Time Travel

[Dr. Hfuhruhurr]

Another one of my favorite science fiction subjects is time travel. I've always been fascinated by the paradoxes associated with time travel, ever since I read the Ray Bradbury short story "A Sound of Thunder." (If you're not familiar with the story, go here (http://www.is.wayne.edu/mnissani/WWI/thunder.htm))

Then, of course, there was the Star Trek OS episode "The City on the Edge of Forever," in which Kirk and Spock return to Earth just prior to WWII. McCoy has accidentally saved the life of a woman, and that act changes history because the woman goes on to start a pacifist movement in that delays the U.S.'s entry into WWII and gives Germany time to develop the atomic bomb before the U.S.

Then there are the multitudes of time travel stories in comics. Some of my favorites are Fantastic Four #2 where Doc Doom sends Reed, Johnny and Ben back in time to steal Blackbeard's treasure, Marvel Team-Up 41-46, Walt Simonson's Time Variance Authority in FF, Grant Morrison's "Animal Man" and the wonderful, short-lived CHRONOS series from DC.

Anyway, what if you were allowed to go back in time. Where would you go? What would you do? What might the larger consequences of the change be?

The only provisos are that: 1) you can't carry anything with you (you go back nekkid a la The Terminator); 2) you get two jumps, max (so if you go back to change your life, don't screw it up, because you've only got one jump left to go back to your own time); and 3) there are no "parallel world" safety valves, i.e. anything you do will have an effect in your world and your time (in other words, like when Ben Grimm traveled back to give himself the cure in MTIO #50, he ended up "curing" the Thing of a parallel earth, not "his" Earth).

[i_mmmchocolate]

Anyway, what if you were allowed to go back in time. Where would you go? What would you do? What might the larger consequences of the change be?

I'd go back in time to 1964 and warn my grandfather to take my grandmother to the hospital the second she feels ill.

My grandmother died when my mom was only 5 and a lot of awful things happened to her and my aunt after that.

[Archyduke]

I'd go back to Free Water Ice Day at Rita's. Sure, it lacks grandeur, but that was some damn good water ice.

[Ed Cunard]

Back to the '20s, '30s, '40s or '50s. And, once I'm there, someone else can have my other jump. I think I'll stay.

EDIT: Oh, consequences and all that jazz. I don't care. I mean, if I'm staying, everything becomes an unknowable future. And I'm staying for the music and the films and all the social and technological changes that happened--just to experience it, not to try to muck with it in any way.

[Dom]

I'd jump back to 1930. Join the Untouchables, smack Al Capone around. Stop Frank Nitti.

Then I'd probably jump up to 1995 and tell myself that accounting if a bad choice. I wouldn't mind living out my life from there on either.

[Dom]

I'd also prorably go back 1 minute and tell myself not to double post anymore.

[SteelTownr]

I guess that I would just get arrested for indecency once I got there.

Mark B.

[Drew Van T.]

I'd go back in time to 1964 and warn my grandfather to take my grandmother to the hospital the second she feels ill.

I think everybody has at least one medical scenario like that. I could go back and warn my grandmother not to try the experimental homeopathic blood pressure medecine for two years, and to stick with classic pills instead, so she avoids the fatal brain aneurysm.

[Michael P]

Back to the '20s, '30s, '40s or '50s. And, once I'm there, someone else can have my other jump. I think I'll stay.
In that case, I'm going to have to ask you to please not do my grandmother.

I know it didn't do any good the last time I asked you that, but I can hope.

As for me, I'd go back to December 7, 1980, find Mark David Chapman, and cave in his skull.

Edit: I'd also write a letter, to be mailed to my ten-year-old self.

[Roquefort Raider]

Go back to the oval office circa 1995, tell a certain horny president "I wouldn't do that" and come back.



The world would be a much better place now.




- Ben


All right, while I was at it I'd also use the phone and give my past persona a few useful stock tips.

[tricksterpup]

Another one of my favorite science fiction subjects is time travel. I've always been fascinated by the paradoxes associated with time travel, ever since I read the Ray Bradbury short story "A Sound of Thunder." (If you're not familiar with the story, go here (http://www.is.wayne.edu/mnissani/WWI/thunder.htm))

Then, of course, there was the Star Trek OS episode "The City on the Edge of Forever," in which Kirk and Spock return to Earth just prior to WWII. McCoy has accidentally saved the life of a woman, and that act changes history because the woman goes on to start a pacifist movement in that delays the U.S.'s entry into WWII and gives Germany time to develop the atomic bomb before the U.S.

Then there are the multitudes of time travel stories in comics. Some of my favorites are Fantastic Four #2 where Doc Doom sends Reed, Johnny and Ben back in time to steal Blackbeard's treasure, Marvel Team-Up 41-46, Walt Simonson's Time Variance Authority in FF, Grant Morrison's "Animal Man" and the wonderful, short-lived CHRONOS series from DC.

Anyway, what if you were allowed to go back in time. Where would you go? What would you do? What might the larger consequences of the change be?

The only provisos are that: 1) you can't carry anything with you (you go back nekkid a la The Terminator); 2) you get two jumps, max (so if you go back to change your life, don't screw it up, because you've only got one jump left to go back to your own time); and 3) there are no "parallel world" safety valves, i.e. anything you do will have an effect in your world and your time (in other words, like when Ben Grimm traveled back to give himself the cure in MTIO #50, he ended up "curing" the Thing of a parallel earth, not "his" Earth).


How about going back in time and kicking your pop in the nuts on that same day you are concieved to see if you get born or not 9 months later. ;)



damn I am feeling snarky today.. Sorry about that. :)

[sgt.candy]

shaddup with all dat science fiction talk

[Forefinger]

shaddup with all dat science fiction talk
We all know that you would go back and kill JBL as a baby if given the chance.

[tricksterpup]

We all know that you would go back and kill JBL as a baby if given the chance.
I sure you would go back in time and show a 10-12 year old geeky Forefinger a picture of your wife and tell him that he is going to Marry that. :)
Just imagine what you would have told yourself in response.

[sgt.candy]

We all know that you would go back and kill JBL as a baby if given the chance.no. if i kill him then danH will rule the present

in all seriousness, i like time travel. and after reading that president thor storyline im even more interested

[Dr. Hfuhruhurr]

In that case, I'm going to have to ask you to please not do my grandmother.

I know it didn't do any good the last time I asked you that, but I can hope.

That's ...

That's just ...

Ew.

[frankiedetroit]

I'd like to see what really happened on Nov. 22, 1963. So I'd go to Dallas, and stand either beside the grassy knoll or hide in the book depository. I would have purchased my own film camera, and I'd know where to train my lens. It wouldn't stop the Baby Boomers from annoying the rest of us forever with their theories, but at least I'd know the truth. PS: I'm torn as to whether I'd warn anyone. I don't know how good a president Kennedy would've been. On civil rights, he'd have likely been worse than Johnson. On Vietnam, who knows?

For my second leap, I would go to 1968 and consult with my father. I would list all the future Super Bowl and World Series winners (I can only imagine the odds in April 1969 on the Mets, let alone those on the Jets), so he could bet on them. Then I'd tell him to stockpile some cash so that when 1984 rolls around, he and mom would have a huge wad to buy as much MicroSoft stock as possible--but with clear instructions to cash in all of it in January 2000.

[Michael P]

I'd like to see what really happened on Nov. 22, 1963. So I'd go to Dallas, and stand either beside the grassy knoll or hide in the book depository.
The book depository would be a good spot. No one there to see you.

[Forefinger]

I sure you would go back in time and show a 10-12 year old geeky Forefinger a picture of your wife and tell him that he is going to Marry that. :)
Just imagine what you would have told yourself in response.
It probably would have been a Beavis and Butthead style "huh huh huh" or something.

If I could go back I wouldn't try change any of the events that led me to meet my wife, but I would kick my own teenage ass and make sure that I focused in on going to school more and took more college classes when I had the chance. I'm 28 with no degree!

[Forefinger]

no. if i kill him then danH will rule the present

That is just the kind of thing that should ensure that no one is ever allowed to change the past.

[sgt.candy]

That is just the kind of thing that should ensure that no one is ever allowed to change the past.plus those spider things from ultimate fantastic 4 will come after you


i think maybe something like that exsists. to keep the timeline how it is

[darkkeeperjr]

I'll go back to january and play the lottery in every other state, every other week in advance. Then you see some real changes around here.

[frankiedetroit]

The book depository would be a good spot. No one there to see you.

And I'd release my footage of that empty room after Oswald was captured. Then they'd try to Jack Ruby me, but before they can, I disappear to the future.

Probably to get to the heart of Kennedy's death, you have to travel to some other time previous to that day in Dallas. OK...so how about I go hang out with Marilyn Monroe in 1962 and see how she dies.

[Dreadstar]

Probably to get to the heart of Kennedy's death, you have to travel to some other time previous to that day in Dallas. OK...so how about I go hang out with Marilyn Monroe in 1962 and see how she dies.


That never ends well. It'll turn out that you're the one who feeds her the OD. Mark my words.

It's like when I went back to try and warn the Titanic. I made it to the bridge and told the pilot that there was an iceberg ahead, and they freaked, and the pilot himself escorted me to the brig area, leaving a third-class at the helm. He panicked and the rest is history.

And man, you should have seen the clusterfuck that happened when I was at Pearl Harbor! Phone lines jammed so that the radar boys couldn't get through!

It always ends badly.

[Forefinger]

plus those spider things from ultimate fantastic 4 will come after you


i think maybe something like that exsists. to keep the timeline how it is
No man, that's what JBL's role in the universe is.

[Forefinger]

plus those spider things from ultimate fantastic 4 will come after you


i think maybe something like that exsists. to keep the timeline how it is
No man, that's what JBL's role in the universe is.

[tricksterpup]

No man, that's what JBL's role in the universe is.
Actually If I could do anything like that. I would go back in time to make sure that the Acolytes stayed together and that Bradshaw still worked for Beer. God, that was one of the Best Bits that man had. Actually, JBL needs to grow back that beard and long hair.

[Forefinger]

Actually If I could do anything like that. I would go back in time to make sure that the Acolytes stayed together and that Bradshaw still worked for Beer. God, that was one of the Best Bits that man had. Actually, JBL needs to grow back that beard and long hair.
Only if he and Ron Simmons had stayed together. If not, he's just as crappy as JBL as he was as Bradshaw the singles face. I really liked those guys as the APA though. Fun stuff.

[Sanagi]

I'd really rather be a Dr.Who-style time/space tourist, but with just two trips, I guess I'd check out the future of Earth a hundred years ahead and return, unless it turns out to be a really cool future.

[sehthan]

I'd also prorably go back 1 minute and tell myself not to double post anymore.

Don't you people see what you're messing with! You've already created a paradox! Now there's two of you!

Forefinger, too.

[Forefinger]

Now that I've thought of a good self-serving thing, I'd do to tomorrow and get the winning lottery numbers and then come back to today to buy the tickets.

[Forefinger]

Don't you people see what you're messing with! You've already created a paradox! Now there's two of you!

Forefinger, too.
Doh! Alternate Forefinger's makes my head hurt!

[phoenixrising]

Doh! Alternate Forefinger's makes my head hurt!

Alternate forefingers can also bring on a quicker climax...

[phoenixrising]

But seriously, I'd go back in time and warn the Native Americans: Dude, do NOT trust those guys. They will screw you over in more ways than you can imagine.

[ragnarok_2012]

But seriously, I'd go back in time and warn the Native Americans: Dude, do NOT trust those guys. They will screw you over in more ways than you can imagine.

Perhaps you could explain it to them, if only you spoke their language! Mwahahahaha!!!!

I feel like the French guy from Raiders of the Lost Ark. :D

[Hiromi]

go back to 1984

threaten George Lucas at gunpoint till he makes the three prequels right then and there instead of waiting 20 years to screw em up. And then the 7-9 movies!

and then I'd send a letter to my parents with a couple names and numbers on them. Like Microsoft, Ebay, that stuff.

[StoneGold]

Two words: cavewoman whores!

[Nikita]

Another one of my favorite science fiction subjects is time travel. I've always been fascinated by the paradoxes associated with time travel, ever since I read the Ray Bradbury short story "A Sound of Thunder." (If you're not familiar with the story, go here (http://www.is.wayne.edu/mnissani/WWI/thunder.htm))

Then, of course, there was the Star Trek OS episode "The City on the Edge of Forever," in which Kirk and Spock return to Earth just prior to WWII. McCoy has accidentally saved the life of a woman, and that act changes history because the woman goes on to start a pacifist movement in that delays the U.S.'s entry into WWII and gives Germany time to develop the atomic bomb before the U.S.

Then there are the multitudes of time travel stories in comics. Some of my favorites are Fantastic Four #2 where Doc Doom sends Reed, Johnny and Ben back in time to steal Blackbeard's treasure, Marvel Team-Up 41-46, Walt Simonson's Time Variance Authority in FF, Grant Morrison's "Animal Man" and the wonderful, short-lived CHRONOS series from DC.

Anyway, what if you were allowed to go back in time. Where would you go? What would you do? What might the larger consequences of the change be?

The only provisos are that: 1) you can't carry anything with you (you go back nekkid a la The Terminator); 2) you get two jumps, max (so if you go back to change your life, don't screw it up, because you've only got one jump left to go back to your own time); and 3) there are no "parallel world" safety valves, i.e. anything you do will have an effect in your world and your time (in other words, like when Ben Grimm traveled back to give himself the cure in MTIO #50, he ended up "curing" the Thing of a parallel earth, not "his" Earth).




I would jump back in time a day or so to convince you to relax your two jumps minimum rule so that we could jump time as much as we wanted! Neener. :D

[SteelTownr]

But seriously, I'd go back in time and warn the Native Americans: Dude, do NOT trust those guys. They will screw you over in more ways than you can imagine.

That's pretty noble, but you'd just be denying the inevitable.

The guys with the gunpowder and the need for the land win this fight every time.

Mark B.

[ragnarok_2012]

That's pretty noble, but you'd just be denying the inevitable.

The guys with the gunpowder and the need for the land win this fight every time.

Mark B.

Eh, how many people would she be able to warn? Especially without speaking any language they understand. :D









(Kidding Pho. I have faith in your resourcefulness.)

[Albert]

Two words: cavewoman whores!

And as a ramification, the Venus razor is invented before the wheel.

[Dr. Hfuhruhurr]

As for me, I'd travel back to April 11, 1865 and attend a speech given by Abraham Lincoln at the White House. In the crowd would be one John Wilkes Booth and his co-conspirator, Lewis Powell. Booth will encourage Powell to shoot Lincoln on the spot. Powell will refuse.

Rather than show up at Ford's Theater three days hence, however, John Wilkes Booth will vanish from the face of the earth.

With Lincoln's hand guiding Reconstruction, and without his assassination to fuel the Radicals, I believe more moderate Reconstruction policies would have lead to an easier transition for the South to a non-slave based economy and perhaps prevent the rise of the KKK and the advent of the Jim Crow laws.