When I went to Hampshire College for that short time, they didn’t offer the theoretical physics course I wanted (Quantum Physics for the Myriad I think it was, as the prof was away that year). Devastated, I looked at other options and one of them was a course called “Mommies, Monsters and Superheroes: A study of children’s play” – an absolutely fascinating child psychology course all centered around play. That’s where I learned about the memetics of nursery rhymes, how they shift and change — although she didn’t call it memes or memetics I don’t think. One fascinating fact I learned is the ‘nyah nyah” mocking song has apparently been found in EVERY culture on earth in children. At least in 1990, they didn’t know why.

Devastated, I looked at other options and one of them was a course called “Mommies, Monsters and Superheroes: A study of children’s play” – an absolutely fascinating child psychology course all centered around play.

That’s where I learned about the memetics of nursery rhymes, how they shift and change — although she didn’t call it memes or memetics I don’t think.

One fascinating fact I learned is the ‘nyah nyah” mocking song has apparently been found in EVERY culture on earth in children. At least in 1990, they didn’t know why.