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Down The Rabbit Hole
Jan. 28th, 2008 12:05 amToday we're going to be talking about alter-selves. I know it's a departure from what is written in our syllabus, however, in light of recent events, I believe it necessary to-
No, Terry, this does not mean that we're going to change the syllabus for next week; the next class will still be on the mechanics of interaction between cylindrics and arcane shields.
Yes, Issac, we'll have time to talk about automatons and hardwired circuits pertaining to that field. Now if I may begin?
Thank you. Now, the concept of alter-selves is a central component of the widely accepted and renowned personality theory put forth jointly by Mssrs. Heinlein and Gaiman. We will be discussing the fundamental concepts thereof, reserve some time for practical techniques, finish with the latest research and, if we have time, indulge in some forward extrapolation.
In a departure from ordinary procedure, I would like to start the topic with a personal story. Although it is not the faculty's preferred method of instruction, it is my belief that informing you of my firsthand encounters with the subject will grant some insight the books will not afford you.
About ten years ago, I was working on my joint Masters for the Arts and the Sciences. As most of you know, one must demonstrate above-average skill in the shaping and manipulation of the ether to succeed in pursuing a Master of the Arts. For the Sciences, the final exam is an oral and written examination on the principles behind the physical universe.
What you may not know, however, is that when pursuing the joint Masters, you are required to write an independent thesis without the benefit of any supervising faculty. Furthermore, the thesis must be on currently groundbreaking work - this way, they get research done and weed out those that do not have the willingness to press forth by themselves.
I decided to investigate what was a new physiopsychological phenomenon: the existence of cohabitation within the human race. It had just been discovered that there were two highly separate and yet absolutely bound personalities within each of us. The Artists called them souls, whereas the Scientists referred to them minds, but the label itself didn't matter. The idea, however, of two separate beings that exist in one body and yet never communicate confused both sides and was the issue of many debates.
What intrigued me personally was the possibility of communicating with the ‘other side’, as we called it: the other spirit. You see, I was a young man, as young as you are now, and thought only of the splendor of discovery and the spoils of fame that breaking this barrier would bring. More than anyone else, I advocated that we go forward with all research to actively contact the other side firsthand, instead of passive observations.
We didn't even know what the other side was, only that there was another side, a sort of shadow-mirror world. But who is the shadow-reflection, and who is the true self? Perhaps it was foolish, what I believed, but I was young and I believed it with a passion. I would be the next Card, I rationalized, paving the road to a new frontier.
And so, I began a correspondence with the great Artists and Scientists of the time, and together, we made the Resonance Harmonizer - a portal that would bring the two worlds together. The details of the mechanics and manipulations are beyond this lecture, but suffice to say that it worked, if only for one person at a time. Due to the careful balance of Art and Science employed, they required that the person to go into to be trained in both, in case something went wrong for either side. Given my background and my eagerness for glory, I pushed my name forth through the applicant process, using every contact, calling in every favor I had.
After the press saw the pictures, they seized on another name for it, in homage to an old writer who wrote about a fantastical journey. It helped that it looked much like what the name described.
They called it the Rabbit Hole, and I was the first one down.
No, Terry, this does not mean that we're going to change the syllabus for next week; the next class will still be on the mechanics of interaction between cylindrics and arcane shields.
Yes, Issac, we'll have time to talk about automatons and hardwired circuits pertaining to that field. Now if I may begin?
Thank you. Now, the concept of alter-selves is a central component of the widely accepted and renowned personality theory put forth jointly by Mssrs. Heinlein and Gaiman. We will be discussing the fundamental concepts thereof, reserve some time for practical techniques, finish with the latest research and, if we have time, indulge in some forward extrapolation.
In a departure from ordinary procedure, I would like to start the topic with a personal story. Although it is not the faculty's preferred method of instruction, it is my belief that informing you of my firsthand encounters with the subject will grant some insight the books will not afford you.
About ten years ago, I was working on my joint Masters for the Arts and the Sciences. As most of you know, one must demonstrate above-average skill in the shaping and manipulation of the ether to succeed in pursuing a Master of the Arts. For the Sciences, the final exam is an oral and written examination on the principles behind the physical universe.
What you may not know, however, is that when pursuing the joint Masters, you are required to write an independent thesis without the benefit of any supervising faculty. Furthermore, the thesis must be on currently groundbreaking work - this way, they get research done and weed out those that do not have the willingness to press forth by themselves.
I decided to investigate what was a new physiopsychological phenomenon: the existence of cohabitation within the human race. It had just been discovered that there were two highly separate and yet absolutely bound personalities within each of us. The Artists called them souls, whereas the Scientists referred to them minds, but the label itself didn't matter. The idea, however, of two separate beings that exist in one body and yet never communicate confused both sides and was the issue of many debates.
What intrigued me personally was the possibility of communicating with the ‘other side’, as we called it: the other spirit. You see, I was a young man, as young as you are now, and thought only of the splendor of discovery and the spoils of fame that breaking this barrier would bring. More than anyone else, I advocated that we go forward with all research to actively contact the other side firsthand, instead of passive observations.
We didn't even know what the other side was, only that there was another side, a sort of shadow-mirror world. But who is the shadow-reflection, and who is the true self? Perhaps it was foolish, what I believed, but I was young and I believed it with a passion. I would be the next Card, I rationalized, paving the road to a new frontier.
And so, I began a correspondence with the great Artists and Scientists of the time, and together, we made the Resonance Harmonizer - a portal that would bring the two worlds together. The details of the mechanics and manipulations are beyond this lecture, but suffice to say that it worked, if only for one person at a time. Due to the careful balance of Art and Science employed, they required that the person to go into to be trained in both, in case something went wrong for either side. Given my background and my eagerness for glory, I pushed my name forth through the applicant process, using every contact, calling in every favor I had.
After the press saw the pictures, they seized on another name for it, in homage to an old writer who wrote about a fantastical journey. It helped that it looked much like what the name described.
They called it the Rabbit Hole, and I was the first one down.
