Why I created this group

Memetics is, simply, the idea that ideas, attitudes, and other bits of information spread and evolve much like genetic life does. Ideas that spread more effectively "live" longer and take up more of the environment available for ideas to live in (our minds) and crowd out and thus kill off other ideas. These ideas are not necessarily good for the minds in which they live. The ideas do not, and can not, care.

People take advantage of this, knowingly or not. Some choose to spread ideas such as "you are not good enough" or "you are not safe enough". These are ideas that spread very easily and effectively, taking advantage of our self-doubts and our fears. Some choose to take these easily spreadable ideas and attach the concepts "therefore you must buy our product" or "therefore you must do what we say". This is a successful marketing strategy used by some corporations, politicians, religious groups, news organizations, and others who want our money, time, loyalty, attention, attendance or obedience. They use key words, quotes, facial expressions, colours, musical jingles, body language- memes of all types.

For whatever reason, the idea that we have worth as people, as well as potential to become better as a people, is a hard one to spread. Part of the problem is how complex it is- how hard it is to interpret and consistently apply. If we want this idea to spread, we're going to need to fight for it. Smiles, quotes, hugs, music, bumper-sticker slogans, blogs- whatever contagious units of information we can contrive of to reach our goal.

Often, we will even have to fight to give this idea room in our own minds, as the ideas that we are not good enough or safe enough crowd out the ideas of our worth and potential.

It's not an easy battle, but sharing the fight with others can help.

That's why I started this group. Why did you join?