[FRIAM] random v stochastic v indeterminate

[Steven A Smith]

Glen -

> I absolutely loathe the meme metaphor.
I do agree that it has been overused and overpopularized.
>    I don't usually agree with Nick's distinction between metaphor and analogy.  8^)  But here, I claim the meme isn't *anything* like a gene... or more clearly, there is no idea/thought construct that is anything like a gene.
Is there an alternate way of thinking/talking about the *apparent* 
encoding of human/social/cultural artifacts in language units, including 
what appears to be something a lot like "mutation and drift" across this 
space?

Or have I already (re)transgressed?

- Steve