Re: "collapse" defined

[tom abeles]

Collapse in the mathematical sense can be clearly defined by the
changing conditions in a set of equations.

collapse in other areas lacks the clarity. And, in fact, seems to miss
the one key ingrediaent "time". The dinasauers were wiped out in a
catastrophe. What looks like a complete change from our perspective here
in the 20th century actually involved a signficant time period. The
Azasazi which Tainter describes, took longer to "die" than the US has
been in existance. 

thoughts?

tom abeles