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Thursday, 15 December 2016
quote [ In case you’re wondering how this came about: after our mutual friend Sean Carroll introduced me and Zach for a different reason, the idea of a joint quantum computing comic just seemed too good to pass up. The basic premise—“The Talk”—was all Zach. I dutifully drafted some dialogue for him, which he then improved and illustrated. I.e., he did almost all the work (despite having a newborn competing for his attention!). Still, it was an honor for me to collaborate with one of the great visual artists of our time, and I hope you like the result. Beyond that, I’ll let the work speak for itself. ]
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Comments
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midden said @ 3:40am GMT on 15th Dec
I remember going down the quantum-woo path in my early teens. It can be very seductive. Get thee behind me, Deepak!
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steele said @ 4:00am GMT on 15th Dec
I don't have so much of an issue with Deepak (though it has been quite some time since I've read anything by him) beyond the fact that he uses scientific terms in non scientific ways. Again this was years ago, but the stuff of him that I read was basically mental visualizations and a form of goal setting techniques, which are skills that many people simply don't have. And because they're ambiguous in nature, you often need that 'woo' metaphor to teach them. But when he uses legitimate scientific terms in non legitimate ways to lend his metaphors and techniques merit then he's crossing a line.
To me, it's a lot like when an author, let's say Neal Stephenson in this instance, uses Quantum Mechanics to rationalize a many worlds plot device as he did in Anathema. He didn't need to fucking do that! He could have just made up a woo woo term to describe the many worlds shit and the story wouldn't have suffered for it. Instead he took a term that has legitimate meaning, bastardized it, and gave me a Rage On towards the end of what had been a very enjoyable book. Am I over it yet? I don't fucking know! ;) |
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midden said @ 4:47am GMT on 15th Dec
[Score:1 Sad]
It was many years ago, but from what I recall he was trying very hard to make the argument that the great mystics had discovered quantum mechanics centuries ago, and that all kinds of new-age dreck could be seen as quantum effects on/by/through the power of the mind, or some such malarkey. At first, the idea of some deeper, universal truths was fascinating, but then it got to the point where he claims the mind can alter how the body "metabolizes" time and such.
This piece from last year in the Washington Post does a good job of elucidating* my stance on Chopra. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2015/05/15/scientist-why-deepak-chopra-is-driving-me-crazy/?utm_term=.a32b11dcee54 * don't get to use that one too often! |
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steele said @ 12:26pm GMT on 15th Dec
Hmm, yeah, sounds like he's gotten stuck in his own echo chamber. Unfortunate, as the stuff I had read had potential if not for the mislabeling.
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midden said @ 3:02pm GMT on 15th Dec
Yeah, I really wouldn't mind him so much if he didn't try to cloak his woo in science.
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steele said @ 3:08am GMT on 12th Jun
rylex, no. ;)
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