Our Memetic Evolution

Neanderthal and Cro Magnon man co-existed for a period of time.. 
then the Neanderthal species died out. Both Neanderthal and Cro Magnon
 had relatively the same sized brain. Physically, Neanderthal was by far 
stronger. So what was it that Cro Magnon man had that Neanderthal didn't? 

*Cro Magnon gives birth to the meme*

Cro Magnon had a means of transferring information.. of communicating 
what they had learned, and passing it on to the next generation.. and that 
generation taking this knowledge, adding to it, and in turn passing it on to 
the next generation and so on. Not only were they passing information, but 
they were building on it.. contributing to and improving it. This very information, 
and the "holding onto" and "transference" of it, is now believed to be what made
the difference in the evolutionary survival game between Neanderthal and Cro Mag. 

meme: "a contagious idea that replicates like a virus, passed on from mind to 
mind.." (David Bennahum)

"an idea that implants itself of intuitive knowledge and acts as a determinate of 
behaviour"

Here's the deal.. 
No longer is "survival of the fittest" based on physicality.. or genetic evolution. 
Today's survival game is based on information and money. In our worship of the 
almighty dollar, we are systematically eliminating the poor. Okay, maybe that's 
extreme, but in the very least, you'd have to agree that they are fast becomming
a "sub-culture" and are being held with extreme limitations as to what they can 
participate in and contribute to in modern day society. ( * I'm loosely using the 
terms "they" and "we", considering that I would most likely fall into the "poor" 
category by today's standards.)

Here's what I'm getting at..
(grow a testicle, I'm about to go activist on ya.)
"Memetics" is what's gotten us this far, and it's been an unbelievable learning 
and growing tool. But what is it teaching us today? How are we using it? We're 
not. It's using us. "Money makes the world go round", right? We are being 
"molded" to spend our money. Whoever is in charge of defining "cool" has the 
power to manipulate the world. THINK ABOUT IT! I'm talking about advertising, 
the media.. everywhere we look, we're being told what to think and how to feel.. 
and not only that, but even "the truth" is being spun to the point where 
newscasters are more concerned with their image than with the truth. The
"memes" are taking over our reality. 

"It is simply inconceivable that this daily, never ending stream of public 
suggestion and desire creation has no effect or influence on our spirits, our 
health, our jobs, our laws, our environment, our culture, our political process, 
or our national and international policy." ~Negativeland

My question is..
Are we strong enough to go against the current image of selfishness, and 
change the definition of cool? to incorporate some actual values and 
humanitarianism into our priorities? Ask yourself this, "What are we 
sacraficing at the expense of our money worshipping?" How different things 
would be if we came together as a whole and changed our priorities. If instead 
of money, we made "having happy, healthy families" the object of our mass 
idolatry? or perhaps instead of a career that earns you the big bucks, people 
actually strove for a career in the humanitary arts- something that helped 
people in need? something that aided in making this world a better place.. 

There's nothing wrong with some self indulgence.. but it's all so grossly out 
of balance. It's good to know our independence, and to test our strengths- but 
what good is it to be strong and independant, if we don't turn around and use 
it for the greater good? We live in probably the greatest country in the world, 
we've been given so many opportunities here.. but we're waisting them. That's.. 
inexcusable. We've got to stop the selfishness in this country. "Each man for 
himself" is good only for that man and his lifetime. When he dies, all his 
accomplishments are reduced to nothing and die with him. 

If we want to keep "evolving" and "improving", we have to think larger than 
ourselves. We have to start thinking of society. We have to care about how 
our society is evolving. Are we improving? On an individual basis, is what 
we're doing contributing to the betterment of society? In my opinion, a life of 
self indulgence is a life waisted. We have an opportunity here to change the 
world- to contribute something. I don't know how, but I'm going to find that 
something I can do- and I'm going to encourage every person I possibly can 
to find their something as well.

post note:
a perfect example of a "counter-meme" would be all the anti-cigarrette 
commercials we're starting to see on tv now.. "infect-truth". (you know, 
w/the dog poo and the baby dolls) There's no money there.. it's about 
knowledge, it's about behaviour modification. 
There is a fast growing "anti-meme" subculture on the net as well.. 
Here's a cool "counter-meme" site.. www.rtmark.com/
These guys were responsible for switching the voice boxes in G.I. Joe and 
Barbie dolls.. and a lot of other "pet projects" basically designed to smack 
us back into reality so that we're not sucked into all the hype. Cool site.



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