Sophy> The Spread of a SucceSSful but perniciouSmeme, eSpecially one that paraSitiSeS the victimS into giving their all to propagate it. AStrology, BASIC, and the other guy' S religion are often conSidered to be exampleS. ThiS uSage iS given point by the hiStorical fact that "joiner" ideologieS like NaziiSm or variouS formS of millennarian ChriStianity have exhibited plague-like cycleS of exponential growth followed by collapSeS to Small reServoir populationS. [Jargon File] (1996-08-11)