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Containment can lead to contagion — Gordon Brander

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One of the lessons from the theory of natural selection is that a degree of isolation can be a great help to a new strategy in gaining a foothold. Island ecologies. Games are an ecological niche where surprising innovations can evolve. From Evolutionary Design by Computers: An early example of prehistoric engineering was the spear-thrower. This was a short stick, slightly worked at one end to fit the butt of a spear. The user held the other end, and flung the spear with it. The spear-thrower enabled force to be applied to the spear through a longer distance... It is difficult to see how such a device arose. It seems unlikely that it was an invention, because it is not an easy device to use and the technique is difficult to acquire. It seems more probable to the writer that it arose in play and developed as an informal game, throwing a spear with a stick. To begin with, range would be reduced, accuracy greatly reduced, and muffed throws common. Moreover, the ideal spear would be lighter

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