[bikamonki]

Nothing wrong with such memes, they are like good bacteria. We are talking about memes that want you to take actions (coercive memes) like spending your money on one product/service, or join a religion and then bomb the temple of another religion.

[splawn]

I guess my point is no one is truly immune from meme infection as its a side effect of having a brain, its not something you can control.... "Enjoy." "I'm lovin it."

[mirimir]

Some memes immunize us against other memes. As a scientist, I'm immunized against all sorts of religious memes. But of course, carriers of religious memes are typically immunized (at least partially) against scientific memes.

[splawn]

I do not disagree with your point. However, if a meme works on the unconscious as many ad campaigns supposedly do, then it seems to me like anyone that makes the claim that they are "immune" should viewed skeptically. No one wants to think that advertising affects their choices, yet advertising seems to work.

[bikamonki]

True, it was a bold claim on my end. In lack of complete information we will be tricked by subtle clues, like the first time you visit a town you'll be driven to one restaurant and not others bases on such clues triggering your already hard-wired bias. But for the most part I can tell, and ignore, ads/coercive memes. They don't annoy me at all, I truly just ignore them.

[mirimir]

Advertising works because most people are not consciously present most of the time. But one can learn to distinguish oneself from ones default thoughts, which are just recordings that get cued up by triggers. And be present.

[splawn]

It sounds like you are saying it is possible to escape cognitive bias, but that might just be my cognitive bias getting in the way. :)