In message <v02140b10b2e277de585b@[128.103.96.185]>, Reed Konsler
<konsler@ascat.harvard.edu> writes
>>Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1999 22:53:46 -0800
>>From: "Tim Rhodes" <proftim@speakeasy.org>
>>Subject: Re: virus: oprahnotoprah
>>
>>Yes, a good story is what I need. Made-up things up can be so much more
>>invocative and awesome than actual facts, if well crafted.
>
>An "actual fact" is just a made-up thing to which you've given the
>upper hand.
Can't recall where I came across this idea -- may even have come up with it myself -- but when the question arises as to who has the upper hand, people or memes, the answer is that, wherever something is "really believed in", the meme's on top, otherwise it's not. Nice'n'simple, eh? Making it a good meme, in that respect at least. Not that I really believe in it, of course! (And on the same basis, you shouldn't "really believe in" rationality, either.) (Did I just stumble over a ramp up to Level 3?)
-- Robin