Jan 17, 2010
The Idea
This is an experiment in language evolution. Based upon the principle that complex systems arise from simple rules, as seen in fractal mathematics, I propose the following. I shall write a simple sentence below in English and set three simple rules, but that is where my job with this Blog ends. The rest, the evolution of the sentence is up to you. You must rewrite the previous (last-posted) version of the sentence according to your interpretation of the three rules, and post it as a comment.
I receive no financial gain from such an experiment and I am not a scientist nor a linguist beyond a Creative Writing degree. I am merely intrigued to witness the results of the ability of our collective global consciousness, embodied within the internet, to interpret this simple system and, in the spirit of Chaos Theory, to embrace the various mutations and glitches and to perhaps, even witness evolution, of meaning, of context, first hand. Perhaps an infinite number of apes at an infinite number of keyboards can rewrite the works of Shakespeare within our lifetimes, or within the life span of the Internet.
The Three Rules:
One: You must add or subtract one whole word from the sentence.
Two: You must add or subtract up to three letters from any word in the sentence.
Three: Punctuation is free. You may use any punctuation in any manner you like, to create meaning from the sentence or even begin a new sentence that follows the first. The sentence should eventually become a symphony.
Above is the sentence, the primordial soup, the anti-matter from who-know’s-what will emerge. Post your version; stick to the rules but remember, the most important proviso; have fun with it 
