in which Barry Du Monde perhaps foolishly decides to ponder the origins of the universe on his Facebook status updates

Barry ponders....Right so before the Big Bang there was nothing.....no matter, no energy and time didn't exist. So.....how long was there nothing for?
11:56 - 23 comments

Siobhan Doyle at 12:04, on 13 January.
42

UnaRocks Mullally at 12:06, on 13 January.
Jesus Christ, Barry, it's not even lunch time!
But yes, the answer is 42.

Catho Mcdonnell at 12:11, on 13 January.
rick o'shea is a l0ser

Etain Kidney at 12:12, on 13 January.
There was no such thing as nothingness because there was no one there to perceive the time that we presume passed. Or, 42.

Ciara Nolan at 12:18, on 13 January.
So then by that logic nothing exists unless there is someone there to percieve it?

UnaRocks Mullally at 12:22, on 13 January.
No, I don't agree with that. I think though because the Big Bang was the beginning of 'time' it would be impossible to perceive what went before it, no? Given that there would be no 'before' because time didn't exist. But also, 42.

Emma Somers at 13:34, on 13 January.
Can anyone hear me? I'm clapping with one hand. Hello...

Barry Du Monde at 13:36, on 13 January.
Hmm.....ok. If nothing had actually passed prior to the big bang; time, birthdays, ad-hoc employer enforced drug tests; what was so big and bangy about it? with no frame of reference it might as well ahve been called Kenneth! or 42

Emma Somers at 13:38, on 13 January.
Eh... because there was NOTHING going on the Big Bang seemed even bigger and bangier. Obviously. Now, does anyone have an auld bike they want to give me? I could swap it for a sandwich or something?

UnaRocks Mullally at 13:38, on 13 January.
um, because it created the universe?

UnaRocks Mullally at 13:39, on 13 January.
Emma - keep an eye on DublinWaste.ie (http://www.dublinwaste.ie/free_trade.php) loads of free bikes go up there.

Barry Du Monde at 13:42, on 13 January.
One hand clapping..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR9vZAlTYxc

Bren McDonnell at 13:52, on 13 January.
there was no time either, since time is also a dimension. therefore there simply was no lenght of time of nothingness

Barry Du Monde at 14:02, on 13 January.
Well I propose that it took 23 feet of time for God to hit the "Start Time" button. And the force required to press the button was 6 cats per square ironing board......Prove me wrong!

UnaRocks Mullally at 14:04, on 13 January.
42

Emma Somers at 14:23, on 13 January.
Actually scientists now say it's more like 42.75768976.

Siobhan Doyle at 14:27, on 13 January.
lol :P

Tigger O'Brien at 15:06, on 13 January.
well since there was no space or time, it would not have been possible for the number 42 to exist as a concept, but it if could the answer would definitely be 42

Siobhan Doyle at 15:12, on 13 January.
That you know of, since nobody can confirm or deny what came before... 42 could have been a completely different concept.

Tigger O'Brien at 15:14, on 13 January.
actually, i was there. I was 42.

Siobhan Doyle at 15:17, on 13 January.
so its YOU!

Emma Somers at 15:18, on 13 January.
Your ma is 42.

UnaRocks Mullally at 15:18, on 13 January.
I'd give your ma 4.2 out of 10

Emma Somers at 15:19, on 13 January.
I gave your ma 42 last night.