On Mon, 12 Apr 1999, David McFadzean wrote:
>
Consider also the fact that a popular book has a better chance of
becoming more popular, as more people hear of it.
Eva,
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: TheHermit <carlw@hermit.net>
> Sent: Sunday, April 11, 1999 10:42 PM
>
>
> > The "Critical Mass of Enlightenment", sometimes known as the "Hundredth
> > Monkey" phenomenon, and also sometimes known by the more scientific
> > sounding, but equally bunkum term "morphic resonance" invented by Rupert
> > Sheldrake, is far from being a new idea.
>
> To play Devil's advocate for a moment, I'm not sure that the idea of
> critical mass is completely without merit when applied to memes.
> I'm not suggesting that there is anything mystical going on, but
> rather that social systems sometimes have positive feedback loops.
> How else does one explain Beanie Babies?
>
> David
eyeing the new Beanie kiwi sitting in a handmade Adirondack chair