Re: virus: Nature vs. Nurture

Dave Pape (davepape@dial.pipex.com)
Thu, 6 Feb 1997 13:45:11 GMT


At 20:01 05/02/97 CT, Corey wrote:
>Check this out:
>Classic psychology describes humans as a mixture of inborn and learned skills.
>This is also known as Nature vs. Nurture. Reaserch and field data suggests
>that both genes and memes influence behavior. The Antigram Theory puts forth
>the idea that when genes and memes contend for influence, the host sences this
>schism and is disoriented by the combatting orders. "A house divided cannot
>stand."
>Thoughts, anyone?

"Everybody's life's got static"- Christian Slater, Heather's, 1987ish

The interpretation of the Heathers quote that I'd attach to memetics, is
that there'll be no social group where everyone agrees with each other about
everything. Because basically they've all developed as memetic entities
(personalities) with different perceptual data about the physical and social
world, meaning that the memetic structures that evolove in their minds must
be different to some extent.

And I'd say that this goes for single minds, too: I don't think there's
anyone who has no doubt about anything at all. I view doubt as competition
between incompatible memes for dominance over a single brain's cognitive
resource. And, because you're constantly exposed to all sorts of
contradictory memes, you're bound to be in doubt about some things, whenever
those memes get activated.

So, given that I reckon I spend a good part of my life in some doubt, I
think that ANY conflict between ideas, no matter if they're genetically
hardwired or memetic, will be to an extent disorienting... but that most
people will be fairly able to cope with this most of the time without, erm,
falling over or messing their clothes, and stuff.

Dave Pape
===============================================================================
The memetic equivalent of a G3 bullpup-design assault rifle blowing a full
clip at my opponent. (Alex Williams 1996)

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