From: Spike Jones (spike66@attglobal.net)
Date: Sat Dec 15 2001 - 12:47:07 MST
> "Robert J. Bradbury" wrote: Now, Spike's more subtle
> solution of "meme changing weapons" is perhaps even more
> dangerous...
Great post Robert!
> -- it is the adoption of non-rational coercive
> approaches to changing "incorrect" meme-sets.
Meme changing weapons would not necessarily be dangerous.
Consider the meme "lay down your arms." In our current
world, this meme does not bring peace. The one who carries
it gets killed. If history is clear on anything it is this: weakness
does not stop war, it invites war. But imagine some sufficiently
advanced weapon that blankets the entire earth with the
swords-to-plowshares meme, one that works on everyone.
This is not a dangerous weapon but a weapon of peace.
Granted I have not a clue what this mechanism would be like,
but this is my techno-pacifist vision for the future of transhumankind.
A meme-weapon would not necessarily destroy islam, but would
destroy *militant* islam and militant everything.
In the mean time, let islam make war on my memeset by exhorting
me, by shaming my crass anarcho-capitalist ways, by showing me
what good and charitable people they are, by feeding their starving
masses, by allowing freedom to their women and their own unbelivers,
by how faithful they are in bowing toward mecca thrice daily, by the
sincerity of their prayers to allah. Thats the kind of meme-war I
want to fight. spike
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