> On Fri, 7 Mar 1997 jonesr@gatwick.geco-prakla.slb.com wrote:
>
> > Prof. Tim wrote:
> > > I see memes as
> > > tools /used/ in the decission making process.
> >
> > Now this particular bit is totally acceptable to me, and I agree.
> > It's the distinction between /use/ and /control/ that I'm
> > not utterly convinced by. Do you think it possible to bypass
> > all and any memes, and make a decision without their input?
>
> Without /any/ memetic input? Hmmm, sounds like making a painting without
> paint or the sound of one hand clapping.
I guess, yeah. If I'm allowed, I'd like to further your art analogy.
Now if the memes are the colours, then how are the colours that you
use on one particular peice decided upon? I don't know what kind of
art you do, but let me use abstract modern art as the object. Does
the piece have an overall colour scheme, where colours are decided
upon due to what other colours are already there, or is it totally
separated from that? The reason I chose abstract art as the object is
becuase presumably, if you're painting a picture of something, then
you're probably (I don't know what artsist do, I'm a scientist :) going
to paint in the colours that it's supposed to be.
Can this analogy work for memetics? Can memes really tailor their own
environment, or are /we/ in control of their input?
I hope that made sense :)
Drakir