Indices Memes

Theoretical physicists skipping the 4th dimension like it's a hotel floor in Asia is peak academic chaos. The author's like "We'll use x 5 for the 5th dimension and just pretend 4 doesn't exist because... reasons!" Then has the audacity to acknowledge this creates confusion but basically shrugs it off with "hopefully context will save us." This is the mathematical equivalent of building a house and labeling the floors G, 1, 2, 5 while mumbling "everyone will figure it out." No wonder string theorists can't agree on anything when they're out here playing interdimensional hopscotch with their indices!