Meme - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

208547 Resource 100177 24 24 1215129000832 1227932184546 Controlled Improper Characterization of a "Meme" is Ironically a "Meme"

I see people "memeing" each other. This is complete nonsense and a mischaracterization of the term.

Recently, I received a message from someone that I had been “memed”. The invitation to participate in what is ostensibly a chain letter, said -<blockquote dir="ltr" style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">“A meme is an internet game similar to a chain letter except you post on line.”</blockquote>I think when <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dawkins">Richard Dawkins</a> (the foremost authority on genetics, atheism, and a profoundly critical thinker) first coined the term "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme">meme</a>", he had a definition in mind that is far different from an "internet game".Memes propagate themselves and can move through a "<a title="Culture" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture">culture</a>" in a manner similar to the behavior of a <a title="Virus" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virus">virus</a>. The inaccurately-defined practice of memeing someone is dependent upon a chain-letter that is forced upon other individuals not unlike other marketing chain-letters we’ve all been asked to participate in from time-to-time.I think it's great to use the Internet to get to know people better, but this behavior of sharing information about yourself (or requesting information about others) really doesn't fit the definition of a meme, and is not an act of "memeing"[?].When I see someone write "Meme’s are social games that help folks get to know each other." (as <a href="http://www.clientcentricrealestate.com/client_centric_real_estat/2008/05/memorial-day-20.html">Matthew Rathbun</a> did), I cringe because this couldn't be more inaccurate or misleading. Memes evolve by natural selection - there is nothing naturally selective about "meming someone" in the context I‘ve observed it being used.I'm not sure where or how this inaccuracy about the term got started, but ironically, the spread of this through <a href="http://activerain.com/">ActiveRain</a> and the blogosphere is itself a meme. As wide and incorrect use of this term spreads through our culture -- being passed from one person to another with mutations and typically an increased mischaracterization of its true meaning – it continues to spread like a virus just as Dawkins suggests memes would.The continual misuse of the term is a pattern that is subject to inheritance, variation, mutation, and competition. And also (as Dawkins observed), memes will not necessarily mutate with the best interests of the hosts in mind.  I see no evidence that the numerous chain-letters invoked under the premise of a “meme”, have inherited any attributes, nor have they evolved or mutated.Here’s a meme - <blockquote dir="ltr" style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">As a culture, we should attempt to be more accurate in the definitions we use for communications and characterization of actions and activities.</blockquote>Spread the word. ;-) 9 application/xml false meme meme munging memeing mutation Richard Dawkins virus Meme - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia A meme (pronounced /mi?m/)[1] consists of any unit of cultural information, such as a practice or idea, that gets transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 5.1; Dosware Team Internet Browser; .NET CLR 1.1.4322; .NET CLR 2.0.50727) 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1 bfrench 76.120.52.24 false true false false true 174031 false false true false false false true 234606 Resource 174031 173239 1 1244735294937 1258042333635 Controlled RE: Improper Characterization of a "Meme" is Ironically a "Meme"

I find it interesting that you accuse others of using the term 'meme' incorrectly rather than merely recognise it is being used 'differently' to Dawkins original definition. If you believe in 'memes' (in the Dawkinian sense) then surely you recognise that the meaning of any term is competing against rivial interpretations. To say a rivial interpretation is inaccurate assumes that you have some sort of gods eye view of the world that grants you access to the universal truth. If you don't have universal truth then all you can do is claim it is inaccurate in your community of practice. 10 application/xml false Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; Intel Mac OS X 10_5_8; en-US) AppleWebKit/532.3 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/4.0.223.11 Safari/532.3 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1 $Admin 72.164.187.59 false true false false true 100177 blog blogsite/BFrench/web