virus: memes to study

Paul Prestopnik (pjp66259@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu)
Wed, 04 Mar 1998 15:17:34 -0500


Marie Foster wrote:

> So, to go back in the history of my involvement with CoV, I took the
> word streak and tried to find a dictionary that had no indication of
> 'run naked in public' then I found newer and newer versions until I
> found the definition added. That let me get a point in time when the
> word useage became common enough in the written record of the day to
> justify it's inclusion.

This reminded me of an idea I once had of another meme that might lead itself
to clear study. One night I was sitting at home thinking of memes that would
lend themselves to study, and I came up with two canidates. The only one I
can remember now would be Fortune Cookies. I believe they are an american
invention, and were first introduced in a Chinese restaurant in New York.
Since then they have spread to every Chinese restaurant I have ever visited
(and probably the rest too.) Also maybe icecream cones, although that could
be harder.

Possibly a page on the CoV could list some good examples of memes for people
new to the concept.

-Paul Prestopnik