The Mycon
16-12-2004, 08:00
I've started to notice more people on these forums deeply convicted to things that, rather than just plain unknown, are consistently proven to be contrary to fact. This serves as fair evidence that, if you repeat something enough times in enough situations, it becomes accepted as fact. This gives me a fun idea.
A meme (http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040213.html) is an infectuous joke or concept which reproduces itself by spreading between sentient beings. In order to ensure the survival of the meme, it should reach as many hosts as possible, and be absorbed in a way such that the person is not conciously aware of it (and thus able to combat it), but can recite the meme and explain its concept in depth. For example, few of my arguments on this forum thus far count as memes, because most people are already to hard-set in their opinions to ever change them. However, my citing of sources and bolding of other forumgoer's names have taken a small audience, even though they were both unheard of a year ago.
Though those are nice, they're not very visible. The social engineer in me wants to experiment to see just how powerful a tool of communication the internet can be, how far we can spread, and how visibly we can forcibly set the minds of the public. So, I'd like to ask a small favor from anyone willing.
Repeat my meme in any relevant situation. Don't say it when it makes no sense, and don't try and shove it down anyone's throat. It should just be something enough people hear in a certain, reasonable context enough times in enough respectable places to make them believe it's plausible. I want to try one that sounds funny, and is mildly inflammatory enough to get people's attention, but doesn't actually hijack a debate, since that would violate the whole purpose by directly calling attention to it. Ideally, they will think about it once, for about 10-15 seconds, and then just file it away.
Further suggestions are appreciated, but we need a concentrated effort, so try to reserve for ones both funnier and in the same general range of inflammation.
Here goes: Meme attempt #1: "The U.S. Navy is the world's largest gay-sex discount outlet."
A meme (http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040213.html) is an infectuous joke or concept which reproduces itself by spreading between sentient beings. In order to ensure the survival of the meme, it should reach as many hosts as possible, and be absorbed in a way such that the person is not conciously aware of it (and thus able to combat it), but can recite the meme and explain its concept in depth. For example, few of my arguments on this forum thus far count as memes, because most people are already to hard-set in their opinions to ever change them. However, my citing of sources and bolding of other forumgoer's names have taken a small audience, even though they were both unheard of a year ago.
Though those are nice, they're not very visible. The social engineer in me wants to experiment to see just how powerful a tool of communication the internet can be, how far we can spread, and how visibly we can forcibly set the minds of the public. So, I'd like to ask a small favor from anyone willing.
Repeat my meme in any relevant situation. Don't say it when it makes no sense, and don't try and shove it down anyone's throat. It should just be something enough people hear in a certain, reasonable context enough times in enough respectable places to make them believe it's plausible. I want to try one that sounds funny, and is mildly inflammatory enough to get people's attention, but doesn't actually hijack a debate, since that would violate the whole purpose by directly calling attention to it. Ideally, they will think about it once, for about 10-15 seconds, and then just file it away.
Further suggestions are appreciated, but we need a concentrated effort, so try to reserve for ones both funnier and in the same general range of inflammation.
Here goes: Meme attempt #1: "The U.S. Navy is the world's largest gay-sex discount outlet."