[ExI] You know what?

[Lee Corbin]

PJ writes

>> Sure, some memes work that way (some mannerisms
>> for example), but most memes discussed generally
>> (tunes, religous memes, clothing fashions, and so on)
>> are quite consciously acquired.
>>
>> And I *do* think that picking up cute phrases falls into
>> that category. I submit that people are entirely aware of
>> their adoption of a new meme, in accordance with a
>> mechanism that PJ describes quite succinctly in an
>> upcoming email.
> 
> Just to be clear, I agree with Damien -- it's mostly unconscious.
> Think mirror neurons.  We mimic all the time, unconsciously, to
> empathize and adapt to group dynamics.

I listed memes that are surely conscious: tunes, religious
memes, clothing fashions. Yes, some mimickry is unconscious,
as (often) in gesturing. But as you yourself wrote

> Someone starts a behavior, we see something to admire in them
> and we copy it.  Or we don't see something we admire and we still 
> copy it, because all we really desperately want is to fit in.

Lee