3 ms·

> endlessly discussing secondhand 'ideas'. Sounds like 'memes'

by dvh 11y ago

coldcode 11y ago
The machine clearly requires Hacker News.
jordigh 11y ago
"Memes" are supposed to be units of cultural replication, just like genes are units of biological replication. We've had memes ever since we've had society.
- TeMPOraL 11y ago
  There are two meanings for this word. One is what you described. The other is cat pictures with text labels.
  - greggyb 11y ago
    I would argue that the latter is just a very specialized instance of the former. What is the cat picture with formulaic text if not a unit of cultural matter being shared and evolving? We have random mutations: Socially awkward penguin[0] -> Socially awesome penguin[1] Then there's sexual reproduction: Socially awkward penguin + socially awesome penguin -> socially awksome penguin[2] The process of natural selection is popular appeal. There is certainly room for debate as to the cultural merit of popular internet memes, but I don't think there's a strong argument that they are not an instance of the concept as coined by Dawkins. An excerpt from the intro Wikipedia entry on memes: >an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture".[2] A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols, or practices that can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena with a mimicked theme. Supporters of the concept regard memes as cultural analogues to genes in that they self-replicate, mutate, and respond to selective pressures.[3] [0]http://streetcouch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Socially-Awkward-Penguin-12.jpg http://streetcouch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Socially-A... [1]http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/7d/f1/ce/7df1cead8ce1cd26ac25aee712cc533e.jpg http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/7d/f1/ce/7df1cead8ce1... [2]http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/27/54/8d/27548d1ea6e7f218a213724a97185795.jpg http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/27/54/8d/27548d1ea6e7... [3]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme

> endlessly discussing secondhand 'ideas'. Sounds like 'memes'

by dvh 11y ago

> endlessly discussing secondhand 'ideas'. Sounds like 'memes'

coldcode 11y ago

The machine clearly requires Hacker News.

jordigh 11y ago

"Memes" are supposed to be units of cultural replication, just like genes are units of biological replication. We've had memes ever since we've had society.

TeMPOraL 11y ago
There are two meanings for this word. One is what you described. The other is cat pictures with text labels.
- greggyb 11y ago
  I would argue that the latter is just a very specialized instance of the former. What is the cat picture with formulaic text if not a unit of cultural matter being shared and evolving? We have random mutations: Socially awkward penguin[0] -> Socially awesome penguin[1] Then there's sexual reproduction: Socially awkward penguin + socially awesome penguin -> socially awksome penguin[2] The process of natural selection is popular appeal. There is certainly room for debate as to the cultural merit of popular internet memes, but I don't think there's a strong argument that they are not an instance of the concept as coined by Dawkins. An excerpt from the intro Wikipedia entry on memes: >an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture".[2] A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols, or practices that can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena with a mimicked theme. Supporters of the concept regard memes as cultural analogues to genes in that they self-replicate, mutate, and respond to selective pressures.[3] [0]http://streetcouch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Socially-Awkward-Penguin-12.jpg http://streetcouch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Socially-A... [1]http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/7d/f1/ce/7df1cead8ce1cd26ac25aee712cc533e.jpg http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/7d/f1/ce/7df1cead8ce1... [2]http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/27/54/8d/27548d1ea6e7f218a213724a97185795.jpg http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/27/54/8d/27548d1ea6e7... [3]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme