Re: virus: Re: detrimental memes

Tim Rhodes (proftim@speakeasy.org)
Wed, 26 Feb 1997 10:04:48 -0800 (PST)


> Glenn wrote:

> >A few memes (techniques for making fire, say), persist over the long term
> >because they provide some practical benefit to their hosts. For each such
> >demonstrably useful meme, there are a billion others that claim to be
> >practical and useful, but are really just a waste of time, or are actually
> >dangerous. Why can't people tell which are which? Because even memes that
> >don't have any practical use can appeal to our many other needs - mostly
> >emotional needs, usually having to do with assuaging insecurity.

Meeting emotional needs isn't of /practical use/? Oh, Glenn, don't get me
started...

Prof. Tim