> There is evidence, I believe for Subconscious memes. For example, yawning is
> contageous (sp?) and also you begin to subconsciously pickup and use certain
> body movements or gesjures (sp?) the people you associate with frequently.
> (Is my spelling crap right now?) Sure, memes can be broadcast via language
> but can they be transmitted subconsciously through body movements or perhaps
> even phermones?
>
>
Sometime when your in a large lecture class, or where ever you find a
large group of people being quite, cough in one short loud burst &
note how many people follow suit. I agree, these things seem to be
contagious(sp?), but I hesitate to call coughs and yawns memes. These
things don't replicate as much as they bounce off whatever
trigger mechanism that controls these reflexive behaviors. I would
liken a cough spreading through a room to a neutron starting a chain
reaction in a fission reactor.
Pheromones (yes, your spelling is attrociou(sp?) :-)), and body language
could be involved in a process that is more like replication. However, I
think going any further will bring up a discussion about definitions, and
I don't know enough pheromones or replicators to comfortably continue.
By the way, I've been evolving for 26 years.
Up and Over!
Michael Bowling