Reading the sucker shoot analogy in a Florence Littauer book (CAUTION: Littauer is memetic toxic waste with some potentially useful bits). That was the last straw after months of doubts, the bit where it went "click! Oh, this is actually really bad for me, isn't it?" Had my social life been on the internet then (this was 1993) this would have been followed with a "gosh, that was stupid, wasn't it?" post. I hope.

It may be relevant that I was reading the Littauer book because Littauer's books and personality theories were officially advocated in the MLM in question (Omegatrend, a schism of Amway) - so it seemed to be coming from inside. I worry slightly that I might have paid insufficient attention had it been from outside.

I'd be interested to know how others (a) suffered a memetic cold (b) got out of it. Possible post material.