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Has meme theory been discredited

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Moogmg Since: Oct, 2012
#1: Jan 27th 2011 at 7:22:34 PM

I was in a class on literary darwinism and torwards the end I brought up meme theory cause it seemed like like something that would be relevant to that liteary approach. Now, the proffesor did not seem to disagree with me, but he/she did mumble that "meme theory has been discredited" and did not say more. Now, I am by not too familiar with memes, but I only have read argument so far, nothing that discredits completly. So, any truth to the statement?

Tzetze DUMB from a converted church in Venice, Italy Since: Jan, 2001
DUMB
#2: Jan 27th 2011 at 7:26:39 PM

It's not discredited, because it wasn't credited in the first place.

[1] This facsimile operated in part by synAC.
MajorTom Since: Dec, 2009
#3: Jan 27th 2011 at 7:27:33 PM

Refresh my memory, what was meme theory again?

Moogmg Since: Oct, 2012
#4: Jan 27th 2011 at 7:30:47 PM

ugh, I think there are people who would be better at explaining than me.

Tzetze DUMB from a converted church in Venice, Italy Since: Jan, 2001
DUMB
#5: Jan 27th 2011 at 7:32:19 PM

Essentially, that the spread of ideas is analogous to the spread of genes.

Where genes make bodies, memes make minds. And evolution and so forth apply to these memes. Is the idea.

edited 27th Jan '11 7:33:11 PM by Tzetze

[1] This facsimile operated in part by synAC.
Moogmg Since: Oct, 2012
#6: Jan 27th 2011 at 7:52:30 PM

interesting, I haven't done enough research on the theory yet to make up my mind about how "realistic" it is, but it is crammed into so much shit that I began to just accept it.

Wanderhome The Joke-Master Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Healthy, deeply-felt respect for this here Shotgun
The Joke-Master
#7: Jan 27th 2011 at 8:04:57 PM

Meme Theory isn't really a theory (i.e. an overall conclusion based on various scientific facts) so much as an analogy. All analogies are suspect on one level or another.

jewelleddragon Also known as Katz from Pasadena, CA Since: Apr, 2009
Also known as Katz
#8: Jan 27th 2011 at 8:08:38 PM

Whatever truth there is underlying meme theory has been vastly overshadowed by its persistent use to discredit opinions one disagrees with.

americanbadass Banned from [CENSORED] Since: Mar, 2010
Banned
#9: Jan 27th 2011 at 8:11:35 PM

Checks 4chan...Nope.

In all seriousness here is wikipedia's definition on a meme: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme .

edited 27th Jan '11 8:13:57 PM by americanbadass

[[User Banned]]_ My Pm box ix still open though, I think?
Moogmg Since: Oct, 2012
#10: Jan 27th 2011 at 8:30:50 PM

I wonder why he/she chose to just use discredit then, instead of other explanations, said proffesor has shot down others before. I guess the world will never know. Well, I learned a lot today, I'm gonna reflect and listen to the song wonderwall over and over again.

Karmakin Moar and Moar and Moar Since: Aug, 2009
Moar and Moar and Moar
#11: Jan 27th 2011 at 9:37:26 PM

Live Forever is better.

I'm not sure what's there to disprove. I think what they're trying to disprove is that ideas somehow change the way our brain works or something like that, which is taking it way too far, when all we're talking about is that ideas can spread rather organically. I hear something, it sounds good to me, I tell my friends/family/acquaintances, they like it, they tell other people and so on.

Nothing more, Nothing less.

Democracy is the process in which we determine the government that we deserve
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