Mes and Is
Strange new words.

I’ve been working on a post (or maybe it‘s a book?) about my ongoing work with quantum computing. It’s slow going, not only because I’m a slow writer, but because the underlying concepts can get technical pretty quickly and I don’t want my writing to be a master class in quantum mechanics. So I try to simplify, at least enough for the focus to remain on the aesthetic experience.
But some quantum concepts need to explained, and that can get me in trouble. For instance, the difference between a “bit” and a “qubit.”
In classical computing a bit is the most basic unit of information. A bit has a value of either 0 or 1, and all computing builds upon that foundation. The qubit is quantum computing's equivalent to a bit. The qubit, however, holds the value of both 0 and 1 simultaneously. It is only when the qubit is examined that its value resolves itself to either a 0 or a 1.
While that’s a strange concept to wrap one’s head around, it gets even stranger. There is an interpretation of quantum mechanics that says that both possible outcomes exist. While I may see, for instance, a 0, there exists another version of me, that sees a 1. Each me in a separate universe. This is known as the many-worlds interpretation.
As I was writing about this, I ended up with this strange sentence:
I don't think it is possible for me to see these other universes, or to communicate with the other mes in them.
Mes?? Is that a real word? I don’t think I’ve ever encountered it before. What is the plural of me?
With a little searching I found this a post that explained why using "me" as a noun like this is relatively rare, because it’s normally used as a pronoun. As such, one would pluralize me with us or we. One commenter went on to explain that mes “is generally not needed outside of science fiction or speculative contexts.” Well, that’s me!
There are alternatives to mes. One is to use the word self. For example:
"Each decision that created a subtly different universe, created another self, another of a nearly infinite number of selves who added just a fraction more to our intellect and understanding."
Some other options:
- “We-me” or “Me-we” - captures the paradox of a singular-plural self
- “Superposition of Me” - evokes the quantum nature of your collaboration
- “Many-Me” - a nod to the Many-Worlds Interpretation
So, taking this one step further — since we are all traveling through the multiverse together — what about the plural of I?
A bit more research reminded me of some basic grammar, namely that the plural of I is usually also I (or we). But when it’s a collection it can be Is. And so, suddenly a sentence like this seems reasonable:
The Is of the multiverse each reached a different conclusion, yet together they formed a coherent whole.
Maybe all this research is why it’s taking me so long to finish my writing about quantum art.
Personally I like mes and Is. I think they’re weirdly charming. And, much like quantum mechanics, they get us to see reality a bit differently.