Who said anything about "scientific validity"?? It's just a flippin' word of recent coinage, which happened to cover the particular concept I wanted to convey -- that of an idea which is transmitted from person to person (generally without the benefit of proof or questioning). I could have used another word, but I didn't happen to. Calm down...
> There are actual words you should consider that convey actually valid concepts: cliche and nostrum for example.
A "cliche" is a different thing from what I wanted to convey (which had to do with transmission). "Nostrum" is better, since it conveys falsehood (or at least exaggeration), but it likewise doesn't convey transmission.
Maybe I should have used "gossip".
> Nothing personal, but anyone using the word "meme" is stamping himself as an intellectual lightweight, and a poseur, plain and simple.
Ah, well, it's a free country, so if you want to make that kind of judgment, on the basis of one word, you're welcome to. OTOH, you're wrong, so I'll ask you to keep further explication of your position on this matter to yourself, since your name-calling is indeed rather personal, despite your disclaimer. Fortunately, I don't take it personally, because I know better. ;-)