Date: Sun, 29 Aug 1999 08:52:52 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Lawrence H. de Bivort" <debivort@umd5.umd.edu>
To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Subject: Re: when is a meme selfish?
In-Reply-To: <9UadiDAe3Oy3EwyP@faichney.demon.co.uk>
On Sun, 29 Aug 1999, Robin Faichney wrote:
>That the rock on the seabed is unlikely to affect culture is true, but
>that is a contingent factor. If we're looking at the principles
>involved, then the potential of that rock to transmit the meme to
>another brain is crucial, however unlikely the actual occurrence.
We distinguish simply between the content and architecture of the meme and
the channels through which it may be distributed. The meme might have
memetic content and architecture (i.e. be 'ready' for dissemination &
replication), but not have the channel(s) of distribution that it needs,
e.g. only be displayed at the bottom of the ocean, dependent on the random
diver for its channel or a super-smart and interested dolphin. Or, e.g.,
on land it could end up only being written in the notebook of some attic
genius who emerges only for onion soup and mutterings to others.
Lawrence de Bivort
The Memetic Group
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