The Sword and Laser discussion

Finished reading Rule 34 and I liked it OK though I thought Halting State was a better read. The interesting piece to me about Rule 34 was the memes that Stross was playing with in the story. Police state through ubiquitous technology as the means of control, tech being used to create any fantasy possible no matter how deviant (the 2 suit case), the breaking down of the nation state as a means of societal control, and the possible emergence of AI as a self aware entity after a period of unself awarness. In some ways I think Stross wrote a thought piece as much as a story and I found it pulling me out of the story to mull over the points he was making about the above memes and also his interpretation of them in the story. Different kind of read and I am glad we read this for the club or it mught have been back burner longer for me.

Anyone see other memes?

That's not really what I think of when I think of a "meme."

Which reminds me, why was this called Rule 34 anyway? I can thing of a dozen better, more relevant names.

I haven't read the book, but I agree what you said doesn't fit in with what I think of a "meme." Unless you're talking about the proliferation of pornography as a cultural phenomenon.

Mike wrote: "That's not really what I think of when I think of a "meme."

Which reminds me, why was this called Rule 34 anyway? I can thing of a dozen better, more relevant names."

@Mike: I totally agree that it doesn't fit in with the definition of a "meme". Also Rule 34 states that "If it exists, there is porn of it. No exceptions."

I agree with everyone else that you're not speaking about memes, but more identifying the author's social commentary.

I really enjoyed the social commentary as well and found it to be one of the few saving graces of this book. In addition to the ones you noted, there was also a small tirade against the cost and financing of higher education in Liz's head at one point that I really enjoyed. Liz pondered whether or not her little piece of sheepskin that she's STILL paying for was really worth it. There's a feeling that a lot of us can probably relate with.

Ok you guys you have to do better than "not the definition of meme"...Why?....meme is defined by urban dictionary as http://www.urbandictionary.com/define...