Termyn8or
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Joined: 11/12/2005
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As mentioned in the last paragraph, the paradox. It's a bit of a long haul to rationalize a way to fix that. By avoiding mistakes in the past, one might not have the impetus to do this in the first place. You would think I would have jumped right away at this thread as one who has written a fictional book with time travel and it's ramifications embedded heavily in the plot. The subject does fascinate me, even though I believe it impossible.
So I gave it some thought before responding, basically thinking of some thing I could change for the better which would have the very least effect on my life as a whole, but would benefit me in some way. I thought of something, what if I had never started smoking cigarettes ?
Sounds pretty innocuous on it's face, but in reality there have been many places at which smoking was not allowed, even before it was in vogue. And I am from a time when I remember my Grandmother smoking on a city bus. She got me to stampout the butt real good so it wouldn't start a fire. Chesterfield's they were. Strights, non-filter. Lifers (if anyone is old enough to know what lifers means).
However there was still school, there were hospitals, doctor's offices, certain public buildings, later sections of restaurants and so forth until we got to the point we are today. In fact when I went to highschool there was a smoking room for the STUDENTS !, it was called the L room and they also sold beverages and snacks.
However, whether the place had no smoking and you had to go outside, or had a designated area inside for smoking, this has a bearing on your associations. You could as easily meet someone in a smoking area, as miss meeting someone in a non-smoking area.
I think the only answer is a permanent travel back, if it were possible. You are there and that's it, you basically replace your own conciousness. Technically though, depending on just how one thinks of it, that could be considered killing your younger self.
Now other than some chronic fatigue and some minor issues I am in fairly decent health. However had I had a bad accident that left me permanently crippled or something, my viewpoint might differ. Considering the risk, I could well decide that it was worth it.
I believe there would always be risk, because figuring out all the ramifications of every happening in life, no matter how infinitesimal they may seem is most likely beyond the capablities of any of us in our current state of mental/intellectual development. Even getting a computer to do it, I think it would give the Cray a migraine.
OK, given all that, permanent transfer. What would I do.
I may or may not smoke. Dunno about the left handers. I would drink less. I would not have gone out that fateful day in 1995 that cost me dearly. I fought them in the courts and lost. Would've lived that day much differently.
In early 1995 my house burned. About ΒΌ of it became a big back porch. It was found what caused the fire but there was no blame assessed, and the insurance paid off handsomely. So would I change that ? By going back in time I could prevent it, and indeed it was one of the worst pain in the ass experiences I have ever gone through, but I made sure to get full value for every dollar the insurance paid. The house was alot nicer. So does one change that or let it stand ?
If I had gone back and stopped my first car wreck, I would probably not have as much experience with cars as I do. On the upside though I would have a very valuable collector's car now, if I had managed to keep it. Today something like that (1970 Olds Toronado) I would keep in a garage somewhere. Back then I really liked that car, and so did alot of people. I drove it any chance I had. It could pass anything but a gas station, but I had money for gas.
Sometimes I would say that going not as far in the past would be better. About fifteen years ago I had offers on a silver platter. My choice of three businesses to run, with very little out of pocket. Having been in business I turned them all down. In fact yesterday in a conversation with my boss he mentioned something, just another pain in the ass he has to deal with, not really a big thing once one gets used to it, but I said "That's why I don't want the big chair". Of course with the big chair comes big bucks, but would I be any happier ? I wouldn't venture a guess really. I made more money twenty years ago than I do today, and that does not make me unhappy. If I had "gone for the gold", gotten myself trapped, pretty much bought myself a job, where would I be now ?
Nope, no gold for me. I see how it is getting to be worthless anyway. Like my Ma, cashes in all her retirement to buy a dream house. I thought she was crazy, but by doing so she was not in the crash. Others have worthless paper, she has a deed. If she had asked me I would have advised against buying that place, but now we can see that I would have been wrong.
Not being the foremost financial analyst in the world, how was I to know ? Same problem with going back in time.
The "book" I mentioned is actually a short story, it is published and the only negative things anyone has ever said was that it lacks something, like humanness, like they want more detail on interpersonal issues between the characters. However time travel is part of the plot, both for the good and for the bad. Basically some things they went right and a few things not so right. It is published on the web, I'll throw you a link no problem, say the word.
Oh, one other thing. I had the chance to get in this one girl's pants, but she was scary, literally. She works in the trades and played Women's football on a real team. That's not really what scared me though, if you met her you would see, she has one of the most forceful and dynamically intedependant personalities I have ever run into in my life. I was young but I knew that if I dipped into that I would probably never get out. I still have feelings for her and she is still a friend. She liked me, but later she saw me with other girls so that was pretty much over at that point.
Now THAT'S something I might choose to change and just let the chips fall where they may. I have no concept of what my life would be like, but I would surely consider it.
T
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Time travelin' advice giver... - 
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