Memetic AIDS (was Re: virus: a tangent)

David McFadzean (david@lucifer.com)
Tue, 18 Mar 1997 16:59:57 -0700


At 09:02 AM 18/03/97 -0500, Kirt A. Dankmyer -- aka Loki wrote:
>>Beware. Memetic AIDS.
>
>This is actually what I was thinking, but I didn't want to say that. Some
>people find the "infection" metaphore nasty enough as it is.

What types of memetic infection would cause the equivalent of immuno-
deficiency syndrome? Perhaps ideas like:

- If lots of people believe it, it must be true.
- If its been around for ages (tradition) there must be something to it.
- X makes my life (worth living, more interesting, etc.) so it must be valid.
- If I can't imagine it, it must not be true.
- Anecdotal evidence is good evidence.
- We don't currently understand it so it must be mystical or beyond comprehension.
- Mystery is good.
- It is a virtue to believe something without evidence.
- Everything is (relative, contextual, subjective) therefore nothing is
intrinsically better than anything else.
- I create reality (solipsism).

These are just a few ideas off the top of my head (definitely open to
criticism). Any others?

--
David McFadzean                 david@lucifer.com
Memetic Engineer                http://www.lucifer.com/~david/
Church of Virus                 http://www.lucifer.com/virus/