User blog comment:Cokedragon/Why the "Multiverse" is Broken in Ben 10/@comment-3441048-20140521022902/@comment-4139585-20140523102307

Did anyone even read my comment? Guess I have to write an essay now... :P

In my original comment, I looked at the hierarchy of the multiverse, but here I will explain it backwards and justify why each "next level" makes sense.

The area of confusion of this whole discussion seems to be timelines, so let us make this as clear as possible. A timeline has three main properties: it can be part of the main timeline or an alternate continuity, it can be divergent or retroactive (retcon), and it can be sequential or simultaneous. Let's use a flow chart and some fictional examples:


 * The main timeline or main sequence is the original order of events before any alterations occur. The basis of each timeline is called its discipline, and it can be either sequential or simultaneous . Sequential means that time is linear; only the past affects the future. In a simultaneous timeline, the events of the future are independent, and changing the past will not erase events that have already happened, albeit those in the future. Alternate continuities can be formed in one of two ways: time travel into the past, or time travel into the future.
 * If you travel into the past and the timeline is sequential, then the new events created by the split will take over the main sequence, and the old sequence will become a retroactive continuity (retcon).
 * If you travel into the past and your timeline is simultaneous, then the new events will form a new, divergent continuity.
 * If you travel into the future and your timeline is sequential, then the new events will also form a divergent continuity.
 * If you travel into the future and your timeline is simultaneous, then the new events will once again form a divergent continuity.

Now, this part, while unrelated to what has sparked the controversy is crucial in fully understanding why there is a controversy. I believe that each universe may only have one timeline, and in order to prove that timelines are connected, there must be specific events that put the two timelines together. The best way to explain crosstime is to travel into either a retroactive continuity or something that I have not yet explained called a void continuity.

Void continuities are theoretical. They technically exist, but the actions that need to happen in order for them to cause a split in the timeline have not actually happened yet. For example, Gwen 10 may be considered a void continuity f the main Ben 10 timeline or it may be considered a separate universe. There is no proof either way, so the scientific assumption is that it is a different world.

Now, I could make this paragraph about twice as long if I were to explain why you should assume that it is another universe and not a void continuity, but I will only do this if people ask. The point is this is that unless there is evidence to show that an alternate continuity is somehow connected to the main timeline, whether directly or by branching off from another alternate continuity, you must assume that it is a different universe. In the Ben 10 Franchise, there is no evidence; however, they made an incorrect assumption that what really should be referred to as separate universes were actually void continuities.

I really hope I don't need to explain the rest of the hierarchy up through multiverses. Also, I will say that I disagree with Brandon in that there is no such thing as an omniverse. Each multiverse is separate, and except in non-canon cases, you cannot travel between them.