>I would like to propose a game that virians can play where we try to spot
>"The base memes" by labeling an idea as meme or composite. In order to
>label something as composite it must be composed of other memes or
>composites. So if you see an lawn ornament with Santa's sleigh I would
>contend it was a composite of: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, The Other
>Reindeer, & Santa.
I'm not sure what the difference is between a meme and a composite
given your examples. Isn't everything you named above a composite?
When I think of a meme, I don't see it "composed" of other memes. Rather
I see it linked to others. For example, Santa is linked to Xmas, presents,
jolly, shopping malls, Coca-cola, north pole, elves, Rudolph, St. Nick,
egg nog & cookies, and thousands of other memes in my mind. The interesting
thing is that if you take away all the links, there is nothing left...
-- David McFadzean david@lucifer.com Memetic Engineer http://www.lucifer.com/~david/ Church of Virus http://www.lucifer.com/virus/