July 21, 2005
Time Machines
I, like most people I assume, have a passing interest in time travel. It's something that appeals to humans. The ability to correct errors, to see our futures, to know our fates. I've often wished that I could go back and talk to 6th grade Kyle and tell him what bands to listen to so he could be cooler then he was, and then by extension I would be cooler, and have a much more impressive record collection. Sometimes I wish I could go back and tell 4th grade Kyle "B.U.M Equipment clothing isn't cool". I also wish I could go back in time and meet people I admire. Ben Franklin is always the guy that comes to mind. I've been fascinated by him since elementary school. I think he'd really appreciate all of my stories of the future, and I think he'd give me wise, timeless advice about life. Last week I was re-reading my copy of "It's a good Life if you don't weaken" by Seth. In it he talks about how he spends a mass amount of his time rehashing his past looking for answers about who he is. I do the same, I am filled with regret about my past, choices I could have made, things I could have done. I search my past constantly for clues about myself, why I am this way, why I do this or that. A time machine would solve all of this, I could go back and carefully design my life, guide my choices, strategically craft my experiences. And if I wasn't pleased with the outcome I could go back and correct the errors until my existence was perfect and free of regret. I supposed though that such abuse of time travel would be frowned upon. Doc always warned Michael J Fox of disrupting the space time continuum, and the dangers he faced medalling with time.
Here is an article about how close time travel is. And here is a link to MIT's Time Traveler Convetion, which had 0 confirmed time traveling visitors.
Posted by kyle at July 21, 2005 3:29 PM
Comments
If you think Franklin was filled with great wisdom you should read Max Weber - The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism...Franklin helped to get us into this mess.
Posted by: anon at July 21, 2005 5:20 PM
I'm not so sure you can blame a man who lived 200 years ago for the problems we have today. I think for his time he was a rather liberal fellow. Supporting many progressive ideas like Public Libraries, Public funded fire departments. I also think he was the only signer of the declaration of independence that didn't own slaves, but i'm not really sure about that. Though regardless of his beliefs i think he was probably a very wise person.
Posted by: Kyle at July 21, 2005 8:52 PM
Time always turns the present into the past. Thus why go back when you can still change the future? Unless that is you get a sweet DeLorean.
Posted by: audrey at July 21, 2005 10:52 PM
I've wanted to go into the past my whole life. At times I'd come up with plans for fixing something I did that involved time travel then I'd go "Oh, wait." One day we will Kyle, though only for observation. For Doc was right, we mustn't disrupt the space-time continuum. However, if we discover a way to travel back in time and change nothing, then we'll be fine.
Posted by: kevin at July 25, 2005 3:37 PM
"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." - Benjamin Franklin
"Benjamin Franklin is a big, fat, stupid drunk." –Concerned Mother
(from http://www.somethingawful.com)
Posted by: todd at July 29, 2005 2:02 AM