Glossary
- AUTOLOGUE: Non-closing dialectic within the global network environment. A
dissipative memetic structure.
- CHAOS THEORY: The field of physics and mathematics dealing with the structures
of turbulence and the self-similar forms of fractal geometry.
- DECONSTRUCTION: Post-structural literary approach in which the whole of
literature is an open text. The supposition of decoding a text is broken down
through reference to the indeterminacy of any semiotic sign.
- DISSIPATIVE STRUCTURE: a structure which dissipates energy to keep its form. A
dissipative structure must be: 1: far from equilibrium [heat-death] 2: open
to its environment 3: auto-catalytic
- EMOTICON: A net-meme. A combination of colons and parentheses such that, when
turned on its side, a frowning or smiling face may be seen. Used to denote
emotion. Common varieties: :) :( ;) :I
- FOLLOWUP: A post sent in response to an initial post, excerpting from that
post, thus creating a thread.
- FRACTAL GEOMETRY: The geometry describing the inherent forms studied by chaos
theory. These structures are self-similar at many scales, complex forms
generated through simple iterative equations.
- GNOW: Net-neologism. To know through contextual, intuitive, or unconscious
knowledge; to know with gnosis, with a self-validated certainty through direct
experience.
- ITERATION: the process of generating numbers through an equation by which a
strange attractor in chaos is revealed. The first phase is the initiator form,
from whence arises the generator form, which becomes the initiator for the next
iteration around. Compare these 2 phases of operation to the initial POST, the
generator FOLLOWUP, through which the attractor -- the THREAD -- emerges.
- MEME: Fundamental agent of cultural transmission; an idea which spreads. The
emoticon is a meme; "starting a fire" was and is a behavioral meme.
- MEMETIC ATTRACTOR: Area of memetic similarity within an open text or field of
dialogue. A paradigm centers around a memetic attractor as a related area of
discourse.
- NON-LINEAR THERMODYNAMICS: Thermodynamic studies focused on the behavior of
dissipative structures.
- PARADIGM: The conceptual context shared by a field of thinkers. Defined
through their shared experiments and examples along with their constellation of
group commitments.
- POST: A single text piece sent forward to a group of people within the virtual
environment. The original text piece from which a thread is extended.
- RIDER: Term denoting the complementary role of any participant in a networked
AUTOLOGUE as both reader and writer of a thread, depending on the inclination
of the participant.
- STRANGE ATTRACTOR: Area within mathematical phase space which falls into a
specific region of activity over time even though the numerical data defining
it is randomly generated through a simple equation.
- THREAD: The chain of posts comprising an extended conversation within e.mail or
e.text. Over time, threads reemerge and weave into relationships with
one-another, thus revealing the presence of a memetic attractor.