> >> Also a memetic defense against indirect attack
> >> through ironic usage.
>
> >huh? Defence? Irony? I can't make anything out of this.
>
> Both the commandment against saying "Jesus Christ on a popsicle stick!"
> and this line of the Lord's Prayer serve the purpose of inhibiting ironic
> or use of the word. "God" is hallowed and thus may be used only in
> worshipful tones.
I see it now. Very benefitial. Is that why I always feel sightly bad
when I say "there is no God"? Damn meme's... so hard to control.
> >I also realize that this message was primarily directed at me. I guess
> >I have been a little cruel. Mabye I'll go read the Bible for a bit...
>
> Have you ever heard of the literary trope, common in fantasy, called
> "Illusion of central position"?
No. Explain?
> >Not a "parasite". This is the part of the meme-complex that insures it
> >will be communicated again and again. In your analogy to computer
> >programs, this is step #2:
> >
> >> 1 print "Reed is Great"
> >> 2 transmit 1,2,and 3 to another
> >> computer and tell it to "run"
> >> 3 goto 1
>
> You'll have to convince me.
Back into the archives... what were the orginal lines?
<thy> will be done
On Earth as it is in Heaven
I'm saying that these lines are a memetic command to the reciepient to
spread the word... literally "<thy> will be done!", which is certainly a
command to "run" the <god> meme. I thought it was fairly clear. Where
is the problem?
> >> See, memetics is so much more efficient.
> >
> >I thought efficiency was what you were just critizing me for! :)
>
> Aphorist's Dillema.
Ahh... the Truth is a fickle being, eh?
> On further consideration, nevermind. I have to live with
> that disgusting thing in my head. There's no reason you
> should have to have it, too.
Conscious suppression of meme's. Another issue that I'd like to see
taken to task. As John has already said: here, on this mailing list,
the /entire/ idea is to rock people's boats. Suppression of memes is
like censorship:
"A censor is a man who knows more than he thinks you ought to."
-- Granville Hicks (1901-1982)
I can't see that in a group of people like this censorship is at all
/useful/. It may be a terrible story, but I'd like to judge for myself,
thanks. Besides, your point kinda needs some proof, since I have not
the slightest inclination to go find that book. It's on the list, yes,
but so are fifty others...
ERiC