(1) Physics. The Uncertainty Principle does not say atoms are unpredictable.
It is the interference of the observer which effects atoms. At the atomic
level we are not able to measure things to well because we use the same
things (eg. photons) in order to observe. The observer's interference is
making things seem "unpredictable". In fact everything works according to
the same rules, but our observation is part of the picture. The degree to
which we can measure things is limited. It does not make the world
unpredictable.
This is how I understand the Uncertainty Principle now. I used to think it
explained free will and maybe... it does. If the nature of atoms was such
that they could behave as they "wanted" it could mean that the Nature could
lie (in disagreement with what I said before). In fact on the biological
level (or gene level) the lie is being used (and called "mimicry"). On the
mind (or meme) level it is definitely used: we can lie (or make false
statements -- knowingly or unknowingly). The question is: can atoms lie?
Seems like a new idea. Maybe they can... What do you think?
(2) Social. What is a social equivalent of the Uncertainty Principle? When
you observe a tribe and you look at them from a helicopter they may start
believing in a new helicopter-god and change their behaviour. If you land
the helicopter, live with them, give them candies and vodka, they will
definitely change their behaviour. It does not mean they are "unpredictable"
-- they just change their behaviour as a result of your act of observation.
The Uncertainty Principle has its implications in any society or group. You
look at things people do, for example, and certain things may not make to
much sense to you. You have to look closer to appreciate their rationality.
A friend of mine went to Soviet Union (when it was still there) and met a
person whom she invited to her hotel room. The person behaved strangely. He
turn the dial on the rotary telephone all the way to the right and block it
there with a pencil, then he took her by her hand, pulled her to the
bathroom, turned the water on... She could barely hear him say:
"now we can talk". This is a true story.
KGB, the Big Observer was always there. People did not know about it at
first, but they quickly learned ways *they* could be observed. It changed
their behaviour drastically. The act of observation changes things. It does
not mean it changes the rules of the game. When you know what's behind the
scenes, you don't think people behave "strangely" any more.
(3) Memetics. When a memeticist makes an experiment with a group of hosts
(former called people) and (for the sake of the experiment) manipulates them,
his sheer presence interferes with the behaviour of the group. When a
"photon" -- an occasional behind the scenes letter -- hits the group, the
behaviour changes and the results of the experiment will change. The hosts
were effected by the observer!
If the Uncertainty Principle has not been yet formulated in memetics I claim
to have discovered it and I suggest we call it the Scumbag Effect.
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Tad Niwinski from TeTa where people grow
3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971693993751058209749445923
Danger!!! Danger!!! DANGER!!!
The Level-3 Hypocrisy Virus (L3HV) is threatening YOU and your children!
PROTECT yourself: never talk to an infected person without a condom!