other
animals from the picture. The most potent and popular form of canabis is
called sinsemillan, which means without seeds. We are effectively
eliminating the natural course of evolution for canabis by eliminating
sexual reproduction.
Multiply this by all the plants we grow for food and other reasons and you
can see the future as it is taking shape around us.
Grant
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