Re: virus: getting it

Marc Connolly (marcon@nwlink.com)
Fri, 12 Jun 1998 09:00:31 -0700


Sendgirl@aol.com wrote:
>
> Hi,
> I need a little help here. I have been a subscriber to this list for a couple
> of months now. I usually limit my replies to one-liners because frankly a lot
> of this is way above my head. I do enjoy reading the posts because all of the
> topics are interesting to me and I do feel I am learning. The basis of this
> group is the meme. I need to make sure I have it correct in the absolute
> plainest of English. Please, can someone give me the basest definition? Like
> you were explaining it to a child as opposed to a dictionary styled
> definition. I am sorry to be such a pain in the ass but without grasping that
> I can never go from a mere observer to a true participant. Thanks, Maureen

Hi Maureen -
One of form of meme is any string of words that circulates through a group of
people. Some can be passed from person to person for thousands of years or only for
months after a popular movie. How long a meme survives depends on how effective is is at
doing whatever it is suppose to. Examples : Been there...done that / you can't handle
the truth / don't put the cart before the horse / I am the way the light... / bite me /
Live free or die /....presumably David M. ( the one who started this group) chose
lucifer.com to keep the group from being swamped by the religous zealots. The word
lucifer is such a scary meme that many people won't even log on to a site with that
word in it. Some people adopt bazarre behavior and dress trying to align themselves
with the lucifer meme. Others dress in conservative clothing, attend church services
and raise their hands a certain way during a key point in the service. So some
memes involve symbols ( cross, swastika, peace sign...) buildings, (churches, VFW
meeting halls, etc)
Does this help you understand? The whole concept can become very complex but this
is how I explain it to people who want to know what a meme is.
Marc
PS Taoism, Buddism are based on inaction so one can watch the memes go by.