Chapter Eight

The first note of dissension was sounded shortly after this in the person of Doctor Allen Remington, PhD of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who signed on to the TimeLords board as DocRem85. Whatever his words, the fact that a distinguished professor of theoretical physics had descended into the depths of the virtual abyss to render his opinion constituted a bizarre and fitting acknowledgement on the part of the established institutions of knowledge that things were beginning to get very out of hand. In this regard, of course, Remington was ahead of the curve.

Its difficult for me to believe -- He began -- that a group of ostensibly intelligent and well informed people could fall for such obvious pseudo-scientific nonsense. It would take far too long to list all the scientific problems with “Josef6”’s supposed time machine, but I will simply mention that there is no proof that a micro-singularity even exists in nature, and to artificially create one would -- even in theory -- require an energy input roughly equivalent to a supernova. The idea that this could be contained in a vehicle the size of a minivan is completely absurd. The minute such a device -- which is impossible anyways -- were activated it would destroy the earth and most of the solar system along with it.

This is not even to mention the so-called “compound nature of space-time” for which no proof exists whatsoever. Even in advanced theoretical circles, no one even entertains this notion with any seriousness. The multiverse theory involves multiple universes but not multiple timelines and -- since each of these universes would not share the same physical laws as the others -- it would be completely impossible to travel between them using the physics of a single, specific universe. The multiverse theory is, in any case, only a theory, and the idea that a practical device for traversing it could be created and put into practical service within seventy years by a post-nuclear apocalypse society in which there is no central source of funding and power and which, apparently, cannot even fix a century old computer glitch simply boggles the mind. In other words, it couldn’t happen and it didn’t happen. Yes people, he made the whole thing up.

Even giving “Josef” the benefit of the doubt, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence and Josef has given you absolute nothing that even remotely resembles any evidence at all. You have two very easily doctored photographs and a set of blueprints which describe -- as I stated before -- a vehicle which would be impossible to operate without destroying itself and everything else for several million miles around, even if it were possible to build such a device at all, which it isn’t.

I would have thought that the fraudulent nature of “Josef’s” story would have been obvious to you the minute he handed down his list of “time traveler’s ethics”. Every single one of these is clearly designed in order to give him an excuse to give you no specific predictions or other facts which might prove him to be a fake. In other words, Josef6 is unfalsifiable, which according to basic scientific doctrine makes the truth of what he says impossible to prove or disprove. Given the extreme nature of his claims, the proper response should be skeptical disbelieve unless presented with absolute and definitive proof of the truth of his statements. As I’ve said, not only has none of this proof been forthcoming, but he’s been very careful to present you with a series of “ethics” which preclude the possibility of him ever having to do so. In real scientific circles, this is proof positive of fraud. Yes, that’s right, your time traveler is a fraud and nothing more. He’s probably a bored grad student who’s having a good laugh at your expense. Whatever he is, he certainly isn’t what he claims to be.

Doctor Remington should have known better. The believers were upon him almost immediately, and they had strength in numbers.

You call yourself a scientist -- Said one -- aren’t scientists supposed to keep an open mind about knowledge and the world? Aren’t they supposed to investigate every aspect of the universe and not simply dismiss it out of hand. They probably laughed at Einstein too, at first, and Josef certainly isn’t claiming to be Einstein.

Another took issue with the Doctor’s historiography:

You say that Josef has presented us with nothing but unfalsifiable statements, but you yourself claim that his statements about the artificial micro-singularity is falsifiable. Not to mention Josef’s recent statements about near future events, especially on the east coast in 2005. We can definitely wait and see whether that comes true or not. In fact, most of what Josef has told us has been pretty exact and, while a little out there -- as any future technology would be -- isn’t beyond the realm of the possible. As he said, anyone coming with future technology is going to sound pretty out there describing it. How do we know that scientists in the future haven’t solved the problem of micro-singularity energy output. Even Josef himself admits that he doesn’t know how it works! You just set up a bunch of straw men and knock them down, exactly what you accuse Josef of doing! You seem to me like a very close minded and angry man.

A more succinct message read

If Josef is so obviously a fraud, why are you even bothering to post here? Why do you even care? Maybe because deep down you know he just might be the real thing?

This, at least, got the good Doctor’s attention

Typical. You seem consider the fact that people are offended by frauds and lies to be some sort of compliment. The reason why I “care” about things like this is because, as a scientist, I am a believer in the idea that reason and logic can arrive at objective truth. When I see people abusing other people’s credulity and using scientific principles to do it, I am offended. It really that simple. And no, deep down I am quite sure that your friend Josef is a liar and a fraud. I also think he’s thoroughly enjoying himself.

Prettycrazygirl considered the entire affair distinctly tragic.

I just want to say that I think its really sad that Josef has to suffer these kind of attacks. He’s behaved towards us with nothing but generosity and, I think, love. Its too bad that some people are too mean-spirited and close minded to see the beauty of his message. I guess some people will just never get it.

And that was all. Doctor Remington refrained from further comment and his artfully thrown rhetorical grenade was quickly buried under a plethora of exegetic speculation as to the prophecies of his target. In all likelihood, he realized the Quixotic nature of his task and simply lost interest.

As for Josef’s primary disciples, Doctor Remington’s attack elicited no response whatsoever. This initially bizarre silence extended even to Jennie Ruptha who, as we later discovered, was far to busy to pay it any attention.