Hiromi_X
Viral change
I'm becoming more and more committed lately to the idea of viral change. Richard Dawkins might call what I'm talking about a meme, and an article in the NY Times Sunday Magazine likened urban violence to a virus. Both of these ideas are similar to mine. The amount of shit that needs to be fixed in our world can be pretty overwhelming; given the scale of our problems, our individual actions seem pretty puny. But I honestly believe there are no empty gestures. I believe that if I act consistently, whether in reducing the amount of natural resources I consume or simply kind and considerate and shit and generally raising the tone of social interactions, someone else will pick up on my actions. And then that person will spread them as I did.
I've absolutely no proof that this actually works, but I'm going to treat this as a grand experiment on my part. Who knows? Maybe soon the world will be full of foodie motorcyclists.
Comments
"generally raising the tone of social interactions"
Damn, that's the problem. I've had my viral change gizmo hooked up all backward and shit.
1. Posted by Omnipotent Poobah on May 5, 2008
Can you start a viral change where you give me $10? And then everyone will give me $10?
2. Posted by Miss Syl on May 5, 2008
Thanks for the link to the link to Jim Breen, I hadn't seen that before. :)
I think the only issue with viral change is that the people who need to change the most are usually the last the catch the virus.
3. Posted by Aimee on May 5, 2008
Memes are viruses, H, just 2 different names for it. I'm game. Let me get my bike (2 years!) first :)
4. Posted by darkneuro on May 5, 2008
I support this notion. There is always the possibility that other strains of virus will be more successful, but that doesn't mean I'm going to go around being a dick out of pessimism.
5. Posted by Holly on May 6, 2008
You're welcome, Aimee.
I think the only issue with viral change is that the people who need to change the most are usually the last the catch the virus.
In my view, not everyone has to "catch the virus," just a critical mass of people that is enough to trigger changes in social trends.
Memes are viruses, H, just 2 different names for it.
No, a "meme" is a term Richard Dawkins coined in his book The Selfish Gene. Abbreviated and simplified explanation: in that book, he postulated that evolution occurs at the level of the gene, not the organism; in other words, it's the transmission and survival of a genetic unit, not the entire organism, that matters (hence the term "selfish"). He then transferred that idea to human culture where ideas -- religion, music, scientific theories, whatever -- replicate in the manner of a selfish gene. So some ideas that Dawkins considers detrimental to the survival of the organism (human society), such as religion, may get transmitted regardless of their overall harmful effects.
Holly said:
There is always the possibility that other strains of virus will be more successful,
Oh very definitely.
but that doesn't mean I'm going to go around being a dick out of pessimism.
I'm personally trying very hard to stop being dickish. This viral change idea is, I think, a pretty good way of avoiding feelings of despair that things will never change.
6. Posted by Hiromi on May 6, 2008
It's funny- I'm actually very optimistic about the future right now, for a number of reasons. And I meet a lot of people who are also very optimistic- just not in the US. So I think that cutting through that funk and paranoia and depression is more important than anything else right now. In other words, I think what you're talking about doing is probably the most important thing that can be done. I think the public's mental state is the sole remaining barrier to fixing... well, everything really.
7. Posted by rufus on May 7, 2008