Mimetic theory may explain why AMC and GameStop shares continue to be as valuable as they are despite them being from dying industries. Developed by Rene Girard, mimetic theory describes how people desire things because other people desire them also (“mimeticality” or imitation). When people started buying these “meme” stocks for fun, other people soon started imitating them, which made their prices skyrocket and ultimately caused them to remain valuable.
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Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
