6

In this alternate timeline, the number 6 is widely considered an unlucky and inauspicious number, associated with dark forces, evil spirits, and general misfortune. This stigma around 6 dates back centuries to ancient religious and cultural beliefs, and has had profound impacts on society, technology, and everyday life that continue to this day.

Origins of the 6 Taboo

The widespread superstition regarding the number 6 can be traced to several key sources. In many ancient religious traditions, 6 was seen as the number of the devil or demonic forces, in contrast to the holy perfection of 7. The Book of Revelation in the Abrahamic faiths, for instance, describes the "Number of the Beast" as 666, a number indelibly linked to Satan.

Various pre-Christian pagan belief systems also associated 6 with dark forces and misfortune. The ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, and Celts all had cultural taboos and superstitions around the number. When Christianity spread across Europe, these existing 6-related superstitions were syncretized and amplified within the new dominant religion.

Over time, the belief that 6 was an inherently unlucky number became deeply ingrained in the cultural psyche, with the fear and avoidance of 6 pervading everything from architecture and product design to sports and games. To this day, 6 remains a number that is widely shunned and considered ominous in most parts of the world.

Impacts on Society and Technology

The stigma attached to the number 6 has had wide-ranging effects on various aspects of life in this alternate timeline. A few key examples:

• Buildings and addresses rarely use the number 6, skipping from 5 to 7 to avoid it. Many high-rise buildings also lack a 6th floor, labeled as the 5th or 7th instead.
• Product packaging and containers are almost never in multiples of 6, as this is seen as unlucky. Standard beverage "six-packs" do not exist, with 5 or 7 being the more common package sizes.
• Sports and games involving 6 players, teams or objects are much less common, as the number is avoided. Tournaments, leagues and rules are structured around 5s, 7s, or other numbers instead.
• Some mathematical and scientific constants that are 6-based in our timeline, such as the hexagon, are instead based on 5 or 7 in this alternate world due to the cultural taboo.
• Superstitious individuals and organizations often refuse to use 6 in dates, times, addresses, or important numbers, seeing it as an omen of bad luck.

Legacy and Persistence

Despite increased secularization and scientific skepticism in modern times, the deep-rooted cultural aversion to the number 6 continues to have a noticeable impact on many aspects of life in this timeline. While views on its significance have evolved, the widely held superstition around 6 remains a pervasive part of the shared psyche.

Scholars and historians continue to debate the origins and persistence of this unusual cultural phenomenon. Some see it as a striking example of how ancient religious and folkloric beliefs can shape the material world, even centuries later. Others view it as a cautionary tale about the power of collective irrationality to influence technology, institutions and everyday life. Regardless, the number 6 and its curious stigma remain an intriguing facet of this alternate world's history and culture.