Fascinating Facts and Trivia - Discussion Thread

(17-01-2019 05:36 )CIA Snooper Wrote:  This idea of time isn't new. It was previously explored in the well known novel Slaughterhouse-Five, in which the leading character is abducted by the Tralfamadorians, an alien race who, like the hero of Watchmen, experience all of time simultaneously.

This concept of time also makes an appearance in Star Trek, as the prophets (or wormhole aliens) in Star Trek Deep Space 9 are seen to have no concept of linear time and don't understand it until Sisko explains it to them. I don't recall the word 'simultaneous' ever being used to describe their relationship with time, but nevertheless it seems clear throughout the series that the prophets can indeed simultaneously see the past, the present and the future.

(18-01-2019 14:23 )Davy Crockett Wrote:  

(17-01-2019 05:36 )CIA Snooper Wrote:  This idea of time isn't new. It was previously explored in the well known novel Slaughterhouse-Five, in which the leading character is abducted by the Tralfamadorians, an alien race who, like the hero of Watchmen, experience all of time simultaneously.

This concept of time also makes an appearance in Star Trek, as the prophets (or wormhole aliens) in Star Trek Deep Space 9 are seen to have no concept of linear time and don't understand it until Sisko explains it to them. I don't recall the word 'simultaneous' ever being used to describe their relationship with time, but nevertheless it seems clear throughout the series that the prophets can indeed simultaneously see the past, the present and the future.

has this anything to do with the parallel universe theories too? where for every decision you make, there is an alternate universe created where you took the other route, therefore leaving millions and millions and maybe even billions of alternate universes by the time you reach adulthood alone?? scary stuff for sure.

(19-01-2019 08:57 )kelly1066 Wrote:  has this anything to do with the parallel universe theories too?

That is actually a very good question, kelly. Because if there were both simultaneous time and parallel universes, it would mean that there would still be free will too.

In other words, simultaneous time means that the future already exists, but if there were also parallel universes it would mean that alternative futures can still be created.

Watchmen poster.

Thanks for the picture. That brings me to another Watchmen quote:

(13-01-2019 03:24 )goatman222 Wrote:  A live body and a dead body contain the same number of particles. Structurally, there’s no discernible difference. Life and death are unquantifiable abstracts.

This is clearly not true, as a dead body is breaking down, decaying, continually changing, not to mention that the cause of death itself must have involved some kind of structural change to the body. It doesn't make any sense to say that there's no discernible difference between a live body and a dead body.

As for life and death being unquantifiable abstracts, that's a philosophical argument rather than a statement of fact, because there are medical and other scientific definitions of what life is. If we discovered life on another planet, for example, we would be able to verify that something alive had been found.

The point about this quote though is that the speaker didn't intend it to be a statement of fact. Even within the science fiction scenario itself it wasn't meant to be a factual or accurate observation. It's the hero's way of showing his apathy, as he's now lost touch with humanity and just doesn't care anymore.