OK, dumb question but... what does "meme" mean?

[intheflow]

I know I've learned it in the past, but I can't for the life of me ever remember what it is! :dunce: And it's not in the DU Glossary, although I'll add it as soon as I get an answer here.

Thanks! :hi:

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Oh, great - the ol' "I don't know what a meme is" meme.

:eyes:

Just kidding!

Check out this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme

Basically it's a self-replicating bit of cultural/sociological information that behaves similar to how a gene behaves in cells.

[intheflow]

4. Everyone's a comedian!

:rofl:

Thanks, I think I'm going to steal your definition word-for-word for the Glossary. :hi:

[SallyMander]

2. I think it was coined by the biologist Richard Dawkins

It's the social/cultural analogy of a gene.

Genes are passed down from parents to offspring and contain biological info... Memes are passed down for cultural info (stories, songs, historical knowledge, etc).

It's a handy concept, although there's only so far you can stretch the analogy -- for example, memes can go horizontally (from sibling to sibling, for example) or from children to parents -- whereas genes of course cannot.

:hi:

[intheflow]

3. OK, that's not at all what I thought it was.

Thanks! :hi:

[Kutjara]

5. "memes can go horizontally...whereas genes of course cannot."

You've never been to West Virginia, have you?


:hide:

[SallyMander]

6. ...

:spray:

:spank:


You're funny, but i still maintain i'm right! Genes are still only going from parents to kids, even if the parents are cousins (or worse!). :D

[Kutjara]

7. You're absolutely right, of course...

...but I just couldn't resist. :hi:

[SallyMander]

8. Cracked me up

esp. because i dated a guy from WV! :rofl:

[kwassa]

9. but .... jeans can go horizontally?

I think, particularly if you have to lie down to zip them up.

[Javaman]

10. You really thought you would actually get a serious answer here, didn't you?

:rofl:

[intheflow]

13. Hey, there's always hope!

And being a mod, I know damn well if I posted this question in GD it would be moved here anyway! :rofl:

[rug]

11. Memes was covered in Mod 101.

Don't spend so much time in the hot tub.

[intheflow]

12. What?

I can't hear you, I have water in my ears.