Schrödinger’s Prize

In the field of quantum mechanics there is a famous thought experiment that illustrates the very curious concept that the act of observation actually changes the status of the item under observation. Schrödinger’s cat is a hypothetical feline that is secured inside a hypothetical box with just enough hypothetical poison to kill 50% of any hypothetical cats exposed to it. So while the lid is closed we do not know if our hypothetical moggy is alive or dead, it can be in both states simultaneously, alive and dead. The act of opening the box and looking inside decides the fate of the cat i.e. our observation changes its status.
I have had something of the same paradox for the outcome of a short story writing competition I entered. Two weeks ago the long shortlist, as they called it, was published and my story was one of those that had made it through to the finals. Today, St Patrick’s Day, they were due to publish the list of winning entries; thus before I looked up the website my entry could have made it into the final few or it could have remained just on the long list. Until I looked it existed in both these states, afterwards it would forever be just in the long list.
So I didn’t get any further but to get on the long list in the face of a field of international entries does encourage me in my continuing efforts and I am very gratified that my story was liked enough to make the first cut. If you would like to judge it for yourself then nip across to the Short Story section and read Old Dog Barking, and to those of you suffering from Schrödinger’s Prize syndrome, good luck, open the box!