If you could go back in time ... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

highthief · 09-16-2009, 04:19 PM

You can pick one of three options:

1 - Go back one week in time knowing what this week's winning lottery numbers will be.

2 - Go back a number of years into your own past and make more personal changes (education, relationships, employment, etc) but not get any wealthier.

3 - Go back to any point in time and make a significant positive change in world history (discover a cure for some disease, stop a war before it starts, kill Hitler before he gets to power) but again, you won't be materially wealthier.

Which do you pick? Have to say, I'm a greedy person in some respects - I largely like my life right now but would be happy to have a few more dollars, so it's option 1 for me.

Tully Mars · 09-16-2009, 04:28 PM

Seems like all three could have a neg. impact. I'd go for number one also. If I found having money too much a burden I could always just give it away.

Jetée · 09-16-2009, 04:48 PM

If time is like a river, (theory of something or other proposed by I forget whom) then I'd like to make as little a splash as possible. Assuming everyone following adheres to your set definitions and we don't "jump forward" in time, I'd go back in time no further (farther?) than 50 hours or so (3 days max).

Money is of no interest to me, but it seems to travel and lodge, one needs it handy. Plus, I'm kinda scared of the publicity of winning a lottery/sweepstakes. I think I'd like to pool my money together for awhile, plan a trip to Vegas (after leaving the present to live out the past) and bet a huge pot on an assured winning underdog, say the recent US Open results of Del Potro over Federer with 4-1 odds (via VegasBlackbook).

northstar · 09-16-2009, 05:03 PM

The problem with number three is it can take away my very existence, or create a parallel universe making the changes null and void anyway. Though in general terms I'd probably say three. I don't believe in the practicality of it, so I also say one. Sorry to be difficult haha.

lostgirl · 09-16-2009, 05:04 PM

None of the above.

I love ancient history, and I would love to go back as an observer. I want to see the pyramids being built, the Colossus of Rhodes, the eruption of Thera, dinosaurs, you name it.

I would never change anything in the past, the grandfather paradox applies. It's also believed we would only create a parallel universe, and it would never affect the world we now know.

Willravel · 09-16-2009, 05:08 PM

I don't care about wealth. I care about how the process of trial and error has resulted in unimaginable suffering and death during the history of the species. Imagine meeting early humans, hunter gatherers, and teaching them language, science, mathematics, logic, art, music, and social/governmental theory like freedom, democracy, human rights, and equality. Imagine skipping 20,000 slow years of human development. The year 2009 could look like the year 22,009. The only thing I would ask in return is that they make central the ideals of truth and justice.

It would be interesting to see what 2009 would look like.

ratbastid · 09-16-2009, 05:12 PM

I've read too much sci fi to be reaaaaaal comfy with time travel. There are always unexpected consequences.

That said, I don't see how me suddenly being super rich could hurt anyone.

noodle · 09-16-2009, 05:24 PM

what ratbastid said.

Charlatan · 09-16-2009, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noodle

what ratbastid said.

thirded...

fresnelly · 09-16-2009, 05:52 PM

There will always be a war of some kind or another

Money can't buy happiness.

The world would be a better place if my wife's sister was still alive.

World's King · 09-16-2009, 05:55 PM

I'm taking the money...

GreyWolf · 09-16-2009, 05:55 PM

Actually, I would most prefer to travel back as an observer... to see what actually happened in the time of Caeser, or Christ, or to witness great events without the fog of time obscuring them. Changing things is not something I'd be terribly interested in.

Going back to get money wouldn't appeal to me, I have enough already (yes, I really do, but I'm not immensely wealthy, lol).

Going back to relive my own life sounds interesting until I think about the possibility of wiping out the existence of those I hold dear. That alone makes me accept my life as it is today.

I'm an inquisitive person, so I pick a modified option 3.

SSJTWIZTA · 09-16-2009, 06:46 PM

i would go back and stangle hitler, stalin, and mao tse-tung. perhaps as infants....less of a struggle from those soon to be genocidal ass-hats.

Lasereth · 09-16-2009, 07:10 PM

The question is a little unfair because there's an obvious answer.

It's sort of odd how the majority of people would rather be rich than save 50,000,000 lives.

Willravel · 09-16-2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lasereth

The question is a little unfair because there's an obvious answer.

It's sort of odd how the majority of people would rather be rich than save 50,000,000 lives.

WWII? I thought that was 55m.

inBOIL · 09-16-2009, 07:37 PM

I'd make personal changes, although the changes I'd make would almost certainly make me wealthier, just not rich. As far as saving millions of lives, the butterfly effect could result in your effort being in vain, or even counterproductive. Best to stick to making small changes that matter to you.

DaniGirl · 09-16-2009, 07:42 PM

Id go with number one. I'm thinking of my financial situation which would also help my personal life and the lives of my family. My kids future is what matters to me. So in a way it would be like picking number 1 and 2.

wooÐs · 09-16-2009, 08:05 PM

#2.

There's lots of things I 'coulda' done that 'woulda' prevented a lot of negatives in regards to my overall health and happiness today.

jnthnlllshprd · 09-16-2009, 11:59 PM

option 1, although I'd do what Hitler did just to undo what I did in July 2008.

Xerxys · 09-17-2009, 12:09 AM

Spiritsoar · 09-17-2009, 12:34 AM

1. A short period back in time, to gain financially. If I had a choice, I would find some strange series of stock investments to multiply my money exponentially, or something more discreet than lottery winnings. But, failing that, I'd take the lottery.

It may seem insensitive to gain personally, rather than help others, but Fate is tricky. I absolutely wouldn't change a thing about my life, despite wrong choices and missed opportunities. My life is far from perfect right now, but I'm happy with the direction it's going, and I wouldn't want anything to change what might have been.

As for historic changes, no. I know it might seem horrible, for all the things that might be better, for all the lives that might be saved, etc. Or things could have just gotten worse, or different in ways we couldn't expect or predict. We've done the best we could as a species throughout history to cope with the difficulties that we had, and we learned from each hardship we've endured. I couldn't tamper with that.

Vigilante · 09-17-2009, 12:42 AM

Dinosaurs. If there is not option for dinosaurs, then this thread is a waste

Allyallyally · 09-17-2009, 01:54 AM

Option 2, for sure. I don't want to be rich, and I don't want to mess with any of the bigger events of the world. I would use the opportunity to improve myself, and do things that I was afraid to do at the time, only with a whole new perspective. I'd take more chances, be less stupid, and express how I felt more often.

Oh, and I wouldn't have broken up with my first ever boyfriend (in such a nasty, childish way) when I was 12 years old just because my friends didn't like him. Sorry, Tom. You were cool.

ametc · 09-17-2009, 02:06 AM

I would go back in time and sweet talk my ex so it would be much easier now to stalk his new girlfriend. >_>............ This is not crazy, is it?

highthief · 09-17-2009, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lasereth

The question is a little unfair because there's an obvious answer.

It's sort of odd how the majority of people would rather be rich than save 50,000,000 lives.

Obviously, there is no obvious answer, given the split in votes.

ametc · 09-17-2009, 02:45 AM

I wish I could go back in time and never talk to my ex everrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I am losing sleep over this stupid shit. >:C

Reese · 09-17-2009, 03:48 AM

I'd kill Hitler.

I was going to post some holocaust photos but didn't want to ruin the thread. I don't care if it caused a grandfather paradox. It's the right thing to do. If someone told you that tomorrow, they were going to torture and kill 5 million people, why would you not stop it? Because you know the world will survive it is reason enough not to prevent it?

thirdsun · 09-17-2009, 04:12 AM

I'll take option 1, but instead of the lottery, I'll just purchase 500 shares of MSFT. Effectively, the same thing but expotentially more lucrative.

Jove · 09-17-2009, 05:37 AM

I would choose option 3, but I would observe the events and not mess with their situation because that may drastically change the future.

ratbastid · 09-17-2009, 05:37 AM

Like I said above, I'm a big fan of time travel sci fi. Here's a tiny short story by Desmond Warzel that's one of my faves.

Abyss & Apex : Fourth Quarter 2007: Wikihistory

Quote:

International Association of Time Travelers: Members' Forum Subforum: Europe – Twentieth Century – Second World War
Page 263

11/15/2104
At 14:52:28, FreedomFighter69 wrote:
Reporting my first temporal excursion since joining IATT: have just returned from 1936 Berlin, having taken the place of one of Leni Riefenstahl's cameramen and assassinated Adolf Hitler during the opening of the Olympic Games. Let a free world rejoice!

At 14:57:44, SilverFox316 wrote:
Back from 1936 Berlin; incapacitated FreedomFighter69 before he could pull his little stunt. Freedomfighter69, as you are a new member, please read IATT Bulletin 1147 regarding the killing of Hitler before your next excursion. Failure to do so may result in your expulsion per Bylaw 223.

At 18:06:59, BigChill wrote:
Take it easy on the kid, SilverFox316; everybody kills Hitler on their first trip. I did. It always gets fixed within a few minutes, what's the harm?

At 18:33:10, SilverFox316 wrote:
Easy for you to say, BigChill, since to my recollection you've never volunteered to go back and fix it. You think I've got nothing better to do?

11/16/2104
At 10:15:44, JudgeDoom wrote:
Good news! I just left a French battlefield in October 1916, where I shot dead a young Bavarian Army messenger named Adolf Hitler! Not bad for my first time, no? Sic semper tyrannis!

At 10:22:53, SilverFox316 wrote:
Back from 1916 France I come, having at the last possible second prevented Hitler's early demise at the hands of JudgeDoom and, incredibly, restrained myself from shooting JudgeDoom and sparing us all years of correcting his misguided antics. READ BULLETIN 1147, PEOPLE!

At 15:41:18, BarracksRoomLawyer wrote:
Point of order: issues related to Hitler's service in the Bavarian Army ought to go in the World War I forum.

11/21/2104
At 02:21:30, SneakyPete wrote:
Vienna, 1907: after numerous attempts, have infiltrated the Academy of Fine Arts and facilitated Adolf Hitler's admission to that institution. Goodbye, Hitler the dictator; hello, Hitler the modestly successful landscape artist! Brought back a few of his paintings as well, any buyers?

At 02:29:17, SilverFox316 wrote:
All right; that's it. Having just returned from 1907 Vienna where I secured the expulsion of Hitler from the Academy by means of an elaborate prank involving the Prefect, a goat, and a substantial quantity of olive oil, I now turn my attention to our newer brethren, who, despite rules to the contrary, seem to have no intention of reading Bulletin 1147 (nor its Addendum, Alternate Means of Subverting the Hitlerian Destiny, and here I'm looking at you, SneakyPete). Permit me to sum it up and save you the trouble: no Hitler means no Third Reich, no World War II, no rocketry programs, no electronics, no computers, no time travel. Get the picture?

At 02:29:49, SilverFox316 wrote:
PS to SneakyPete: your Hitler paintings aren't worth anything, schmuck, since you probably brought them directly here from 1907, which means the paint's still fresh. Freaking n00b.

At 07:55:03, BarracksRoomLawyer wrote:
Amen, SilverFox316. Although, point of order, issues relating to early 1900s Vienna should really go in that forum, not here. This has been a recurring problem on this forum.

11/26/2104
At 18:26:18, Jason440953 wrote:
SilverFox316, you seem to know a lot about the rules; what are your thoughts on traveling to, say, Braunau, Austria, in 1875 and killing Alois Hitler before he has a chance to father Adolf? Mind you, I'm asking out of curiosity alone, since I already went and did it.

At 18:42:55, SilverFox316 wrote:
Jason440953, see Bylaw 7, which states that all IATT rulings regarding historical persons apply to ancestors as well. I post this for the benefit of others, as I already made this clear to young Jason in person as I was dragging him back from 1875 by his hair. Got that? No ancestors. (Though if anyone were to go back to, say, Moline, Illinois, in, say, 2080 or so, and intercede to prevent Jason440953's conception, I could be persuaded to look the other way.)

At 21:19:17, BarracksRoomLawyer wrote:
Point of order: discussions of nineteenth–century Austria and twenty–first–century Illinois should be confined to their respective forums.

12/01/2104
At 15:56:41, AsianAvenger wrote:
FreedomFighter69, JudgeDoom, SneakyPete, Jason440953, you're nothing but a pack of racists. Let the light of righteousness shine upon your squalid little viper's nest!

At 16:40:17, BigTom44 wrote:
Well, here we frickin' go.

At 16:58:42, FreedomFighter69 wrote:
Racist? For killing Hitler? WTF?

At 17:12:52, SaucyAussie wrote:
AsianAvenger, you're not rehashing that whole Nagasaki issue again, are you? We just got everyone calmed down from last time.

At 17:22:37, LadyJustice wrote:
I'm with SaucyAussie. AsianAvenger, you're making even less sense than usual. What gives?

At 18:56:09, AsianAvenger wrote:
What gives is everyone's repeated insistence on a course of action which, even if successful, would only save a few million Europeans. It would be no more trouble to travel to Fuyuanshui, China, in 1814 and kill Hong Xiuquan, thus preventing the Taiping Rebellion of the mid–nineteenth century and saving fifty million lives in the process. But, hey, what are fifty million yellow devils more or less, right, guys? We've got Poles and Frenchmen to worry about.

At 19:01:38, LadyJustice wrote:
Well, what's stopping you from killing him, AsianAvenger?

At 19:11:43, AsianAvenger wrote:
Only to have SilverFox316 undo my work? What's the point?

At 19:59:23, SilverFox316 wrote:
Actually, it seems like a pretty good idea to me, AsianAvenger. No complications that I can see.

At 20:07:25, Big Chill wrote:
Go for it, man.

At 20:11:31, AsianAvenger wrote:
Very well. I shall return in mere moments, the savior of millions!

At 20:14:17, LadyJustice wrote:
Just checked the timeline; congrats on your success, AsianAvenger!

12/02/2104
At 10:52:53, LadyJustice wrote:
AsianAvenger?

At 11:41:40, SilverFox316 wrote:
AsianAvenger, we need your report, buddy.

At 17:15:32, SilverFox316 wrote:
Okay, apparently AsianAvenger was descended from Hong Xiuquan. Any volunteers to go back and stop him from negating his own existence?

12/10/2104
At 09:14:44, SilverFox316 wrote:
Anyone?

At 09:47:13, BarracksRoomLawyer wrote:
Point of order: this discussion belongs in the Qing Dynasty forum. We're adults; can we keep sight of what's important around here?

warrrreagl · 09-17-2009, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lostgirl

None of the above.

I love ancient history, and I would love to go back as an observer. I want to see the pyramids being built, the Colossus of Rhodes, the eruption of Thera, dinosaurs, you name it.

This. I would just want to observe without changing.

I would be curious to know, though, if the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle would apply to this as well.

DaniGirl · 09-17-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thirdsun

I'll take option 1, but instead of the lottery, I'll just purchase 500 shares of MSFT. Effectively, the same thing but expotentially more lucrative.

Great idea! I thought about this question even more and I may have changed my mind. Now I would not like to mess up the future in any way. But if there is one thing I would go back and change it would be 9/11. Save all those lives and stop a war. But really whose to say it wouldn't just happen another day another time. Is there really any way to stop war or just postpone it? Sorry I'm having a weird day.

Vigilante · 09-17-2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thirdsun

I'll take option 1, but instead of the lottery, I'll just purchase 500 shares of MSFT. Effectively, the same thing but expotentially more lucrative.

I think you meant number 2.

2 would be tempting, but you'd have to go back to the 80's to make serious cash. Intel, AMD, M$, all the hard drive companies. Oil. Toyota? Etc.

Between that and seeing the dinosuars...man. I still think I'd go see the dinosuars.

However if I did go back to the 80's, sadam and bin laden would be dead. I'd make sure Reagan knew, somehow.

jnthnlllshprd · 09-17-2009, 09:32 AM

KellyC · 09-17-2009, 07:52 PM

First option sounds good to me. I do really need it and I'm sure as hell I can improve lots of personal changes/relationships with the help of money and perhaps even making positive changes in history too....but from this point on.

Terrell · 09-17-2009, 11:35 PM

If I could only do it once, I'd take the money.

If I could do it multiple times, I'd probably go back and meet some historical figures. Would also go back and see some extinct creatures. If I'm not confined to earth, I might go all the way back and see our solar system form, even if I had to go to several different times, and see it like a time-lapse type of thing.

yotta · 09-21-2009, 12:27 AM

Fucking with history is a major butterfly effect issue, not touching that. I'm pretty happy with where my life is now, even if my childhood was awful in a lot of ways. I'd go back to the night there was a fire in my house and I'd go back for my dog. I'd left him in my bedroom where he died of smoke inhalation/suffocation. I could have easily gotten him out, but it had been drilled into me never to go back into a burning building. I don't think it would have changed my life much to have him, but I will always feel guilty about it.

percy · 09-21-2009, 06:15 PM

I'd go with 2. I think.

I was in a relationship for 2 years and it ended. It was beginning to get mentally and verbally abusive. After a year apart, and on the verge of a wonderful new relationship, I went back. That lasted 5 more years until the abuse was too much.

I can still remember the day, the month, the clothes I was wearing when I made that decision to give up what could have been a wonderful adventure that eventually turned into a nightmare. I would go right back to that moment and,...

And I don't know. What I potentially lost I may have never gained,...strength, courage, a sense of myself, independence, individuality, a life worth more than living.

Life is funny ain't it.

ironman · 09-23-2009, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lasereth

The question is a little unfair because there's an obvious answer.

It's sort of odd how the majority of people would rather be rich than save 50,000,000 lives.

If it wasn't for WWII we would not have computers, jets, space travel, microwaves, radars, lasers, nuclear energy, etc...
I rather risk going back one week and winning the lottery, than going back 50 plus years and risking the lives of hundreds if not thousands of millions of people. If those 50 mil wouldn't die, I think it's almost sure most of us would never be born, too much variables would be introduced into the equation of live if you were to save such a huge amount of people and change such a significant milestone in history. Butterfly effect my friend.

lostgirl · 09-24-2009, 06:19 PM

This keeps going though my head every time I read this thread.

Dailymotion - Cher - If I Could Turn Back Time - une vidÃ©o Musique

View Poll Results: If you could go back in time ...
Go back one week in time knowing what this week's winning lottery numbers will be.	21	63.64%
Make personal changes (relationships, employment, etc) but not get any wealthier.	6	18.18%
Make a positive change in world history (i.e., stop a war before it starts) but not be wealthier.	6	18.18%
Voters: 33. You may not vote on this poll

09-16-2009, 04:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
highthief Junkie Location: Ontario, Canada	If you could go back in time ... You can pick one of three options: 1 - Go back one week in time knowing what this week's winning lottery numbers will be. 2 - Go back a number of years into your own past and make more personal changes (education, relationships, employment, etc) but not get any wealthier. 3 - Go back to any point in time and make a significant positive change in world history (discover a cure for some disease, stop a war before it starts, kill Hitler before he gets to power) but again, you won't be materially wealthier. Which do you pick? Have to say, I'm a greedy person in some respects - I largely like my life right now but would be happy to have a few more dollars, so it's option 1 for me. __________________ Si vis pacem parabellum.

09-16-2009, 04:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tully Mars Living in a Warmer Insanity Super Moderator Location: Yucatan, Mexico	Seems like all three could have a neg. impact. I'd go for number one also. If I found having money too much a burden I could always just give it away. __________________ I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club

09-16-2009, 04:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jetée The Reforms Location: Rarely, if ever, here or there, but always in transition	If time is like a river, (theory of something or other proposed by I forget whom) then I'd like to make as little a splash as possible. Assuming everyone following adheres to your set definitions and we don't "jump forward" in time, I'd go back in time no further (farther?) than 50 hours or so (3 days max). Money is of no interest to me, but it seems to travel and lodge, one needs it handy. Plus, I'm kinda scared of the publicity of winning a lottery/sweepstakes. I think I'd like to pool my money together for awhile, plan a trip to Vegas (after leaving the present to live out the past) and bet a huge pot on an assured winning underdog, say the recent US Open results of Del Potro over Federer with 4-1 odds (via VegasBlackbook). __________________ As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world (that is the myth of the Atomic Age) as in being able to remake ourselves. —Mohandas K. Gandhi

09-16-2009, 05:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
lostgirl lightform Location: Edge of the deep green sea	None of the above. I love ancient history, and I would love to go back as an observer. I want to see the pyramids being built, the Colossus of Rhodes, the eruption of Thera, dinosaurs, you name it. I would never change anything in the past, the grandfather paradox applies. It's also believed we would only create a parallel universe, and it would never affect the world we now know. __________________ We're about to go through the crucible, but we'll come out the other side. We always arise from our own ashes. Everything returns later in its changed form. - Children of Dune

09-16-2009, 05:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
northstar Upright	The problem with number three is it can take away my very existence, or create a parallel universe making the changes null and void anyway. Though in general terms I'd probably say three. I don't believe in the practicality of it, so I also say one. Sorry to be difficult haha.

09-16-2009, 05:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	I don't care about wealth. I care about how the process of trial and error has resulted in unimaginable suffering and death during the history of the species. Imagine meeting early humans, hunter gatherers, and teaching them language, science, mathematics, logic, art, music, and social/governmental theory like freedom, democracy, human rights, and equality. Imagine skipping 20,000 slow years of human development. The year 2009 could look like the year 22,009. The only thing I would ask in return is that they make central the ideals of truth and justice. It would be interesting to see what 2009 would look like.

09-16-2009, 05:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	I've read too much sci fi to be reaaaaaal comfy with time travel. There are always unexpected consequences. That said, I don't see how me suddenly being super rich could hurt anyone.

09-16-2009, 05:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
fresnelly Functionally Appropriate Location: Toronto	There will always be a war of some kind or another Money can't buy happiness. The world would be a better place if my wife's sister was still alive. __________________ Building an artificial intelligence that appreciates Mozart is easy. Building an A.I. that appreciates a theme restaurant is the real challenge - Kit Roebuck - Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life

09-16-2009, 05:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
World's King Here Location: Denver City Denver	I'm taking the money... __________________ heavy is the head that wears the crown

09-16-2009, 05:55 PM	#12 (permalink)
GreyWolf Sober Location: Eastern Canada	Actually, I would most prefer to travel back as an observer... to see what actually happened in the time of Caeser, or Christ, or to witness great events without the fog of time obscuring them. Changing things is not something I'd be terribly interested in. Going back to get money wouldn't appeal to me, I have enough already (yes, I really do, but I'm not immensely wealthy, lol). Going back to relive my own life sounds interesting until I think about the possibility of wiping out the existence of those I hold dear. That alone makes me accept my life as it is today. I'm an inquisitive person, so I pick a modified option 3. __________________ *The secret to great marksmanship is deciding what the target was AFTER you've shot.*

09-16-2009, 06:46 PM	#13 (permalink)
SSJTWIZTA Master Thief. Master Criminal. Masturbator. Location: Windiwana	i would go back and stangle hitler, stalin, and mao tse-tung. perhaps as infants....less of a struggle from those soon to be genocidal ass-hats. __________________ First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the communists and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist Then they came for me And there was no one left to speak out for me. -Pastor Martin Niemoller Last edited by SSJTWIZTA; 09-16-2009 at 06:51 PM..

09-16-2009, 07:10 PM	#14 (permalink)
Lasereth Knight of the Old Republic Location: Winston-Salem, NC	The question is a little unfair because there's an obvious answer. It's sort of odd how the majority of people would rather be rich than save 50,000,000 lives. __________________ "A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert

09-16-2009, 07:37 PM	#16 (permalink)
inBOIL I have eaten the slaw	I'd make personal changes, although the changes I'd make would almost certainly make me wealthier, just not rich. As far as saving millions of lives, the butterfly effect could result in your effort being in vain, or even counterproductive. Best to stick to making small changes that matter to you. __________________ And you believe Bush and the liberals and divorced parents and gays and blacks and the Christian right and fossil fuels and Xbox are all to blame, meanwhile you yourselves create an ad where your kid hits you in the head with a baseball and you don't understand the message that the problem is you.

09-16-2009, 07:42 PM	#17 (permalink)
DaniGirl Addict Location: Fucking Utah...	Id go with number one. I'm thinking of my financial situation which would also help my personal life and the lives of my family. My kids future is what matters to me. So in a way it would be like picking number 1 and 2.

09-17-2009, 12:09 AM	#20 (permalink)
Xerxys Junkie Location: My head.

09-17-2009, 12:42 AM	#22 (permalink)
Vigilante Broken Arrow Location: US	Dinosaurs. If there is not option for dinosaurs, then this thread is a waste __________________ We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle. -Winston Churchill

09-16-2009, 08:05 PM	#18 (permalink)
wooÐs Sitting in a tree Location: Atlanta	#2. There's lots of things I 'coulda' done that 'woulda' prevented a lot of negatives in regards to my overall health and happiness today.

09-16-2009, 11:59 PM	#19 (permalink)
jnthnlllshprd Tilted	option 1, although I'd do what Hitler did just to undo what I did in July 2008.

09-17-2009, 12:34 AM	#21 (permalink)
Spiritsoar Tilted Location: Tacoma, WA	1. A short period back in time, to gain financially. If I had a choice, I would find some strange series of stock investments to multiply my money exponentially, or something more discreet than lottery winnings. But, failing that, I'd take the lottery. It may seem insensitive to gain personally, rather than help others, but Fate is tricky. I absolutely wouldn't change a thing about my life, despite wrong choices and missed opportunities. My life is far from perfect right now, but I'm happy with the direction it's going, and I wouldn't want anything to change what might have been. As for historic changes, no. I know it might seem horrible, for all the things that might be better, for all the lives that might be saved, etc. Or things could have just gotten worse, or different in ways we couldn't expect or predict. We've done the best we could as a species throughout history to cope with the difficulties that we had, and we learned from each hardship we've endured. I couldn't tamper with that. __________________ Veritas Vos Liberabit

09-17-2009, 01:54 AM	#23 (permalink)
Allyallyally Tilted Location: London, UK	Option 2, for sure. I don't want to be rich, and I don't want to mess with any of the bigger events of the world. I would use the opportunity to improve myself, and do things that I was afraid to do at the time, only with a whole new perspective. I'd take more chances, be less stupid, and express how I felt more often. Oh, and I wouldn't have broken up with my first ever boyfriend (in such a nasty, childish way) when I was 12 years old just because my friends didn't like him. Sorry, Tom. You were cool. __________________ Smile - it's the second best thing you can do with your lips.

09-17-2009, 02:06 AM	#24 (permalink)
ametc Psycho	I would go back in time and sweet talk my ex so it would be much easier now to stalk his new girlfriend. >_>............ This is not crazy, is it?

09-17-2009, 02:45 AM	#26 (permalink)
ametc Psycho	I wish I could go back in time and never talk to my ex everrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I am losing sleep over this stupid shit. >:C

09-17-2009, 03:48 AM	#27 (permalink)
Reese Delicious	I'd kill Hitler. I was going to post some holocaust photos but didn't want to ruin the thread. I don't care if it caused a grandfather paradox. It's the right thing to do. If someone told you that tomorrow, they were going to torture and kill 5 million people, why would you not stop it? Because you know the world will survive it is reason enough not to prevent it? __________________ “It is better to be rich and healthy than poor and sick” - Dave Barry

09-17-2009, 04:12 AM	#28 (permalink)
thirdsun rolls good	I'll take option 1, but instead of the lottery, I'll just purchase 500 shares of MSFT. Effectively, the same thing but expotentially more lucrative.

09-17-2009, 05:37 AM	#29 (permalink)
Jove Groovy Hipster Nerd Location: Michigan	I would choose option 3, but I would observe the events and not mess with their situation because that may drastically change the future.

09-17-2009, 09:32 AM	#34 (permalink)
jnthnlllshprd Tilted	nvm Last edited by jnthnlllshprd; 09-17-2009 at 09:34 AM..

09-17-2009, 07:52 PM	#35 (permalink)
KellyC Comment or else!! Location: Home sweet home	First option sounds good to me. I do really need it and I'm sure as hell I can improve lots of personal changes/relationships with the help of money and perhaps even making positive changes in history too....but from this point on. __________________ Him: Ok, I have to ask, what do you believe? Me: Shit happens.

09-17-2009, 11:35 PM	#36 (permalink)
Terrell Insane Location: Orlando, Florida	If I could only do it once, I'd take the money. If I could do it multiple times, I'd probably go back and meet some historical figures. Would also go back and see some extinct creatures. If I'm not confined to earth, I might go all the way back and see our solar system form, even if I had to go to several different times, and see it like a time-lapse type of thing.

09-21-2009, 12:27 AM	#37 (permalink)
yotta Irresponsible	Fucking with history is a major butterfly effect issue, not touching that. I'm pretty happy with where my life is now, even if my childhood was awful in a lot of ways. I'd go back to the night there was a fire in my house and I'd go back for my dog. I'd left him in my bedroom where he died of smoke inhalation/suffocation. I could have easily gotten him out, but it had been drilled into me never to go back into a burning building. I don't think it would have changed my life much to have him, but I will always feel guilty about it. __________________ I am Jack's signature.

09-21-2009, 06:15 PM	#38 (permalink)
percy Addict	I'd go with 2. I think. I was in a relationship for 2 years and it ended. It was beginning to get mentally and verbally abusive. After a year apart, and on the verge of a wonderful new relationship, I went back. That lasted 5 more years until the abuse was too much. I can still remember the day, the month, the clothes I was wearing when I made that decision to give up what could have been a wonderful adventure that eventually turned into a nightmare. I would go right back to that moment and,... And I don't know. What I potentially lost I may have never gained,...strength, courage, a sense of myself, independence, individuality, a life worth more than living. Life is funny ain't it.