Re: virus: Bastard Son of Virus

Tim Rhodes (proftim@speakeasy.org)
Thu, 20 Feb 1997 09:19:23 -0800 (PST)


On Tue, 18 Feb 1997, Peter Charlot wrote:

> I'm a great believer that memes don't want to mess with their hosts health.
> There are lots of exceptions. For example it is still considered an honor to
> die in battle for a just cause. It is still considered responsible to slave
> away at some low wage job in order to raise one's family. These responses
> are another indication of the existence of mega-minds, the willingness to
> sacrifice individual personalities for the whole. We must do it all the time
> inside our brains, it happens outside as well an individuals will willingly
> suffer.

Actually both examples are explained by the "selfish gene" theory without
having to appeal to a "mega-mind". But I'm just being picky now.

-Prof. Tim