Wonderful intriguing tale. The setting is excellent for an adventure.
One of the models to explore the future was called "three P's and a W," meaning a possible, probable, and preferred future, plus wildcards, i.e., unexpected, seemingly improbable, but consequential events of both a positive and negative nature.
This is an interesting proposition. Predicting the future is a rather difficult thing, especially when it comes to the finer details. For example, in the 70s and 80s, some people broadly predicted the computer revolution, but not the finer details like smartphones, blockchain tech, and social media. But there is still a pattern in all the Chaos. That's the thing about Chaos, its about complex yet predictable behaviour. We just don't have the computer power to take into account every little variable affecting a system. But let's say that a civilization is a million years ahead of us technologically. Would they be able to predict the future with precision?
"But the others! The other people!" shouted Mrs Weihrich. "Surely some are dead and buried!".
"Yes! That will be so!", Kruzmaka replied to her no less excitedly. "But not us! We drew our wild card!" he laughed.
Our alien friend is being coy with Mrs. Weihrich. Was the card really wild? The avalance was the pseudo-random initial condition, and everything else flowed from that single point of instability into a cascade of predictable and unpredictable events. Based on observations, such as the desperate skier landing near the terrace, and past knowledge of the behaviour of avalanches, the pair were able to extrapolate the probable futures of the avalanche (death, injury, or safety). So, they got on the jet-ski because they thought it possible to use it as a means of escape towards the preferred future (safety). So, it seems all three Ps and W were at play. The adventureous pair used this system to 'design' their future or "create" it. Maybe God does play dice with the universe, we just haven't figured out the rules of the game. ;)
This is a fun read that got my neurons crackling. Now I'm dreaming of adventures in the Alps.
I see it the same way. Live contains uncountable fine details and happenings, in particular those, you cannot quantify/measure/are not thinking of taking into account.
I don't think so. Being ahead in technology means for me that complexity grows together with it. There is one-up-man ship involved. If future ends, then maybe you could predict it. LOL
We are smart, aren't we. But not that smart that we one day will figure out the rules of the cosmic dance. All would be spoiled. Who wants that?
If you find out about a secret and it turns out that after having found out everything about it, what happens to you and your energy? Is that very thing still important or interesting for you?
Of course. Think of it again, will you? ;-)
It makes me happy that you found this story a fun read. That was what I wanted. :)
This story gives a lot to think about. I definitely think that predicting the future is one of those things the brain is particularly good at. We do it everyday, even while asleep. We're just so used to doing it, we don't notice anymore. For example, I predicted I would wake up and see a wonderful and thoughtful reply from you. Many wild things could've happened overnight, but I woke up today and was delighted to see my prediction had come true!
Finding out about a secret and the mechanisms of that secret is the most thrilling human endeavor. Once we understand the rules of the game, then we can create new games to entertain ourselves. Who knows? Maybe someone has already done it, and that's why we're here. ;)
What if I would not have reacted at all to your comment? I hope, it's not too predictable whether I come back, or not. ;)
How do you feel after the secret is revealed and the thrill wears off? Do you know for sure that you got to the bottom of a secret?
Mrs. Weihrich did not receive an answer from Kruzmaka, she remained in uncertainty about his "true nature". She gave her story to her grandchildren, who will feel the same itch of not knowing, but at the same time enjoy this very feeling.
My (your) brain is an extraordinary calculator, yes, but can I say that I know my own brain and its secrets? The moment someone tells me, "it's millions of neurons receiving and transmitting signals" I may nod but that still doesn't tell me a secret. It tells me something about the mindset of another person, gets me to know him better and his interests, it tells me something about the use of language. In terms of terms, they are always back referencing to themselves. I may be fascinated by new terminology but that doesn't mean there is novelty all over the place. I personally find there is a circular movement, not a linear one. I think ... the very term "secret" would not exist, if it wouldn't name something which does not reveal itself.
"Not yet there" is something widely used. But what if we are "there"? Do we recognize the wonders of having been able to arrive in the "here"? Aircrafts and cars, smart phones and computers, I use them and they become the more ordinary, the more I use them, despite being able to understand their mechanics en detail.
The very hunt after secrets is the thrill of the game, I agree.
Not knowing the outcome for sure, makes it interesting in the first place. If there was a certain and not uncertain predictability involved in a game, I would not even begin to play it. It would lose its meaning. For me, it's pointless to "finally arrive", for I don't see a final arrival. For how many centuries do people say "not yet"?
I call it "Not Yetism". LOL
Yes, maybe someone/thing has already done it but I wouldn't want to know, it's like spoiling my personal game.