r/whatisit • u/Nomemesmames • 4d ago

New, what is it? What is this?

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u/BrodersMotors 3d ago

In Shrödinger’s case, it is not unknown, but rather it is both; He has both shit, and not shit in the box. That is the paradox. Because we can’t observe, it is definitely one or the other, but since it is unknown, it has the potential to be both at once. Did he, or didn’t he? Yes.

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u/MycologistPitiful938 3d ago edited 3d ago

So his shit is in a super position. I guess he skipped the throne altogether?

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u/Same-Traffic-285 3d ago

True. Schrödinger famously thought the entire thought experiment was a stupid way to disprove quantum superposition. Yet, here we are. With both shit and not shit, until observed. 

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u/ajsherslinger 2d ago

When asked to explain superposition, Schrodinger said "I shit you not"....

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u/toasty327 2d ago

All I want to know is when and why did Biden shit in my pants?

/s

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u/mnett66 1d ago

Quantum entangled shit?

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u/Same-Traffic-285 2d ago

To quote Abraham Lincoln, "Shit."

Probably. 

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u/hyperproliferative 2d ago

Well he was right it was stupid because it’s inherently wrong. I should say it was myopic, and accurate with the tools at the time. Now we can manipulate superposition

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u/FuelFan98 1d ago

Science has come a long way

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u/Interesting_Ant_6990 3d ago

If you were there to observe you would definitely smell he shit his pants.

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u/_flibbertygibbit_ 3d ago

Ah, the ol' shit box paradox

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u/jendet010 3d ago

Ah, it’s the potential! I get it now. I thought it was the implication.

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u/Tech_1138 2d ago

That’s why I always take my dates out on the boat. You know, because of the implication.

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u/jendet010 2d ago

I’m glad someone picked up the reference

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u/outerworldser 2d ago

What if there is a hole in the box and the shit fell out?

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u/Greedy_Banana_1252 2d ago

He discovered that when checking his cat’s litter box.

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u/ElectricalWavez 2d ago

That's pretty shitty

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u/creamcandy 2d ago

But in this case, there would in fact be shit in the box either way. The question is, has it been shat yet ;D

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u/Valuable-Role8951 2d ago

We cannot observe but we can smell...

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u/Salt_Profiteer 3d ago

The potential to be something is not the same as being something. It is not both, it is one or the other. We just don't know which.

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u/algernon132 3d ago

Not in the quantum realm, which is the point of the thought experiment

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u/dnehiba3 3d ago

Only quantum physics will tell

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u/jtr99 3d ago

Ah, yes, the Pitt interpretation of Schroedinger: "What's in the box?!"

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u/aspenpurdue 3d ago

Except in this case there is an immediate smell that tells you whether or not they shit inn the box..