[net.physics] Faster-than-light precognition retracted

gwyn@Brl-Bmd.ARPA (01/30/83)

From:      Doug Gwyn <gwyn@Brl-Bmd.ARPA>

Not unnaturally, I received several inquiries about my statement that
faster-than-light information transfer could allow one to find out
about local events before they happened.

My reasoning was based on the "fact" that causality propagates at the
speed of light.  Upon looking over the argument, I now see that it is
not really sound, since similar arguments can be given for slower-than-
light information transfer.  (The idea is, a signal from a distant
coordinator would start a causal chain and simultaneously tip off the
observer to what was about to happen to him.)

Since the reasoning didn't hold up, I am retracting the statement.
Most embarrasingly, this whole approach to the problem is incompatible
with the v <-> c^2 / v mapping I mentioned in another note!  Sorry...