Patterns of Information Mutating Over Time

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The discussion centers on the concept of how information evolves and mutates, particularly through alterations made by individuals on the internet. It highlights examples such as conspiracy theories, misinterpretations in chain letters, and changes made to shared content that can lead to significant alterations in meaning. The conversation explores the idea of whether there is a discernible pattern to these mutations, with one participant asserting that such changes are largely random, akin to natural selection. There is also mention of research into how network topology influences the spread of mutations, drawing a parallel between digital alterations and genetic mutations, though caution is expressed about directly correlating the two. Overall, the dialogue reflects on the chaotic nature of information evolution in digital spaces.
caumaan
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Is there a set pattern as to how information mutates? I should probably clarify; information like that which changes and evolves due to alteration by people over the internet.

Example: Some guy doesn't like the idea that the U.S. landed on the moon, so he says it was faked in an air force hanger.

Smaller example 1: A word that was mispelled in a chain letter is interpreted as a different word, so the person tries to correct it. When the word itself is altered, the sentence no longer makes sense, and the person changes that.

Smaller example 2: When a chain letter is circulated, and a person doesn't like something written in it ( a number, etc), and thus changes it.

What I am getting at is that information can be altered by people for any number of reasons, much like a form of natural selection. I'm sorry if this appears long or very strange, but it is late and I haven't had a Red Bull in a while. Replies are appreciated.
 
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Beyond believing in a deterministic world, and therefore trying to elucidate the exact causal relationship between the changes, no, I don't think that there is any pattern. Mutations of this type are in essence 'Random'
 
Originally posted by Another God
Beyond believing in a deterministic world, and therefore trying to elucidate the exact causal relationship between the changes, no, I don't think that there is any pattern. Mutations of this type are in essence 'Random'
Except maybe mutations induced by virusses?
 
There's lots of research going on now about how the topology of networks affects the spread of random and non-random effects.
 
There certainly are hotspots for mutations in the genome, but I don't think those are targeted to a certain gene per se.
 
Are we making a correlation between typos on computers and mistakes in the human genome? If so, I think I will avoid this one.

Nautica
 
Caumaan, how exactly did you come up with this idea? Was this an example of mutated information?
 

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