>Can there be situations where a meme can ENCOURAGE its "anti-meme"? IE, in
a
>discussion where raising one point of view polarises your opponents into
>strongly defending their beliefs, and encourages them to come forward with
>those beliefs? I can imagine walking into a room full of Christians who are
>all reading the newspaper and saying "you're all deluded security-obsessed
>wankers, there's no such thing as God and death is the end of the self" and
>then there'd be more pro-Christian memes flying around than before I came
>in...
>
this is very correct. one of the reasons it is so is a simple
association meme. activating one subject brings up associated ideas in
one's mind, as in your example.
this principle is especially potent in areas where opposing views exist.
both parties will always be correct, from their perspectives. so, even by
heavy arguing both sides usually come out with their views stronger than
before. so, it looks like a meme and its anti-meme actively support each
other.
this is easily noticed on usenet, where memes live without some
constraints like politeness. notice the traffic in those advocacy groups.
also, it is said than to get a faster response, you should not ask
questions, you should give wrong facts, as someone will surely be fast to
correct you.
another implication and another example is what information should
society and media spread. when some terrorist kills people, wouldn't it be
better not even mentioning it in media, as any news about it will only
reactivate those already thinking about doing the same?
same with suicides. publicizing one suicide event and saying how bad
suicides are causes many new ones, even increases the number of major
traffic accidents. (as this is great family-friendly way of killing
yourself.)