Re: virus: Virus: banner ad prototype

Paul Prestopnik (pjp66259@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu)
Fri, 9 Jan 1998 15:21:49 -0500


> Hence, my friends, it seems only reasonable that the course of action
> called for is the creation of two sects with CoV:
>
> The priest class, or the venerable Ordained Vectors,
> and the layman-evangelist class, those members of the Memetic Jihad.
>
> (And we may have stumbled upon a memetic explanation for the internal
> structure of virtually every religion, from catholic bishops to that of
the
> Inunnit Eskimo's shaman at the same time as well.)
>
> -Prof. Tim
I while ago I remember thinking that there should be a heirachical
structure to the CoV. I never did post the idea, but this reminded me of
it. My reasoning was different from the one you have proposed, but I think
they are both very good reasons. Basically I felt that the ideas and
concepts behind memetics were too complex for people to fully grasp them
quickly. And besides it isn't necessary for everyone to have a complete
understanding of memetics.

If we look at the catholic church, most of the members are probably not
intimately familiar with the bible. Many probabaly can't name all of the
apostles, or even all of the commandments, and certainly many don't read
the writings of St. Augustine, or study the original hebrew translations.
What probably everyone knows is that if they believe in Jesus, then when
they die they will go to heaven.

Similiarly the CoV, if it is to become popular, cannot have as it's only
message a complete understanding of memetics, what is needed is some basic
easy to understand concepts filled with hope promise danger etc. Hopefully
some of the people who are attracted by these memes, will want to join a
higher level, and will seek more information about memetics. The CoV needs
to be prepared for these people too, and be a ready source of information.

CoV is obviously still undergoing rapid evolution. We need to stabilize so
that we can create force. We need to decide what our goals are, and how we
mean to accomplish them. I think developing a sort of implicit two level
system in which we try to attract people using less intellectually
challenging, more button pushing methods, would help to swell our ranks,
and this would be probably be a step towards whatever goal we are working
towards.

I personally really liked the new banner ad, if I had seen it on a web
page, I almost certainly would have pressed it to see what was next.

-paul