Critical Mass Delusion

Critical mass is the smallest amount of fissionable matter that can sustain a nuclear chain reaction. Critical mass delusion is the idea that if enough people with lack of critical thinking ability believe something that is false is actually true that it makes it true. In the gematriverse it occurs when radioactive arsenic is released into the environment when the Peach Bottom nuclear plant has a meltdown.


There's the obligatory joke out of the way.


The Missing $ Problem:
Three numerologists attending the annual Two Digit Number Convention need a room for the night. They stop at a motel. The curator from the Niptuck museum is busy writing his book in the lobby. He's still only finished the testimonials and changing the due date. The manager tells the three that a room for the night is $30. Noting their good fortune on not having to worry about rounding they each chip in $10. Later the manager realizes that there is a special, the room was actually only $25. Wanting word if mouth on his honesty to keep up his reputation, he gives the bellhop 5 $1 bills to refund to them. The bellhop decides that due to his inconvenience he deserves a tip and keeps $2. He knocks on the door, explains the overcharge (without the part about his self paid tip) and gives the men $3. They each pocket $1.


So, the men have essentially paid $9 each. $3x9=$27. $27 they paid +$2 tip =$29. But they originally paid $30. Where's the missing dollar?


You'd be surprised how many people can't figure this out quickly. But the math is just wrong, yet presented in a purposefully confusing narrative. They haven't paid $30 for the room. They paid the actual price $25 + funded the $2 tip. $25+$2=$27. Or $9 each.


Things aren't as cut and dried in the numerology world. But may biggest objection is that discourages critics thinking. One example I use often- why does it make sense that in 10 different numbering systems that give me 10 different numbers does one 'hit' negate 9 'misses?'


Now let's transfer this to a real life scenario.


You get pulled over for speeding. The radar gun caught you doing 38 in a 25mph zone. Maybe you didn't realize that the new speed limit started 109 feet back and you missed the signage. If you're polite, cooperative, the officer knows the sign has been missed before because of being obscured by a tree branch - you might get off with a warning.


Now ratchet up the crazy. You missed the sign. But you decided that police are corrupt authoritarian figures representing the elite ruling class. You insist the officer is just being a douchebag and has it in for you. His radar gun is not just inaccurate, it's rigged. Now he's turned off by your 'tude so much that you just added on every other violation he noticed that originally he didn't care about. Failure to use turn signal, broken headlight, crossing the double line.


Now ratchet the crazy up more.


Your part of the corrupt ruling elitists out to get me because of 62 numerology. Yeah, that will win the court case for you.


As a start to thinking critically, be wary of statements that use absolutes like 'always' or 'never.' The Sun is not always 93 million miles from Earth. Here's another real example if failed critical thinking that I haven't used before.


"The way you can prove these shootings are fake is because if you Google the alleged victims names followed by OBIT you never find their obituary. But when you do the same with family or friends you do. Cover up! Conspiracy!"


If something sounds too good, or crazy, to be true, it probably is. I didn't just end with that old adage. I checked and verified the expected results. If you must know, I picked Martyn Hett from the Manchester bombing victim list. Not totally at random, the unusual spelling of Martyn would be easier to single out over the vastly more common Martin. The top search hits were all from major news agencies. But buried at #43 on the list I found an online obituary site, complete with guest book sign in page. You might have thought you were on a good track, but what you claimed simply isn't true. Personally, I just filed this away for future reference, in case this claim was repeated. Then before I make the erroneous counter claim that ALL the victims obituaries are out there I can research more. That's an example of correct critical thinking. And if anyone doesn't follow through and takes your claim for granted then congratulations, you've just added to the critical mass delusion. Even if you were not being intentionally deceitful.


Don't fall for the old trick of
being dismissed as someone who is just a mindless sheep, too stupid to understand what's really going on. The burden of proof is on the party making the outrageous claim, not the critic with valid examples if when it doesn't work. Especially when gematria has decided to add a science angle to the core of their belief. You want to claim the Pythagoreans practiced gematria? You better be able to back it up with more than, "because I told you so."


And for the record, I couldn't figure out the missing $ problem the first time I saw it.