What is "meme?"

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

Sorry dumb question I guess. I see this term a lot but have not been able to infer the meaning from its usage. Can someone explain?

[Sliverofhope]

1. A meme is an infectious idea

It's a virus-like idea. It's something that spreads, and replicates itself to other hosts. Fads, internet jokes, chain letters, word-of-mouth phenomena are considered 'memes.'

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. History of the word 'meme'

The word “meme” (pronounced like cream or dream) was coined by Richard Dawkins, Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University, in his 1976 book The Selfish Gene. Memes tend to make copies of themselves and are therefore “replicators”, like genes. They are stored in human brains and passed on by imitation. As examples he suggested “tunes, ideas, catch-phrases, clothes fashions, ways of making pots or of building arches.” (p 192). Dawkins has also written about memes in The Extended Phenotype and in a book chapter entitled “Viruses of the Mind”. He considers religions to be among the most powerful of these mind viruses.

The word “meme” has recently been included in the Oxford English Dictionary where it is defined as follows “A self-replicating element of culture, passed on by imitation”.

www.memes.org.uk/meme-lab/WELCOME.HTM

[leftyandproud]

2. a very f*cking annoying word

I want to slap everyone who uses it..

luckily I'm not a violent person
;)

[DenverDem]

7. It's actually pretty useful.

What other word would you use to define the concept?

[Spentastic]

15. How about

Bullshit.

Meme = bullshit

Actually it seems to work pretty well.

The Angry Dean Bullshit

The Flip Flopping Kerry Bullshit

The War Monger Clark Bullshit.

[DenverDem]

19. Not useful in civil discussion.

*

[SheepyMcSheepster]

22. agreed, very useful word

in my humble opinion of course.

[Wapsie B]

20. I'm with you on that.

Very annoying like nails across a chalkboard.

[OldCurmudgeon]

21. it's more than an annoying word

the "meme" meme is a dangerous meme. :-)

I've heard it used by (ostensibly) libertarians to justify horrifically repressive measures against "dangerous ideas"
(i.e., those they disagree with)

Stuff like "it's not enough to argue with socialists, they need to be isolated in internment camps to keep from spreading their poisonous memes". See, "ideas = infectious memes" so "public health" type measures are thereby justified. Voila!

(yes, they may have traveled a rhetorical path from libertarianism to fascist totalitarianism, but the "meme" meme greased that path)

[Jose Diablo]

23. I predict there will come a time

when the "authorities" decide the internet is responsible for transmitting "dangerous" memes, thus needs to be controlled and regulated.

Maybe it has started already with the patriot acts? hey?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

24. I've only seen it used here on DU

It doesn't seem like a very good word to me. The sound of the word is unpleasant, either spoken aloud in or in my head. Sounds stupid, dorky. I'm not sure that the concept is that unique to justify creating this new word. I will have to read more posts featuring this word now that I "know" the meaning and determine whether it seems useful. Seems like a throwaway cyberspeak term that will fall into disuse. Or never fall into use...

Just my superficial opinion. Thanks for the responses though.

[DieboldMustDie]

3. From Merriam-Webster Online:

Main Entry: meme
Pronunciation: 'mEm
Function: noun
Etymology: alteration of mimeme, from mim- (as in mimesis) + -eme
: an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture

[mark414]

4. or...

i think it applies more to internet type quiz things...

example:

http://memegen.deskslave.org/popularmeme.pl

[DenverDem]

5. Somebody will trump me with a dictionary definition

but, it is an idea that is imbedded into the cultural consciousness.

In political usage, a meme is a unit of spin. A concept, often false, that is inserted into the media and cultural discourse for political effect. Like Lying Bob Dole saying, on the Daily Show, people are putting down bushler* for being in the National Guard, when, in fact they are putting him down for NOT being in the NG when he should have been. Keep repeating the lie until it becomes accepted as fact and the meme has taken hold.

[alfredo]

6. You know that piece of flesh under your tongue?

Well, that isn't it. See reply #1.

[Fovea]

8. yes a meme is a type of frenulum

because it connects two bodies via a common idea.
Certainly. Now go tell everyone you know.

[bobbyboucher]

9. How is it pronounced?

I really haven't heard it spoken.

[Cooley Hurd]

11. I believe it's pronounced MEEM...

For some reason, I find myself annoyed by the word, too. "Talking point" is a better term IMO... Could you imagine Josh Marshall's blog called "Meme Memo?"

[JHB]

17. The E's are long and silent...

meeeeem

[Kanary]

10. PIggy-back question... what is "vetted"?

Not in the dictionary.

Galls me to not know a word. :)

Kanary

[Syrinx]

12. troubleshot, troubleshooted, uh, something like that

[Dookus]

13. vetted

means checked out thoroughly. For example, a candidates team will "vet" a potential vice presidential nominee thoroughly before deciding.

VET:

TRANSITIVE VERB: 1. To subject to veterinary evaluation, examination, medication, or surgery.
2. To subject to thorough examination or evaluation: vet a manuscript

[ElsewheresDaughter]

16. inflamation of the mind that spreads like a cold germ..group think

[Jose Diablo]

18. Welcome to World 3

And you thought the Internet was just a novelty. The Internet is the ultimate vector for transmission of virus like memes.

[Az]

25. Memetics

Memes in their most simple form as a basic instruction set or idea. They are to the mind what genes are to DNA. This in fact is where the name was coined from. Some refer to memes as infectious ideas. This is a simplification of the concept.

Memes are theoretically the building block of how our mind arises. Memes are collected by the mind and stored. They are interelated to each other. Groups of memes form memeplexes. Complex memeplexes form the basis of language, social behaviour, and the mind.

As the mind accumulates memes they begin to act to defend themself from interference from other memes. Some memes compete with each other. Thus complex memes develop methods to fend off these alien memes.

Simple memes can be things like songs and jingles you hear or the "Wash me" written on dirty cars. Complex memeplexes include social/political structures and religions. They compete for mental realestate with each other.

There are a number of books written on memes. One of the more recent and effective books is The Meme Machine by Susan Blackmoore.