Initiation: Memetics initiation

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4.3: Memetics initiation

As explained in 3.3.1: Memetics timeline, the primary goal for memetics in the short-term is creating additional Singularitarians, particularly those needed for the initiation of the Singularity Institute and its projects. (1).

The task of memetics in the short-term is ensuring that the maximum number of likely helpers find out about the Singularity in all its coolness, the quest for Singularity, and the location of the Singularitarian mailing list. (Note: The last piece of information, or even the fact that a Singularitarian group exists, belongs in second-step or third-step documents.)

The three points where effort can be applied:

Creating new, exciting, and future-shocky Web pages;
Linking existing and new Web pages into the 'Net (or otherwise increasing the number of hits);
Writing for-print articles (see 3.3.2: Meme propagation and first-step documents) which will enthuse readers and refer them to the Web pages.

Publication memetics - Websites and articles - are, I hope, something that's easy to volunteer. The only prerequisite is intelligence, writing ability, a computer, and a lot of timesweat; but it's timesweat that can be distributed over an arbitrary amount of volunteered time. In short, it doesn't take Institute resources.

Publication memetics, because they require little in the way of an initial investment (while by-their-nature being directed towards future growth) are the chief instruments of initiation, and the primary present way in which "You can help the Singularity now." I've been "volunteering" Websites in the service of the Singularity for three years. (2). This includes the very page you're now reading.

1: Which is not to say that we should write imploring articles. Asking directly will turn people off and should be entirely unnecessary. We have this massively important quest, we have a "Help Wanted" section, and anyone likely to help doesn't need to be hit with a bludgeon. Common sense and subtlety should be given unrestricted rein. In those people likely to help, getting interested in the Singularity, and the quest for Singularity, is likely to lead directly to the desire to help, without any nudges on our part.

2: At least, I hope they count as a service.

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