fandomhigh | Quantum Physics 225: Wednesday, Fifth Period

The Doctor comes into the classroom late with a box from amazon.com. He drops one copy of the book onto each student's desk. They hit with a thump.

"Good afternoon." He sits back on his desk and chews his pen.

"So I said we're going to do practicals on Wednesdays. This is true generally, but not today. After all, there's little we've learned for you to do a practical ABOUT.

"You're probably wondering why I dropped a history reader on your desk in the middle of a science class. This," he gestures towards the book, "is a very general overview of what happened in the United States during this time period. If we're going to go anywhere remotely near it, or even going to discuss travelling there theoretically, you're going to need to know what happened, and when, and where. Maybe not down to the barest detail. But when dealing with a period this packed full of historical nexii, you cannot afford to be ignorant.

"Some of you may think you know the period. You've listened to Janis, read a little Leary, ~~dropped a little too much acid,~~ watched the Armstrong footage--which wasn't faked, by the way. You know about My Lai and Kent State." A pause. "Take all of that and set it aside. It's time to look beyond the nostalgia. And then some of you don't know anything at all, except perhaps a fashion statement or two that's survived the generations." Ten laughs a little. "Time distorts history exponentially. It's a consequence of the sentient mind, to remember things not as they were, but as they should have been. And when you arrive in Period X, you see for yourself just what the consequences can be."

He pronounces the next bit very carefully. "The only way to get past this is to inform yourself. Assume nothing, make no generalisations. This is difficult, if not impossible, for almost every being in the universe...but you'll be far ahead of the game as long as you try." A smirk. "Good grades go to those who try.

"For Monday, read the synopsis of the period--it's about 75 pages, not too difficult. I know I said we'd be focusing on 1966-1971, but it's good for you to know the historical data going into the era. Find something that catches your eye, something you'd particularly like to study or understand, a concept or person or event, and read a little more about it in the third section. Do a little independent research if you want to, also, and then be prepared to talk about it. I'm available for questions right now or in my office tomorrow."

((If you aren't aware of the major events and aspects of the 1960s, this Wikipedia article may help you figure out your character's choice. I'm available on AIM or via email if anyone has questions or needs help OOC.))

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Sam nodded. "What about the desire to go back and change history--the old saw about assassinating Adolf Hitler, or taking actions that would nullify the Dark Ages?"

And on the heels of that, "Are there events on a galaxy-wide scale that could be influenced by one person?"

"Influenced by one person?" John asks, interrupting. "What about a particularly no good person who goes back to 1999 and finds a way to make Y2K a real thing instead of the failure it was?"

"Fortunately, by the time most species get to the technological level where they're capable of time travel, they either have arrived at an understanding of the inherent problems involved in performing such actions, or they have security that prevents those who would from attaining access. Most species, that is. Also, in some theories, the performer of the action--say, assassinating Hitler--would then be creating a branched timeline in which he or she would be stuck. The original timeline would carry on as it already had. It's all dependent on the way you look at things and how many alternatives you can visualise." He cocks his head at Sam and John.

"As for one person...some things can't be changed by only the actions of one being, powerful or no. The Dark Ages, for example...one could save the Library of Alexandria, but that wouldn't necessarily change everything that happened. Regarding a larger scale--that depends on the event that's the focal point. We can't ever know what exactly is going to change history on a galactic scale. Just living can do it, sometimes."

"But what if the person who is altering the timeline chooses to make the sacrifice? To go back, make that one major change and then live the rest of their lives forward (and in seclusion) from the branching point, just to keep an event from happening?"

She may have also drooled a little at the thought of getting her hands on the Library of Alexandria.

"The good of the many over the suffering of the few, Sam?" The Doctor looks at her, though the expression on his face is unreadable. "The problem is that those beings don't care to look at the future first. Look at what may be destroyed--completely destroyed, wiped out of history--if they could just. save. this. one. thing." He's not scolding her, but he doesn't sound happy.

"So, if the purpose of time travel is to observe... doesn't the very act of observation change the observed object, according to quantum mechanics?" Jack's struggling to stay awake and in the discussion.

[::pester him, you know you want to::]

Raising his eyebrows at Jack's...less than vigorous demeanour, which is uncharacteristic, the Doctor nods. "Good point. But the question is how much does the object change if observed? We use that principle to get there, first."

"It's seems like something that should be impossible to quantify," Sam replied, "since as soon as you try to get a baseline reading, you have begun the observation of the object."

"But if we already know the future, can't we analyse how it is without observation? Make a conjecture?" He cocks his head again and waits for her. About time someone played along.

Quantum Physics 225: Wednesday, Fifth Period

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