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[[File:Militant atheist image.jpg|thumb|400px|A popular internet meme image, depicting [[militant atheist]]s, produced by [[Mariano Grinbank]] of [[True Freethinker]], in response to a [[cartoon]] created by John Loftus, a defender of [[militant atheism]].]]

[[File:Militant atheist image.jpg|thumb|400px|A popular internet meme image, depicting [[militant atheist]]s, produced by [[Mariano Grinbank]] of [[True Freethinker]], in response to a [[cartoon]] created by John Loftus, a defender of [[militant atheism]].]]

'''Meme''' is a term used to describe the spread and modification of [[idea]]s in a selection and [[reproduction]] context. They are sometimes compared to viruses as an analogy, in that ideas pass to new people from those who already have that idea ("transmission"), and that they will also change over time to become more effective at catching people's attention and remaining in their mind. This is because someone who contacts the idea but doesn't like it is unlikely to spread the idea to others, so the easily transmitted ideas spread further.  

'''Meme''' is a term used to describe the spread and modification of [[idea]]s in a selection and [[reproduction]] context. [[Richard Dawkins]] coined the term and the concept of a [[meme]]. Memes are sometimes compared to viruses as an analogy, in that ideas pass to new people from those who already have that idea ("transmission"), and that they will also change over time to become more effective at catching people's attention and remaining in their mind. This is because someone who contacts the idea but doesn't like it is unlikely to spread the idea to others, so the easily transmitted ideas spread further.  

That is, there are two main ways ideas can spread - by being transmitted easily, or by remaining in someone's mind for a long time (having a low transmission rate but many opportunities for that transmission to occur). The term has also been applied to the spread of [[viral]] fads on the [[Internet]] such as certain YouTube videos, because the fads spread rapidly and are only introduced to new people through those who have already contacted it. These are in the category of being transmitted easily, and since they have low staying power, they rarely remain popular for more than a few months each.  

That is, there are two main ways ideas can spread - by being transmitted easily, or by remaining in someone's mind for a long time (having a low transmission rate but many opportunities for that transmission to occur). The term has also been applied to the spread of [[viral]] fads on the [[Internet]] such as certain YouTube videos, because the fads spread rapidly and are only introduced to new people through those who have already contacted it. These are in the category of being transmitted easily, and since they have low staying power, they rarely remain popular for more than a few months each.