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From: hkhenson@netcom.com (Keith Henson)
Subject: Re: Are we in a cybernetic VR?
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Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 08:17:32 GMT
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MemeGenius@aol.com wrote:
: There is probably some truth to at least part of your theory. Someone
: or something, and I don't know if their from the future or not, is
: trying very hard to interfere with memetic research. For 20 years they
: or it succeesed in preventing a book on memetics from being published,
: even to the point where two prominent memeticists, Mark Westoby and
: Ben Cullen, both died suddenly and mysteriously just as they were
: working on manuscripts for books on memetics.

: It took a "wild card" from outside of academia, Richard Brodie, who
: stumbled onto memetics by piecing together bits of information while
: he was Bill Gate's assistant at MicroSoft, to publish the first book
: on memes, VIRUS OF THE MIND. I was blown away when I read it and I
: understand that Brodie, who used to participate in newsgroups, is now
: in hiding, fearing for his life.

It would be interesting for Brodie to confirm this.  Until he does, I 
will not take this poster seriously.

Incidentally, I have written widely on memes, and so have several other
people.  Dawkins originated the term meme, and for a while there was even
a journal devoted to the concept.  Never heard of anyone having any
problems.  I suspect that the main problem with book publication is that
memes can be explained well in a 3000 word article and do not really
require a book.  BTW, ten years ago Eric Drexler's Engines of Creation
book had a long section on memes and meme selection. 

I am in the process of writing a new article on *why* humans are vulnerable 
to certain classes of memes.  Keith Henson
