What's happening here?

I see that there is on-going action in the memes about Psi.  Action that will up the level of acceptance in the research and general public cultures.  It was always going to happen, because the phenomena are there to be documented.

Maybe I'm too happy?

I am a retired sales and marketing exec, so I look curiously at the overall expression of public sentiment and how it evolves.  Decades ago I was interested in the debate about evolution and the inheritability of purposeful behavior.  Lamarck was - at the time - a failed theorist in a Darwinian landscape.

Just the few decades later, data patterns have proved Lamarckian pathways, and while subtle, they have major roles in current inheritance models.  When I read Darwin, he believed in Lamarckian pathways and in mental evolution.  Not what is reported as "Darwinism" by mass-media academic mouthpieces.  The flavor of that selfish-gene talk is even changing now, as the computational battle about it is over.

Is the same arc of discovery emerging now with Psi?   Science is hard at work understanding, technically, how living things understand and envision anything at all?  This will lead to a natural face to Psi (in my humble opinion).  Natural pathways in no way exclude a spiritual side to Psi, but does limit arguments to science data.  Personally, the actualization of Psi events only legitimizes potential deeper spiritual meaning.

Is the paradigm ripe for change?  The underlying arguments against Psi are falling away to shrill declarations.

What does Psiencequest tribe think???????

[Ninshub]

I haven't noticed this. What's an example of memes about psi?

I didn't even know there were psi memes. I'd love to see some.

I didn't even know there were psi memes. I'd love to see some.

I would say this meme conveys a sense of good personal meaning, but of limited importance in practical life.

There was a guy named "George" on Kastrup forums awhile back that would look at the discussion of the paranormal on Reddit, I didn't follow too closely but it was interesting even if one has only their gut check to decide what anonymous posts are genuine. (Admittedly this applies here as well.)

I wonder if he is looking at these memes or even making them now. There are some "paranormal" entertainment spaces that largely are about roleplaying or scary fiction but sometimes [d]o invite discussion on parapsychology...

Every now and then I see something on social media about Simulation Hypothesis, Tarot, Witchcraft, and/or Astrology. Like your observation on memes it does seem the general public has always had an interest but this shifting into something more like a positive acceptance of Psi that skepticism + religion didn't have much tolerance for in the past. Memes seem to have a way to capture/produce a kind of "sub-culture" zeitgeist for better or worse, so I think you are right to keep track of this stuff.

I've also noticed a personal trend where acceptance of the paranormal - or at least discussion of it - has increased. It's what allowed me to gather a group of people to visit a "sensitive" who claimed to have access to the spirit world. Sadly my desire to visit mediums, shamans, etc was derailed the last two years by COVID but ideally can be picked up.

I haven't noticed this. What's an example of memes about psi?

I expected a little more blow-back on the cat photo.  I posted it just to evidence that I know the term memes has evolved around photos and visual scenes.  Outside of the current use of meme as a term, I see it as it was defined by Dawkins.  Memes communicate a context and a ready meaning.  Something easily remembered and socialized.

In fact, the cat fortune-teller, does offend me at a sub-conscious level.  In the light of consideration, of course it is merely humorous and doesn't represent my pride about supporting Psi.  But, it does mirror the meme I did have in mind - the meme where anomalous information transfer, without a signal, is not tractable in science terms.  The meme is framing a - interesting and playing some small role - context.  The current meme(s) of Psi are not the engaging hot topic with paradigm changing fundamentals, which I believe is brewing.  I am sincere in seeing the knee-jerk reaction to Psi evidence changing to interest.

Traction is needed - in a marketing sense - and that means a different foreground in the context.  A foreground with new research of interest in building a model of how the heck it works.

I see that there is on-going action in the memes about Psi.  Action that will up the level of acceptance in the research and general public cultures.  It was always going to happen, because the phenomena are there to be documented.

Maybe I'm too happy?

I am a retired sales and marketing exec, so I look curiously at the overall expression of public sentiment and how it evolves.  Decades ago I was interested in the debate about evolution and the inheritability of purposeful behavior.  Lamarck was - at the time - a failed theorist in a Darwinian landscape.

Just the few decades later, data patterns have proved Lamarckian pathways, and while subtle, they have major roles in current inheritance models.  When I read Darwin, he believed in Lamarckian pathways and in mental evolution.  Not what is reported as "Darwinism" by mass-media academic mouthpieces.  The flavor of that selfish-gene talk is even changing now, as the computational battle about it is over.

Is the same arc of discovery emerging now with Psi?   Science is hard at work understanding, technically, how living things understand and envision anything at all?  This will lead to a natural face to Psi (in my humble opinion).  Natural pathways in no way exclude a spiritual side to Psi, but does limit arguments to science data.  Personally, the actualization of Psi events only legitimizes potential deeper spiritual meaning.

Is the paradigm ripe for change?  The underlying arguments against Psi are falling away to shrill declarations.

What does Psiencequest tribe think???????

Maybe a little late to jump into this, April thread start and now it is September.

Do you think this wave is similar to the "craze" where mediums, esoteric, and occult popularity rose up in the 1860's?

For me, these always appear to be repeating themes, as if those who start this, and those who follow, are likely incarnated at or around the same time periods, over and over. People's lives suck, they fight back, they cling to odd things, supernatural things, religions. Nobody has much success with any of it, then it loses that momentum.

The rise and fall of the same herd mentality. Or herd intoxication. Usually followed by fundamentalists, puritans, and stomping this into the ground with violence. The rise and fall of nations, similar. 

I don't see it as anything that advances or improves society, because society will always (mostly) get the content of psi phenomena wrong, misinterpret what it is, assign it to magical thinking and woo woo, and not be willing to do any actual work to properly achieve anything. In particular when it won't just happen at the wave of that $13 wand they bought on Ebay, or just do what they want, when they want, with the warped and sick ego problems driving sick desires, and not actually ever using proper intent or will. The other favorite of mine is when they all run screaming when something does happen, and end up with pitchforks and torches for anything they imagine to be related to the fear factor experience. Like Ouija boards...

Then the cycel repeats, the hot air is let out of that bubble, and they return to some other theme.

Do you think this wave is similar to the "craze" where mediums, esoteric, and occult popularity rose up in the 1860's?

The rise and fall of the same herd mentality. Or herd intoxication. Usually followed by fundamentalists, puritans, and stomping this into the ground with violence. The rise and fall of nations, similar. 

I don't see it as anything that advances or improves society, because society will always (mostly) get the content of psi phenomena wrong, misinterpret what it is, assign it to magical thinking and woo woo, and not be willing to do any actual work to properly achieve anything.

No, I don't see the naturalization of information as related to a version of 1860's spiritualism.  Nor is the work of folks like Ray Moody and others.  

I do see Psi as a phenomenon worthy of scientific exploration, because it has emerged and manifested in real people for all time and all places of history.  Think D. Hume and constant conjunction plus inference.

Those who have experienced Psi and talk about it have been hounded and belittled through all written history.  Science can change ignorance.

You spoke about natural pathways into psi.  One thing that happens with science is that new ideas get laughed at and silenced for a number of years and then somebody else picks them up again and takes the credit for them as they get treated seriously.  My thinking here is Lyall Watson's "Supernature"