For my first posting, let me postulate something between the
butterfly effect (someone farts) and the thunderbird effect
(global bionuclear war). Call it the albatross effect. Let's say
that in 1976 I am involved in an automobile accident that
damages my brain such that I have less control over my temper
and am very violent. Note that having this occur to Bill
Clinton would obviously alter history...I, however, am a
tiny cog in the machine of society. Note also that alterations
could continue for decades, much as my Cleaveland butterfly
effect example.
Obviously, I get in a lot more fights. Say in 1980, one is
bad enough to put both of us in the hospital for a few weeks.
I would likely "get off" this time, if I know the legal system.
In 1983 I get in another double hospital fight. I assume that
this time I end up in an institution, either an asylum or a prison.
Assume that both versions of me live until 2046 and neither marries
nor sires a child (accurate so far for OTL).
My life has had massive change. The lives of a dozen people
(near family members, for example) have had major change. The lives
of my present coworkers, and the two guys I put in the hospital, etc.,
have had moderate change...probably numbering in the hundreds
of people if you put them all together. The lives of thousands
of people have had minor change, and tens if not scores of
thousands have had minute (butterfly level) changes. And this
goes on for 70 years.
Given that only about one person in a million of the world's
population has probably ever heard my name, how different is
the ATL of 2046 compared to OTL in 2046?
butterfly effect (someone farts) and the thunderbird effect
(global bionuclear war). Call it the albatross effect. Let's say
that in 1976 I am involved in an automobile accident that
damages my brain such that I have less control over my temper
and am very violent. Note that having this occur to Bill
Clinton would obviously alter history...I, however, am a
tiny cog in the machine of society. Note also that alterations
could continue for decades, much as my Cleaveland butterfly
effect example.
Obviously, I get in a lot more fights. Say in 1980, one is
bad enough to put both of us in the hospital for a few weeks.
I would likely "get off" this time, if I know the legal system.
In 1983 I get in another double hospital fight. I assume that
this time I end up in an institution, either an asylum or a prison.
Assume that both versions of me live until 2046 and neither marries
nor sires a child (accurate so far for OTL).
My life has had massive change. The lives of a dozen people
(near family members, for example) have had major change. The lives
of my present coworkers, and the two guys I put in the hospital, etc.,
have had moderate change...probably numbering in the hundreds
of people if you put them all together. The lives of thousands
of people have had minor change, and tens if not scores of
thousands have had minute (butterfly level) changes. And this
goes on for 70 years.
Given that only about one person in a million of the world's
population has probably ever heard my name, how different is
the ATL of 2046 compared to OTL in 2046?
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