You've won a prize!! - Page 2

vivaldirules · 05-22-2009, 05:37 PM

Excellent question, dickon25. And some interesting replies, too. I had a recent idea for a story plot that involves a person (I'll call him Joe) wishing to go back in time to an historical event to discover the truth about a particular incident that he was hung up on (e.g., the Richard III event). An alien/genie/seer/whatever who has many talents takes Joe back in time and shows him what really happened. This causes Joe to wonder about other things like the motivation for Richard III's actions, how it was done, what events led up to it, who else saw it happen, what happened to them, the psychological profile of Richard III at the time, events in his childhood which predisposed him to the act, the impact of his diet on the individual neuron firings in his brain at the time he committed the act, and on and on in an endless stream of questions. With each question, the alien/genie/seer/whatever reliably shows Joe the answer and the scientific basis of how such questions can be answered. After seeing each of his questions answered and learning much about the nature of man and science, Joe has one or more revelations which I have yet to work out. Perhaps he concludes that mankind is a hopeless cause. Or maybe the opposite. Or maybe he determines that knowing anything has no value at all. There's lots of possibilities. It's just a fragment of an idea so far.

dickon25 · 05-22-2009, 05:42 PM

Perhaps when he has the answers to all his questions he just searches for new questions. Sometimes the journey is more interesting than the destination.....?

dickon25 · 05-22-2009, 05:44 PM

Peverel, thanks for the EscapePod link! Great story but it's tied my brain in a knot now......

Peverel · 05-22-2009, 06:00 PM

I would like to go forward in time so I can ask myself where I want to go, then go back to when I couldn't decide and tell myself.

(thanks for the seed of the idea Dickon)

dickon25 · 05-22-2009, 06:03 PM

Peverel.
LOL! That's just twisted!!

Gideon · 05-22-2009, 06:33 PM

Far, far in the future. I want to go far enough that we've made contact with alien cultures. I want to see what the art and history and ideas of an entirely different species looks like. (Assuming such things are relevant to another species.)

dickon25 · 05-22-2009, 06:42 PM

Hmm. That might have been my second choice.
You might like this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Man-Awoke-Sp...3031789&sr=8-1

mjh215 · 05-22-2009, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

I'd like to know who really killed JFK and why. And yes, I"ve heard ALL the theories. I just want to know the truth.

My favorite theory;

As to when and where I'd go? I have no idea. I -love- the Library of Alexandria idea... But it'd really stink if you used up your one credit, got back there, copied them, then translated them and they were all Dick and Jane scrolls. Maybe I can go back to now and tell myself when I should go to?

-MJ

yvanleterrible · 05-22-2009, 07:35 PM

We are always welcome in the past, because we know the future...

slayda · 05-22-2009, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krisk

he's just having an Eeyore moment again

If I didn't disapear, then I'd know & if I did then "What difference would it make?"

slayda · 05-22-2009, 08:58 PM

Maybe I'd just take a few bars of aluminium back to the time when aluminium and platinum cost the same and swap. Then come back, sel the platinum and retire. No wait, I'm already retired. Oh well...

GraceKrispy · 05-23-2009, 12:38 AM

Hmm.... I think having the decision just would stress me out so much I'd go mental.

So I think, for my sanity, I'd have to give it away. I mean, ideally, I'd like to spend a little time with my dad, maybe even just watch him before he started having problems- watch a time when my mom and dad were happy or something, or get to know grandparents better, or ... or....

see, I'd go mental. But I'd have trouble giving it away, so I hope no one ever gives it to me, OR someone gives it to me with stipulations that it HAS to be used for some certain event. I don't like choices, sometimes....

GeoffC · 05-23-2009, 04:36 AM

The past is too fragile a place to return to. Even a change of timing, of any event, by as little as a second could have a devastating effect on the now. If one went to the future, how could one return without affecting that future?

No, for me i'll stay in my present present and enjoy life as i know it without any preconception of what to come, nor hang-ups about what has gone past.

Jill75 · 05-23-2009, 04:40 AM

It sure would be nice to go back to the past and correct the mistakes I have made... but then.... I would rather live in the present as the mistakes in the past have made me stronger today and in the future.

Well maybe.... I would just have hugged and said how much I love my loved ones more...

Peverel · 05-23-2009, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

The past is too fragile a place to return to. Even a change of timing, of any event, by as little as a second could have a devastating effect on the now. If one went to the future, how could one return without affecting that future?

Well assuming time exists:

Newsflash: Time May Not Exist
Denying The Existence Of Time
Does Time Exist?

(sorry but couldn't resist

)

05-22-2009, 05:37 PM	#16
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	Excellent question, dickon25. And some interesting replies, too. I had a recent idea for a story plot that involves a person (I'll call him Joe) wishing to go back in time to an historical event to discover the truth about a particular incident that he was hung up on (e.g., the Richard III event). An alien/genie/seer/whatever who has many talents takes Joe back in time and shows him what really happened. This causes Joe to wonder about other things like the motivation for Richard III's actions, how it was done, what events led up to it, who else saw it happen, what happened to them, the psychological profile of Richard III at the time, events in his childhood which predisposed him to the act, the impact of his diet on the individual neuron firings in his brain at the time he committed the act, and on and on in an endless stream of questions. With each question, the alien/genie/seer/whatever reliably shows Joe the answer and the scientific basis of how such questions can be answered. After seeing each of his questions answered and learning much about the nature of man and science, Joe has one or more revelations which I have yet to work out. Perhaps he concludes that mankind is a hopeless cause. Or maybe the opposite. Or maybe he determines that knowing anything has no value at all. There's lots of possibilities. It's just a fragment of an idea so far. Last edited by vivaldirules; 05-22-2009 at 05:39 PM.

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05-22-2009, 05:42 PM	#17
dickon25 Groupie Posts: 199 Karma: 818 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: UK Device: Sony PRS-505. Pocketbook Inkpad 840	Perhaps when he has the answers to all his questions he just searches for new questions. Sometimes the journey is more interesting than the destination.....?

05-22-2009, 05:44 PM	#18
dickon25 Groupie Posts: 199 Karma: 818 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: UK Device: Sony PRS-505. Pocketbook Inkpad 840	Peverel, thanks for the EscapePod link! Great story but it's tied my brain in a knot now......

05-22-2009, 06:00 PM	#19
Peverel Still Easily Confused Posts: 889 Karma: 505319 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampshire/Berkshire/Surrey - yes I am that big Device: Kindle	I would like to go forward in time so I can ask myself where I want to go, then go back to when I couldn't decide and tell myself. (thanks for the seed of the idea Dickon)

05-22-2009, 06:03 PM	#20
dickon25 Groupie Posts: 199 Karma: 818 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: UK Device: Sony PRS-505. Pocketbook Inkpad 840	Peverel. LOL! That's just twisted!!

05-22-2009, 06:33 PM	#21
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	Far, far in the future. I want to go far enough that we've made contact with alien cultures. I want to see what the art and history and ideas of an entirely different species looks like. (Assuming such things are relevant to another species.)

05-22-2009, 06:42 PM	#22
dickon25 Groupie Posts: 199 Karma: 818 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: UK Device: Sony PRS-505. Pocketbook Inkpad 840	Hmm. That might have been my second choice. You might like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Man-Awoke-Sp...3031789&sr=8-1

05-22-2009, 07:35 PM	#24
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	We are always welcome in the past, because we know the future...

05-22-2009, 08:58 PM	#26
slayda Retired & reading more! Posts: 2,764 Karma: 1884247 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Alabama, USA Device: Kindle 1, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6S+, Kobo Aura One	Maybe I'd just take a few bars of aluminium back to the time when aluminium and platinum cost the same and swap. Then come back, sel the platinum and retire. No wait, I'm already retired. Oh well...

05-23-2009, 12:38 AM	#27
GraceKrispy It's Dr. Penguin now! Posts: 3,909 Karma: 4705733 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: (USA) Device: iPad mini, Samsung Note 3, Sony PRS-650 (rarely used now)	Hmm.... I think having the decision just would stress me out so much I'd go mental. So I think, for my sanity, I'd have to give it away. I mean, ideally, I'd like to spend a little time with my dad, maybe even just watch him before he started having problems- watch a time when my mom and dad were happy or something, or get to know grandparents better, or ... or.... see, I'd go mental. But I'd have trouble giving it away, so I hope no one ever gives it to me, OR someone gives it to me with stipulations that it HAS to be used for some certain event. I don't like choices, sometimes....

05-23-2009, 04:36 AM	#28
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	The past is too fragile a place to return to. Even a change of timing, of any event, by as little as a second could have a devastating effect on the now. If one went to the future, how could one return without affecting that future? No, for me i'll stay in my present present and enjoy life as i know it without any preconception of what to come, nor hang-ups about what has gone past.

05-23-2009, 04:40 AM	#29
Jill75 Zealot Posts: 135 Karma: 150 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: none	It sure would be nice to go back to the past and correct the mistakes I have made... but then.... I would rather live in the present as the mistakes in the past have made me stronger today and in the future. Well maybe.... I would just have hugged and said how much I love my loved ones more...