At Fri, 5 Feb 1999 01:36:47 -0800, you wrote:
>
>Wade wrote:
>
><<I more see it as throwing good money after bad. I like my nose, and will
>not injure it. But like I said, I have never done this- never offered my
>support for things being sold at me- if I find them, that's another
>question entirely, or if they are offered, or if I seek them for some
>reason. To this point, I have not.>>
>
>Glad to hear it. As usual I agree with your heuristic. When offered the
>choice between something advertised, like a brand of dishwashing detergent,
>and a store brand, I always assume the unadvertised choice is the better
>value. After all, they don't have to spend all that money advertising.
>
><<But I've also never taken money, or received it, for the abstract. And it
>ain't personal with you, Richard, although in all truth, you have never
>offered me anything, but insist I pay for it first. Now, what sort of
>irrationality is that? Where is your product that I may taste it first? >>
>
>Well, actually you may taste it, or even consume it whole, in your favorite
>library or bookstore. You may have difficulty finding Virus of the Mind in
>bookstores for the next few weeks as the Oprah appearance has seriously
>drained supplies. But I know the Harvard Law School library has Virus of the
>Mind in their collection.
>
>Seriously, Wade, this is the first glimmer I've ever had that you were the
>slightest bit interested in what I have to say. If you'll send me your
>postal address I'd be happy to send you a copy of the other book, Getting
>Past OK, on me. I'm flattered. You seem to have thought things out pretty
>well for yourself and I'm surprised at your interest.
>
>I have another book on line; it's an updated version of Emerson's essay Self
>Reliance. I haven't advertised it, but if you like you can read it at
>http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie/emerson.htm
>
>Also the first chapter of Virus of the Mind is available at
>http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie/vmintro.htm
>
><<Why do I see a dollar sign in front of your name?>>
>
>You're wearing $-colored glasses?
>
>Richard Brodie richard@brodietech.com http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie/
>Author, "Virus of the Mind: The New Science of the Meme"
>http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie/votm.htm
>Free newsletter! Visit Meme Central at
>http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie/meme.htm
You're personally interested in spreading certain memes, one of which is the "memetics" meme; at the same time, you are selling a book propounding your view of memetics, and to the degree your propagation is successful, and to the degree that others assist you in that propagation and consequently heighten interest in your book, you monetarily profit. This kinda reminds me of the newspaper advertisement promising those who answer a sure-fire way to make money, for a small fee. When they send the money, they receive the advice to place the same ad in newspapers themselves, and to copy and send the message they just received to anyone who sends them money. The main difference is that the people who follow this advice don't have to kick back their profit to the original ad source, whereas no matter how long the chain is people build for you, if someone buys your book at the end of it, you, not the people helping you, receive the benefit. A golden shower, indeed!
Joe E. Dees
Poet, Pagan, Philosopher