Re: virus: A Memetic Analysis of the Lord's Prayer

Eva-Lise Carlstrom (eva-lise@eskimo.com)
Tue, 24 Jun 1997 14:31:16 -0700 (PDT)


On Mon, 24 Jun 1996, Eric Boyd wrote:

> Reed Konsler wrote:
>
> > 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

Personally, I suspect I should be grateful to Reed for valiantly choosing
not to share the story, despite my curiosity. If he wishes he could
remove it from his own memosphere, why would I want it in mine too? In
any case, we all have to censor what we choose to transmit in some manner;
we can't transmit every meme we have at all times. Ideally, we select
according to our own best interests, the interests of the people we're
transmitting to, and the interests of the world as a whole (rather than
simply according to how loud each meme yells "I'm important! Spread me!"
independent of such considerations).

Eva,
who just got the Repo Man soundtrack in the mail and is playing it loud