More Relentless Pursuit of "What If"


A Meme Cry for Help


Writers often live with characters and ideas that go far beyond their experience, level of education and even their value system. There is no rational explanation for this. That's why the idea of memes intrigues me. WHAT IF ideas are really alive, looking for a place to dwell? Here's what Joshua S. Lateiner said in a paper called: "Meme-Based Models of Mind and the Possibility for Consciousness in Alternate Media," Originally presented to Dr. Daniel C. Dennett, December 10, 1992. Copyright (c) 1992 by Joshua S. Lateiner, All rights reserved. (View full article at: http://www.eff.org/Net_culture/Consciousness/memes_and_consciousness.paper)
" Memes are living information, capable of being
transmitted and reproduced. Their desire is simply to live and to grow;
that is, to reproduce and generate new memes. This requires a good
information processing environment; a human brain will suffice for the
moment.
"Memes seek the best possible habitats for themselves in much the same
manner that humans do. We moved out of caves a long time ago, it turned out
that well-appointed houses in the suburbs were much more conducive to the
successful reproduction of both people and memes (it is hard to read in
dimly lit caves).
"The ideal habitat for memes would be extremely dynamic -- a combination of
large storage capacity and enormous information processing power; and well
connected, as memes love to communicate (that is how they reproduce and
grow). I postulate that although the memes have made do for the moment with
the human brain, that cyberspace or something like it will ultimately be a
more hospitable medium for memes."


I'm trying to accommodate the meme that's living in my mind by putting out a call into cyberspace. A few weeks ago, Phil The Speculist (www.speculist.com) asked the M104 (Formerly Known as The Posse) if anyone would be willing to help me figure out why and how my characters are telepathic. I'm expanding this request because these characters won't leave me alone and they live in a story way beyond my capability to write. It's no coincidence that Phil recently made me a member of the aforementioned M104 - it was my meme crying for help.


You can help by commenting on these future scenarios that my characters have insisted upon:

The United States is no longer a superpower. People have abandoned capitalism and they have been told that the world's resources are severely limited. How did this happen?

The world has suffered from a series of catastrophes from which (ostensibly) the global economy hasn't recovered and human population has diminished by about one third. Speculate about at least five possible events.

The Western world no longer imports oil. How does this shape Middle Eastern politics?

Some aspects of technology have continued to advance. Who controls the funds and sets the priorities for research and development?

And, let me remind you, two characters are telepathic. They are driven to find out why and how and when this adaptation occurred in the gene pool. Do you have any ideas?

And, one last thing. The major religions, including Christianity, are no longer practiced in the United States. What happened to the people of faith?

I apologize to my meme if I didn't express things clearly enough. Email me at hansonkathy@mac.com with your comments and questions ...







Posted: Sun - February 15, 2004 at 04:40 PM      

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