virus: Memetics

Reed Konsler (konsler@ascat.harvard.edu)
Sat, 5 Apr 1997 17:49:32 -0500 (EST)


>The BIG question is still open. It was raised by David McF in response to
>Richard's "people who know the first thing about memetics".
>(R) The first thing to know about memetics is to hide harmful memes.
>(D) The second thing to know about memetics is that hiding harmful memes is
>not a solution.
>(T) The third thing to know about memetics is that hiding harmful memes, you
>secretly use, appears useful.
>
>Tad

The fourth thing: Memetics is non-zero sum. The more free players, the
better for
everyone.

It's a cultural Prisoner's Dilemma. Do you cooperate or
defect? All cults eventually implode, under their own weight or due to
stagnation
and outcompetition. The danger is that they can take down a lot of people and
group infrastructure along with them. The cult is a short-term tool, it focuses
energy and will toward a defined goal...but any vital system must be open to
evolution. Do you feel lucky today?

Reed

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Reed Konsler konsler@ascat.harvard.edu
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