Science Meme

[Anarchemitis]

The Science of Memetics is basically how ideas and content change in a way similar to Genetics (hence Memetics' similar name). Richard Dawkins posulated the theory in his book The Selfish Gene that aspects of human culture and ideas could morph, deform and split in similar ways to the ways which genes do in biological evolution.
Memes have become a quite popular phenomenon on the Internet, spawning new 'Internet Cultural memes' every week it seems.

shown: Culture, apparently.​

It's also become quite a popular past time to track down the origin of memes, such as with KnowYourMeme or Encyclopedia Dramatica, turning Memetics into an ad-hoc comedy science.
But I've realized that there has been a meme that has seemingly escaped detection for many years, so much so that it has infiltrated beyond the realm of the internet and into mass media the world over.

[img_inline caption="See if you can notice how often people will talk about the use of science on TV."]http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/5732/sciencememe.png[/img_inline]​

The word "science" has memetically mutated from being what it originally was (A Method and Pursuit) to not only an Idea, but also into a collective and singular Noun as well as a Verb in some contexts. "To Use Science", "Science has declared", etc. and I find it absoloutely fascinating that no one has noticed this before.
You wouldn't think that "science" could be studied under Memetics because Memetics has yet to become a Science. That simple statement is probably the obtuse thought that prevents it from being noticed. So point of debate/conversation: do you think that the usage of the word "Science" has/should become a Meme?​

 

[Irridium]

I've noticed this actually. Pretty interesting.
Its like the entire internet just silently accepted it as a meme.

Pretty interesting.

Also, obligatory xkcd

 

[mirror's edgy]

Dr. Insano has made it so.

 

[Dags90]

Science has become a business[footnote]Specifically a marketing and journalistic tool.[/footnote] in its own right, people love "studies". There's a reasonably large portion of the free market who would believe outlandish claims (and buy outlandish products) on the basis of of a handful of "scientists" doing a single "study". I try to tell my mother this when she wastes money on "scientifically tested" snake oil, or as the case may be, her interest in "emu oil". Seriously, "emu oil", it's scientifically tested to work on rats by a small number of studies. Call the number on your screen within the next 10 minutes and receive a special two-for-one offer!

There are also people who like to read stories about how "Lemons shown to improve the taste of sperm". Sure, it's not rigorous science and can hardly be called conclusive when they cite one study which actually says "Maybe a little, more research needs to be done." But usually these stories are of small scope and serve to reinforce pop-knowledge, which is pretty harmless.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Spoiler: Did somebody say...

Yes, it is becoming a meme. Nerd culture strikes again!

[sub]Yeah, I've noticed the word Science popping up all over the place now. This is bad as the public's perception of scientific study and real science will begin to shift...[/sub]

 

[5mj7R7yf4Dwr3gdZyyu9PeGNwYjlNrjzuh3iTXQG]

Science as an anthropomorphous entity is an evolution of its misrepresentation, usually by those who don't like laws of nature conflicting with their sacred scipture (e.g. the bibles vs. the contemporary Theory of Evolution or Cosmology).

That said, I prefer not to encourage this variant of the meme.

Yet in the interest of full disclosure, I'm not above saying it is commonly understood in the Psychiatric sector that... which is really a fancy way of saying Science says...

On the other hand, Mad Science, known in the real world as crackpottery or fringe science is a real world phenomenon, and makes a perfectly fine meme. Doing things for science! is the same thing as doing it in the pursuit of further knowledge. Provided proper records are taken of all observations, this is generally a good thing.

 

[Anarchemitis]

On the other hand, Mad Science, known in the real world as crackpottery or fringe science is a real world phenomenon, and makes a perfectly fine meme. Doing things for science! is the same thing as doing it in the pursuit of further knowledge. Provided proper records are taken of all observations, this is generally a good thing.

My observation is the fact that the one word has splintered into so many definitions, such as the ones you stipulated.

 

[Chromatic Aberration]

Interesting....

However, instead of explaining this sort of recurring theme based on science just with the memes I would go a bit further and say that this is a genuinely new stereotype of science. A stereotype that plays more on the "mystic" and awesome aspect of science rather than its dangers (as is e.g. the case for the Frankenstein-esque version of any scientist). Also, please note that I see a meme as a, in scope, smaller version of a true stereotype as memes are for the most part restricted to the internet and usually do not show up in public discourse.

As for the origin of this stereotype I would argue that science has been pushed into some sort meta-religion in the collective mind thus representing more a "belief" rather than a methodological way to reach practical applications using models of the laws of nature.

What might have played a role here is the forced controversy between science and religion in the recent years essentially suggesting them to be two incompatible ideologies instead of being two different things altogether. Also, recent developments in science and the scope of modern experiments (the LHC being my prime example here) will also have a part of "mystifying" science - for the casual observer science becomes even more strange and ununderstandable if the things that you see are even more gigantic,crazy and defying of the natural sense.

As a final point you can also argue that the persistence of the negative image of science fades (and with this its corresponding stereotypes) making room for a more positive image of science. During the 20th century science was for the most part present as a method to kill more people, more cruel in a shorter period of time. This development reached its peak with the development of nuclear weapons which effectively amounted to the possible destruction of the whole world by science. Science was not seen as force or method to do good - it was perceived as a dangerous tool and as "Things Man Was Not Meant To Know" [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow] rather than something that could have a positive impact on life. Now, with the cold war being over for more than 20 years I can imagine that these sorts of stereotypes lose their perceived legitimacy and begin to fade...making room for ridiculing the stereotype and paint science in a more positive light....

ahhhm yes....and its awesome! FOR SCIENCE!

 

[BlumiereBleck]

SCIIIIENCE!!!! Science!!!

 

[Jegsimmons]

did he ever find Neutro by the way? 80 foot tall robot. levels cities...

 

[Dango]

Richard Dawkins

...Isn't that the guy from Hogan's Heroes who also hosted Family Feud? Or is Richard Dawkins just an annoyingly common name?

OT: Yeah, I've have been noticing an increase in science-related things recently, probably because science is for some reason starting to replace God in terms of authority and influence...

 

[Dango]

Richard Dawkins

...Isn't that the guy from Hogan's Heroes who also hosted Family Feud? Or is Richard Dawkins just an annoyingly common name?

OT: Yeah, I've have been noticing an increase in science-related things recently, probably because science is for some reason starting to replace God in terms of authority and influence...

That was Richard Dawson. Richard Dawkins is...a famous atheist, I believe?

Oh... well thanks for clearing that up... very similar names those two have...

 

[Jackpot524]

Though I hate all the fake science and babble that has seeped it's way into our modern society...
I do enjoy the silly nature that this meme has taken on.

Teddy Roosevelt wrestling a bear = Science! = I laugh

But beyond the "scary door" of science...

Vaccines = Autism = Science! = Are you @*#!ing kidding me?!?!

Vaccines = A healthy disease free future = Science! = Good Times! (Also Reality)

 

[Plurralbles]

here:

No one posted this because they don't give a shit but it's pretty obvious.

EDIT: And you shot yourself in the foot for contextualizing it within memes instead of positing that it's a societal trend that's been going on since the 50's.

 

[Anarchemitis]

here:

No one posted this because they don't give a shit but it's pretty obvious.

Thank you for your blunt profane candor.

And you shot yourself in the foot for contextualizing it within memes instead of positing that it's a societal trend that's been going on since the 50's.

Memes was a term I theorized I could nail down. I'm aware that the [relatively speaking] phenomenon has been going on for many decades, ever since science began to grow in the public consciousness with nuclear weapons and space programs and whatnot.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Science has become a business[footnote]Specifically a marketing and journalistic tool.[/footnote] in its own right, people love "studies". There's a reasonably large portion of the free market who would believe outlandish claims (and buy outlandish products) on the basis of of a handful of "scientists" doing a single "study". I try to tell my mother this when she wastes money on "scientifically tested" snake oil, or as the case may be, her interest in "emu oil". Seriously, "emu oil", it's scientifically tested to work on rats by a small number of studies. Call the number on your screen within the next 10 minutes and receive a special two-for-one offer!

There are also people who like to read stories about how "Lemons shown to improve the taste of sperm". Sure, it's not rigorous science and can hardly be called conclusive when they cite one study which actually says "Maybe a little, more research needs to be done." But usually these stories are of small scope and serve to reinforce pop-knowledge, which is pretty harmless.

I recommend the fun little read: How to Lie With Statistics. It documents many of the tricks (skewing graphs by showing them out of proportion, "studies" that consist of ten or twenty participants, etc.).
OP: I noticed and embraced it when Dr. Insano appeared. I'll defeat you with SCIENCE!

 

[Something Amyss]

Dr. Insano has made it so.

I've been using the phrase for years, for a different reason. It was more an...Excuse.

Also, the ICP thing really does deserve to be mocked, so if it's become a meme, more power to it...For Science!

 

[DaggerOfCompassion]

Obligatory pretentious comment that I noticed this before.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

It definitely has become a meme, maybe it has been for a while. However my first encounter with it where I actually found it funny...

Spoiler: SCIENCE!

Dr. Insano! Long live science!

 

[Wintermoot]

,nuff asked