Surinical t1_j25w6y5 wrote
Reply to comment by jackiethewitch in [WP] Quantum Physics responds when things are being observed. For some reason, the universe doesn't consider you to be an observer, and daily life can get pretty weird when no one is watching. by akschurman
The universe doesn't flag the protagonist as an observer, so the things that always hang just out of sight don't hide from him.
jackiethewitch t1_j25x93q wrote
No, I understand quantum physics and the coin being in a superstate until the wave function collapsed by his friend turning around. (queue Feynman's "Anybody who thinks they understand Quantum Mechanics does not understand Quantum Mechanics.") What I don't get is what the protagonist sees at the end.
That's what is frustrating to me here -- I love your story. I love how you wrote it, and the scientific accuracy of the explanation and the coin. I have no idea what happens at the end. (or perhaps more accurately, what probabilities the protagonist saw before the end.)
Surinical t1_j25xeyg wrote
The coyote is the thing that hangs always out of sight. Not a reference to real science. The message is from some benevolent entity warning him to not let the coyote know he can see it or it will recognize him as an observer.
jackiethewitch t1_j25xvoh wrote
> The coyote is the thing that hangs always out of sight.
Is this a pop culture reference I'm missing? (I live on pop culture references, that embarasses me.)
Surinical t1_j25ym0y wrote
A few horror stories and movies are based around a monster that thinks it's invisible and the characters have to act like they don't see it while hiding how terrified they are, so I thought I would work that concept into this.
Dale shivers as the coyote approaches to show he somewhat can sense it, maybe as a feeling of being watched. So the coyote is what causes that hurry up and close the door feeling we get sometimes when it's dark and quiet.
There's not really much 'to get' that you're missing. I just thought it was an interesting concept.
jackiethewitch t1_j261j5a wrote
> I just thought it was an interesting concept.
It was. Interesting enough that I was very bothered by not understanding it.
So it's supposed to be something of a mystery -- some supernaturalquantum mythological horror being.
Surinical t1_j261peb wrote
Yes, that's what I intended, for the reader to be confused alongside the protagonist
QuinticSpline t1_j26sop5 wrote
>So the coyote is what causes that hurry up and close the door feeling we get sometimes when it's dark and quiet.
... did you just curse us all?
GalaxyTachyon t1_j28gc03 wrote
Sounds like a Tindalos hound, or subconsciously inspired by it. A canine hidden in the depth of spacetime.
bigloser42 t1_j26ulxg wrote
Not a reference to real science that you know of. Those of us that have unlocked the deep mysteries of quantum mechanics know better, and we all turn away to avoid going mad.
GalaxyTachyon t1_j28g6hd wrote
In a way, Lovecraft was right. The true reality of the universe is maddening. Quantum mechanics is just the first glimpse we have into the depth of the truth. Imagine what else we will see later on, and what kind of things lie at the bottom of the abyss.
Right now it almost takes a madman to comprehend and work with QM. I think we literally need a real mad man to go beyond it.
Physix_R_Cool t1_j26spu0 wrote
>and the scientific accuracy of the explanation and the coin.
It's not that accurate though. Even though the coin is in a superposition, all the individual states will still fall, so there's no reason that the coin should be hanging in the air.
jackiethewitch t1_j28t960 wrote
Username checks out!
You're right. The coin should have fallen. On both sides. And its edge.
Physix_R_Cool t1_j28yf1e wrote
In real actuality the coin would just act as a normal classical object, since the environment will act as observer.
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