I’m with you on your first point (that mind viruses do “exist”). And the analogy of spread of certain ideologies/ideas by contagion is particularly apt.
Whether or not Dan wrote that the term is not *useful*, he specifically emphasizes the point that use of the term is not *helpful*. On that point, I agree with him. Someone so “infected” is less likely to listen to reason on the topic if one invokes that term as explanation for what “he/she’s got”.
The term may very well be the most useful (and helpful) for self-diagnosis. Those who dislike the term with vehemence might benefit from deeply examining why it irks them so.
I really enjoyed your take on these things.
Social contagion is frightening. And awe inspiring, sometimes. Some people believe that viruses are actually natures mechanism to update genetic code. In context of this metaphor, it's fun to think about.
I think you are correct on this. However, I'd guess that when people apply the metaphor rigorously it falls down. Viruses are not ideas or ideas viruses. I prefer the older terms.
However, I suspect that mind viruses come in systems, rather than as individual 'memes', and they reinforce each other. You may have to assume certain other ideas for them to be convincing, and once they are accepted they reinforce the rest of the edifice. This also could explain why they are hard to dislodge, and why they are so visible to people without them and so invisible to those with them.
It also explains why true 'skepticism of everything' is so difficult. People can be proudly skeptical of some sets of ideas, but have no doubt of their own truths.
Perhaps we all have these systems of disease/discomfort?
I’m with you on your first point (that mind viruses do “exist”). And the analogy of spread of certain ideologies/ideas by contagion is particularly apt.
Whether or not Dan wrote that the term is not *useful*, he specifically emphasizes the point that use of the term is not *helpful*. On that point, I agree with him. Someone so “infected” is less likely to listen to reason on the topic if one invokes that term as explanation for what “he/she’s got”.
The term may very well be the most useful (and helpful) for self-diagnosis. Those who dislike the term with vehemence might benefit from deeply examining why it irks them so.
I really enjoyed your take on these things.
Social contagion is frightening. And awe inspiring, sometimes. Some people believe that viruses are actually natures mechanism to update genetic code. In context of this metaphor, it's fun to think about.
I think you are correct on this. However, I'd guess that when people apply the metaphor rigorously it falls down. Viruses are not ideas or ideas viruses. I prefer the older terms.
However, I suspect that mind viruses come in systems, rather than as individual 'memes', and they reinforce each other. You may have to assume certain other ideas for them to be convincing, and once they are accepted they reinforce the rest of the edifice. This also could explain why they are hard to dislodge, and why they are so visible to people without them and so invisible to those with them.
It also explains why true 'skepticism of everything' is so difficult. People can be proudly skeptical of some sets of ideas, but have no doubt of their own truths.
Perhaps we all have these systems of disease/discomfort?