The best site I have found discussing memes is at the Principia Cybernetica. It is well researched and well-linked.
As far as this book is concerned, it sounds like yet another psychologist coming up with a theory to end all theories, at least as far as human psychology is concerned. Freud, Adler, Jung, and Chomsky all have made the same mistake, namely the belief that their particular theory can explain all human behavior. The author of this book apparently does the same thing. While it might be interesting, that does not mean it is a complete theory.
I have not read the book, so someone correct me if I'm wrong.
>Yeah, but SETI claims to be *science*, not *religious faith
Um, no. Faith says "this is Truth cuz this book says so." SETI says "there is an extremely small chance that you may hear a signal from an alien intelligence." That is not faith.
SETI is not a religion. I and the other participants are fully aware that the chances of our finding a narrowband signal from an alien intelligence to be extremely slim. But you know what? We're doing it anyway because it just might happen. Few people, if any, believe that it will definately (read: 100% chance) happen.
On the other hand, millions of people believe uncritically that someday a guy with long hair and who's good with woodworking will decend from the sky and start up a new kingdom.
IMHO there is a much higher chance that ET will contact us than God.
AFAIK, SETI doesn't receive any government funding as it is. That got killed years ago. They went totally private back in the early parts of the decade.
At least I think that's what I remember reading over at their site.
Ooh! Oooh! The chances are small that I'll ever find a signal? Really? I had NO IDEA! Wow! Now I'm totally not going to participate because of your illuminating post. Wow.
Hey, I have an idea! Why don't you go outside and play hide and go fuck yourself? If you think it's a bad idea, DON'T PARTICIPATE. And don't bitch.
I'll stay away from the Christians, cuz I don't wanna rain on their parade. You do the same re: SETI, hoser.
Ooh! Oooh! The chances are small that I'll ever find a signal? Really? I had NO IDEA! Wow! Now I'm totally not going to participate because of your illuminating post. Wow.
Hey, I have an idea! Why don't you go outside and play hide and go fuck yourself? If you think it's a bad idea, DON'T PARTICIPATE. And don't bitch.
I'll stay away from the Christians, cuz I don't wanna rain on their parade. You do the same.
I know you would like to sound cool and be flippant about this, but 15 people were gunned down in a high school. That's a pretty big deal. Yes, AMD demoed a gigahertz chip today. But in the broader scheme of things, Littleton is much, much more important. The only good discussion about the "why" is happneing on/., with Katz in the lead. There is evil abroad on the football fields of America, but these cro-magnons continue to walk unmolested. Indeed, they are rewarded. This is one of those rare times when tragedy leads to opportunity. Discussion about the underlying causes should be fermented, especially from the mouths of those who are close to the social circles those two teens revolved in. Geeks own the world, but are powerless.
I agree with the general sentiment here at slashdot, namely: Those who wonder where the blame lies should turn their accusing fingers around to themselves. The net is not to blame, Doom is not to blame, Marilyn Manson is certainly not to blame. Indeed, "wholesome family values" are more to blame than anything, specifically the intolerance that accompanies the conformity with said values.
When I was a freshman, I got thrown down a flight of stairs by the star running back. He didn't think I should be smoking, and politely tossed me. He got a detention. I had shoulder pain for three weeks. Nice.
My advice: Avoid Mesquite, Texas at all costs. Oh yeah, and fuck da man. Be different. Somebody with more skill than me needs to come up with a clever fake headline and hack the NYTimes or something...
Slashdot Mirror
The best site I have found discussing memes is at the Principia Cybernetica. It is well researched and well-linked.
As far as this book is concerned, it sounds like yet another psychologist coming up with a theory to end all theories, at least as far as human psychology is concerned. Freud, Adler, Jung, and Chomsky all have made the same mistake, namely the belief that their particular theory can explain all human behavior. The author of this book apparently does the same thing. While it might be interesting, that does not mean it is a complete theory.
I have not read the book, so someone correct me if I'm wrong.
>Yeah, but SETI claims to be *science*, not *religious faith
Um, no. Faith says "this is Truth cuz this book says so." SETI says "there is an extremely small chance that you may hear a signal from an alien intelligence." That is not faith.
SETI is not a religion. I and the other participants are fully aware that the chances of our finding a narrowband signal from an alien intelligence to be extremely slim. But you know what? We're doing it anyway because it just might happen. Few people, if any, believe that it will definately (read: 100% chance) happen.
On the other hand, millions of people believe uncritically that someday a guy with long hair and who's good with woodworking will decend from the sky and start up a new kingdom.
IMHO there is a much higher chance that ET will contact us than God.
- Rev. Scat
AFAIK, SETI doesn't receive any government funding as it is. That got killed years ago. They went totally private back in the early parts of the decade.
At least I think that's what I remember reading over at their site.
Ooh! Oooh! The chances are small that I'll ever find a signal? Really? I had NO IDEA! Wow! Now I'm totally not going to participate because of your illuminating post. Wow.
Hey, I have an idea! Why don't you go outside and play hide and go fuck yourself? If you think it's a bad idea, DON'T PARTICIPATE. And don't bitch.
I'll stay away from the Christians, cuz I don't wanna rain on their parade. You do the same re: SETI, hoser.
Ooh! Oooh! The chances are small that I'll ever find a signal? Really? I had NO IDEA! Wow! Now I'm totally not going to participate because of your illuminating post. Wow.
Hey, I have an idea! Why don't you go outside and play hide and go fuck yourself? If you think it's a bad idea, DON'T PARTICIPATE. And don't bitch.
I'll stay away from the Christians, cuz I don't wanna rain on their parade. You do the same.
I know you would like to sound cool and be flippant about this, but 15 people were gunned down in a high school. That's a pretty big deal. Yes, AMD demoed a gigahertz chip today. But in the broader scheme of things, Littleton is much, much more important. The only good discussion about the "why" is happneing on /., with Katz in the lead. There is evil abroad on the football fields of America, but these cro-magnons continue to walk unmolested. Indeed, they are rewarded. This is one of those rare times when tragedy leads to opportunity. Discussion about the underlying causes should be fermented, especially from the mouths of those who are close to the social circles those two teens revolved in. Geeks own the world, but are powerless.
I agree with the general sentiment here at slashdot, namely: Those who wonder where the blame lies should turn their accusing fingers around to themselves. The net is not to blame, Doom is not to blame, Marilyn Manson is certainly not to blame. Indeed, "wholesome family values" are more to blame than anything, specifically the intolerance that accompanies the conformity with said values.
When I was a freshman, I got thrown down a flight of stairs by the star running back. He didn't think I should be smoking, and politely tossed me. He got a detention. I had shoulder pain for three weeks. Nice.
My advice: Avoid Mesquite, Texas at all costs. Oh yeah, and fuck da man. Be different. Somebody with more skill than me needs to come up with a clever fake headline and hack the NYTimes or something...