MovieChat Forums > Parallels (2015) Discussion > How did the numbering system work?

How did the numbering system work?

posted 9 years ago by ImNoHer0
16 replies | jump to latest

The graffiti inside The Building kept referring to specific earths by numbers. How on earth (ha!) would anyone know which earth is which number?

[–] mobocracy 9 years ago

Earth 1 has advanced technology -- remember the strange sphere that looked like some kind of Deathstar toy that they found in Dad's "go" bag in the trunk?

It may turn out that one of the mysteries/explanations is that Earth 1 is the "original" Earth, vastly advanced over other Earths. They probably have the knowledge to either travel to other multiverses or create them. Perhaps the numbering represents the versions of Earth either created by or visited by Earth 1.

[–] mussels 9 years ago

I wondered the same thing. The graffiti seemed to be a pretty amateur job and didn't seem like the work of people with advanced tools, but who knows. Lots of plot holes in this one.

[–] FullyOperationalSamaritan 9 years ago

I wondered the same thing. The graffiti seemed to be a pretty amateur job and didn't seem like the work of people with advanced tools, but who knows. Lots of plot holes in this one.

Ugh, there we go with the term plot holes again. Learn the definition of a plot hole.

I think I can save you. But who's going to save me?

[–] thebatman1001 7 years ago

Making quick notes, without caring about style points counts as a plot hole now?

[–] rockimochachino 9 years ago

I was wondering this too. Perhaps the graffiti was a way to start the numbering for the first people who did it. Like this my earth number two- I come back write what it was like. My next jump is my earth 3- I come back write what it was like. People who jumped later come back and can maybe say oh hey that's the earth I went to, that was earth 23. Etc

[–] LibertarianSoldier 9 years ago

I think you're right. This is as close as it can get. It won't be 100% accurate with the infinite universe theory, but it would have to do.

So if you just landed and you found out Terrorist destroyed the WTC on Octorber 23rd (or whatever it was) then you know you are on Earth (whatever it was) although, you may not be on the EXACT same earth, as that earth may be identical but has ONE less mosquito...

[–] LibertarianSoldier 9 years ago

And thinking about it, in an infinite universe theory, there's probably less than a slim to none chance you'd ever find the original world. Whatever world you find that you think is your original world could be 99.9999999% the same but the only difference is that a lion ate TWO lions out in the deserts of Africa 40 years ago instead of just ONE. You'll never know this difference so by all intents and purposes, it's your original world.... but is it?

Could you ever find the real original earth? How could you be for sure that it's the same Earth if infinite earths exist where minimalist changes could set them apart?

[–] therefdotcom 9 years ago

you could never find it out.

[–] melinda2001 9 years ago

Simpsons did it in the Time And Punishment episode with the time-traveling toaster. Homer keeps jumping until he finds a world that's "close enough".

[–] carl_johnson-1 9 years ago

It would look just like your Earth, but you'd be missing in it? Presumably, Earth's much like your own would still have copies of you there.

Unless copies of you could enter the building from other Earths in the same 36-hour window and you'd somehow never run into each other in the building. Multiple buildings too?

We sort of see Polly accomplish this, but I suppose each Pooly could have entered the building in a different 36-hour window, so they'd be able to interact.

[–] martunia21 9 years ago

Maybe this is the purpose of the "toy" only they don't know it or the building shows your original Earth only they don't know how to use it properly. Somehow their father found them and used the building so there may be a way.

[–] manu_mistral 9 years ago

Then the butterfly effect comes to mind.
The missing mosquito or the number of lions feeding does not remain as only difference from another parallel universe but all the RESULTS change such as actions, decisions and consequences to create an alternate and thus a richer lawyer, married to his dream girl..
Not to be expecting 99.999999% similarity. That action could have a butterfly effect on every other thing following.

The infinite comes where the variables of decisions and actions, linked to one another..

[–] hexrei 9 years ago

What if you left a personal marker the first time you visited? Something as simple as a rock with your name on the bottom outside The Building? Number each rock as you leave it, voila, there's your numbering system.

What a lovely way to burn...

[–] Caribbean_Smurf 9 years ago

Whatever world you find that you think is your original world could be 99.9999999% the same but the only difference is that a lion ate TWO lions out in the deserts of Africa 40 years ago instead of just ONE. You'll never know this difference so by all intents and purposes, it's your original world.... but is it?

That may be how it works in the real world if the Many Worlds Theory is indeed correct.

But that's not going to happen in any TV show, because it would be goddamn boring if they kept hopping to different Earths with minimal differences. Maybe they will visit fairly similar worlds, but then it turns out the Golden Gate Bridge is blue. It's been known to happen.

The MWT just doesn't make very compelling television. So it's best to operate on the assumption that there is either no branching and the universes simply run parallel, or to assume there is a limited amount of branches, resulting in only a couple thousand worlds. The numbering system didn't seem to go very high.

[–] ray-in-de-house 9 years ago

My guess is it is not the numbering of earths but more so the numbering of a persons jump aka every time someone would jump they would increase there number and explain it.

[–] plazbo 9 years ago

It's what I assume also and that it's done by multiple people given the graffiti style changes quite a bit.