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#118842 01/07/04 06:31 PM
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Thanks for the explanation, Nancy! I used to watch that show but since missed all "jump the shark" references.


#118843 01/08/04 07:47 PM
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Could animals responses to body language be called memes?
For instance when I am out walking, and a cat that has never seen me before exhibits anxiety, if I walk around it,
the anxiety immediately subsides.


Doc

A meme, as originally defined, was behaviour (or thought), learnt primarily through imitation (in fact Blackmore uses that in its strictest sense and does not consider other forms of learning.

A meme, then, is an 'idea', if you will, that multiplies by inhabiting more and more minds - a successful meme spreads like an epidemic.

eta - so yes, it could be a bit like the hundredth monkey urban myth (and it is a myth). The Salem witch hysteria, for instance (the behaviour of the accusing girls) would definitely be considered memetic. The spread of the use of the word meme itself (since it seems to be infesting the blogs) is also memetic.

Simple response to stimuli (Skinner's pigeons, for instance), even though it can lead to learned behaviour, should not be considered memetic.

Hope this helps.

cheer

the sunshine warrior





#118844 01/08/04 08:54 PM
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Dear Shanks: I was too much influenced by mention of genes
somewhere in the discussion. "If your're not confused, you just don't understand the situation." One experience I had a long time ago might fit. A neighbor whose garden was being robbed by starlings asked me to shoot them. They flew over a small building, behind which I could hide. I shot a couple dozen of them, and then bird started making detour around our property. Five years after the last time I shot one, the starlings were still making the detour around our
property. Would that fit? I'm just not able to master some of these lengthy discussions. Thanks for trying to help me. Bill


#118845 01/08/04 09:33 PM
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monkey urban myth (and it is a myth)
aw shucks, I liked that one.

ok, I think I'm beginning to get it. thanks, shanks.



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#118846 01/09/04 11:46 AM
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Arright. What's this 'hundredth monkey' thang? I've googled without success and I've gotta get out here and go to work.


#118847 01/09/04 12:50 PM
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Is it the one about the Complete Works of Oxford?


warning: cross-thread


#118848 01/09/04 01:53 PM
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That was infinite monkeys, IIRC. But hey, a hundred is just an iceberg away from infinity when it comes to monkeys. How many monkeys can dance on the head of a barrel?


Edit:

Found it.

http://www.worldtrans.org/pos/monkey.html

#118849 01/09/04 06:13 PM
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Dear Doc

Five years after the last time I shot one, the starlings were still making the detour around our
property.


If these are not the same starlings who saw you with the gun, but are simply copying the others, then there's certainly a strong case for calling that memetic activity.

cheer

the sunshine warrior




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