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Basics of Alchemy - Second Class - Period Five - Monday, 9/8

As today was mostly going to be a lecture class, there hadn't been much of anything to set up. Abby Irene sat at the front of the class, leaning against her desk, and the students filed in as they would. There was nothing on their desks but a number of papers and nothing on the board for the moment. That would soon change, of course, as she launched into the lecture... but they should enjoy it for the meantime.

"I certainly hope you came into class today prepared for a bit of work. I know a few of you will have it somewhat easier for having been in my last class, but for all I know the others might have some passing familiarity with beastiaries which could provide them the same advantage. That said, let's dig into this, shall we? I promise, this should be the least explosive class of the semester."

[ocd ~~coming~~ up!]

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In regards to this handout (http://www.hyle.org/journal/issues/9-2/obrist.htm), do you believe that something might have been lost with the change from a preference in writing things out to symbolism? Which do you prefer and why?

Tony stared at the handout, wondering if there was a spell on Arra's laptop that would help cram all this stuff into his brain. Because he was beginning to think he was in way over his head. As the terrified expression on his face might suggest.

She leaned over and smiled at him gently.

"I promise it's not as terrifying as it looks. It's not even a real question of alchemy so much as a question of preference."

She considered that.

"Do you use a computer?"

...yes, the woman in getup from 1900 is asking him this.

"Yeah, I do," Tony said.

She smiled.

"Right then. Well, in a browser, for instance, there are some things that are written across the top, such as File and Edit and so, using words. And then there are symbols, those used to go backwards or fowards, or to reload a page.

"Which one do you prefer? And why do you think some are words and others are symbols? Do you think something is lost by using only symbols for certain things?"

"I like the symbols," Tony said. "But not everyone does. Some people like the words, instead. They think it's clearer. So I think... maybe something is lost if there's just symbols." He chewed on the end of his pen. "Because symbols don't always mean the same thing to different people."

She positively beamed.

"And think of how positively upsetting that can end up being to an alchemist as opposed to someone idly using a computer?"

Tony smiled. "And if he got things mixed up, it could really f- ah, mess things up. Possibly be dangerous."

"But, on the other hand," she pointed out with a wider grin, "if you were trying to keep your knowledge to only a select few, horde it, or you were concerned about someone doing something to it... symbols might seem like a very good idea. Especially, say, when paper is scarce and they use much less of it than words."

"Yeah, I guess you couldn't password-protect stuff in the old days," he smiled.

She laughed.

"Not really, no. So... is the question a little less daunting now?"

"Yeah, it is," Tony said, a little surprised. "Thanks."

She nodded.

"You're very welcome. Do feel free to ask for assistance if you require it. That is what I'm here for."

"The meaning of the symbols could get lost eventually too," Harry pointed out. "Enough years down the line and nobody's going to know which squiggle means what anymore and even if stuff was written down symbolically it won't do anybody any good."

"I guess the choice of writing or symbols would depend a lot on who you're writing for," Tony said. "If it's your private personal notes, you'd do it differently from if you're writing a book for the next generation."

"Yeah," Harry said. "There is that. Of course, sometimes I can't even understand all my own notes when I write everything down, so I'd be doomed if it were all symbols and I forgot some of them."

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Basics of Alchemy - Second Class - Period Five - Monday, 9/8

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