While I resent your insipid assertion in relation to the inelegant nature of superhuman capabilities, I'm forced to concede the dynamic properties of our empathetic exchange. I'd argue that the Drift is not a superhuman capability however, and as our connection closely resembles it, you'll forgive my hesitance in referencing it otherwise.
I won't waste time rehashing the technical minutiae of a phenomena you're already intimately familiar with, but suffice to say the Drift is a mutual exchange of information and feeling, both past and present. The Ghost Drift is what lingers after a connection is severed, typically lasting only hours and fading, whereas our continues to be an active exchange. Whether or not the Ghost Drift itself classifies as a 'superpower' is ultimately the discussion here, and serves as my frame of reference.
In addition, I'd like to point out that it may be wise to understate the extent of our link to others.
Given the subjective definition at hand however, I'd like to remind you that I am a physicist. To my mind, 'superpower' refers to any ability that does not conform to the physical laws. In essence, where phenomena ceases to be understood to the point that it becomes the widely hated umbrella of 'magic'. Certainly, your apparent regenerative capabilities fall under this category.
As we've come to realize however, an alternate dimension suggests new criteria and differing variations of those laws-- something I've yet to be able to study in any level of respectable depth. In time, I will remedy this, but in the moment, it makes for greater obfuscation in defining the ambiguous line between human capability and 'superpowers'. Naturally, this presents something of a dilemma. Do I categorize our abilities by the laws I'm familiar with, or withhold a stated opinion until I've charted the extent of this world's definitions- an endeavour that would take a lifetime and yet still remain incomplete?
Logic dictates that these abilities, granted to us through the Porter in some nebulous fashion (and thus 'magic' in itself), are defined by this world as powers we never possessed in our own. As such, they should be scrutinized through the veil of this world. Our drift makes for a complex exception, however. Ostensibly an ability we were already in possession of, yet enhanced in a fashion. The matter is endlessly vexing and has no clear answer.
I don't refute your assessment of my desire for something more controllable in nature. Certainly, I never held any aspirations for becoming superhuman to begin with, and in the wake of all that's happened, still don't possess any particular inclination toward it. It's pointless to wish otherwise of course, and I can admit there are some benefits to this exchange, if not perhaps on the level of your own speculations. While it's true our connection appears to be strengthening for indeterminable reasons, I doubt the extent that it may develop.
In similar order, I will address them.
(a) Inherently flawed comparison, as minds do not process data in the same vein as a computer. But the underlying concept seems sound enough, if our minds are data feeds processing sensory input on separate channels and convening to reach more informed and educated conclusions. (b) Unlikely. Even with your technical knowledge and my passing familiarity with the instrument itself, I highly doubt either of us will be playing masterpieces anytime soon. Perhaps it would be somewhat easier to achieve, but by no means simple. This goes for any other such combination of abilities. You will not understand my mathematics overnight, but perhaps you may pick it up faster. Extensive testing would be required in any case. (c) By far the most reasonable of these suggestions, if only because we're able to do this to a limited extent as it is. We can already detect distress and other strong emotions in one another on a psychological level, if without real intent. (d) This sounds like something out of your science fiction films, and rather alarming to even consider. Neither of us have experienced anything even suggesting this is a possibility, and I'd rather hate to wonder what might happen to whomever's having the experience. (e) no. (f) You mentioned telepathy earlier on, so I'm going to quickly include it here. It seems like a progressive step from (c) and (b) respectively, although I can't say I'm entirely partial to the idea myself. It appears as though we may experience flashes of it at times, but I can't be certain. Conceptually, at least.
That said, I suppose I can see the application of our neural ability, even if we have absolutely no intention of becoming anything remotely similar to spies. Good god, Newton. Whether or not that makes it a power is still wholly up for debate, but if your opinion of it is defined by action, then I suppose that's fair enough.
All in all, I can't really say that I regret any of it, even if that single impulsive action does seem to have bound us more closely than we could have imagined.
I must confess I look forward to being a part of history in texts. Suffice to say Lars Gottlieb will be only a passing mention in comparison. And while I believe our letters are worth preserving, I'm of the opinion they could settle for copies if we were pressed to release them.
-- Dr. Hermann Gottlieb
PS. What sort of celebration did you have in mind?
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(no subject)
While I resent your insipid assertion in relation to the inelegant nature of superhuman capabilities, I'm forced to concede the dynamic properties of our empathetic exchange. I'd argue that the Drift is not a superhuman capability however, and as our connection closely resembles it, you'll forgive my hesitance in referencing it otherwise.
I won't waste time rehashing the technical minutiae of a phenomena you're already intimately familiar with, but suffice to say the Drift is a mutual exchange of information and feeling, both past and present. The Ghost Drift is what lingers after a connection is severed, typically lasting only hours and fading, whereas our continues to be an active exchange. Whether or not the Ghost Drift itself classifies as a 'superpower' is ultimately the discussion here, and serves as my frame of reference.
In addition, I'd like to point out that it may be wise to understate the extent of our link to others.
Given the subjective definition at hand however, I'd like to remind you that I am a physicist. To my mind, 'superpower' refers to any ability that does not conform to the physical laws. In essence, where phenomena ceases to be understood to the point that it becomes the widely hated umbrella of 'magic'. Certainly, your apparent regenerative capabilities fall under this category.
As we've come to realize however, an alternate dimension suggests new criteria and differing variations of those laws-- something I've yet to be able to study in any level of respectable depth. In time, I will remedy this, but in the moment, it makes for greater obfuscation in defining the ambiguous line between human capability and 'superpowers'. Naturally, this presents something of a dilemma. Do I categorize our abilities by the laws I'm familiar with, or withhold a stated opinion until I've charted the extent of this world's definitions- an endeavour that would take a lifetime and yet still remain incomplete?
Logic dictates that these abilities, granted to us through the Porter in some nebulous fashion (and thus 'magic' in itself), are defined by this world as powers we never possessed in our own. As such, they should be scrutinized through the veil of this world. Our drift makes for a complex exception, however. Ostensibly an ability we were already in possession of, yet enhanced in a fashion. The matter is endlessly vexing and has no clear answer.
I don't refute your assessment of my desire for something more controllable in nature. Certainly, I never held any aspirations for becoming superhuman to begin with, and in the wake of all that's happened, still don't possess any particular inclination toward it. It's pointless to wish otherwise of course, and I can admit there are some benefits to this exchange, if not perhaps on the level of your own speculations. While it's true our connection appears to be strengthening for indeterminable reasons, I doubt the extent that it may develop.
In similar order, I will address them.
(a) Inherently flawed comparison, as minds do not process data in the same vein as a computer. But the underlying concept seems sound enough, if our minds are data feeds processing sensory input on separate channels and convening to reach more informed and educated conclusions.
(b) Unlikely. Even with your technical knowledge and my passing familiarity with the instrument itself, I highly doubt either of us will be playing masterpieces anytime soon. Perhaps it would be somewhat easier to achieve, but by no means simple. This goes for any other such combination of abilities. You will not understand my mathematics overnight, but perhaps you may pick it up faster. Extensive testing would be required in any case.
(c) By far the most reasonable of these suggestions, if only because we're able to do this to a limited extent as it is. We can already detect distress and other strong emotions in one another on a psychological level, if without real intent.
(d) This sounds like something out of your science fiction films, and rather alarming to even consider. Neither of us have experienced anything even suggesting this is a possibility, and I'd rather hate to wonder what might happen to whomever's having the experience.
(e) no.
(f) You mentioned telepathy earlier on, so I'm going to quickly include it here. It seems like a progressive step from (c) and (b) respectively, although I can't say I'm entirely partial to the idea myself. It appears as though we may experience flashes of it at times, but I can't be certain. Conceptually, at least.
That said, I suppose I can see the application of our neural ability, even if we have absolutely no intention of becoming anything remotely similar to spies. Good god, Newton. Whether or not that makes it a power is still wholly up for debate, but if your opinion of it is defined by action, then I suppose that's fair enough.
All in all, I can't really say that I regret any of it, even if that single impulsive action does seem to have bound us more closely than we could have imagined.
I must confess I look forward to being a part of history in texts. Suffice to say Lars Gottlieb will be only a passing mention in comparison. And while I believe our letters are worth preserving, I'm of the opinion they could settle for copies if we were pressed to release them.
-- Dr. Hermann Gottlieb
PS. What sort of celebration did you have in mind?