If you could travel back in time and be yourself

[Deleted]

I'd like the ability to do it for certain key events in my life but on the whole it would be pretty awful. I work with kids at around the age you're describing and it physically and mentally drains me enough as it is - and as an adult they don't even try to involve me in their purile, childish crap either.

[apepi]

No, I would not. If I did I would be changing myself, and not even in a paradox way. If I knew what to choose/what to do, and do what would be easy for me, it would change who I am in a psychological way. It is because of my decisions that I made, because it was not easy, because I did not know what would happen, that is what made me to be the person that I am today. There is only one change that I change if I was forced to revert back in time. And yes it would have a 'cool' factor for a day or two but then it would be gone. But no, I wouldn't do it.

[cubby]

If you could travel back in time till you were 6 years old with the same mindset, knowledge and experience of life as your current self, would you do it?

Imagine yourself 6 year old but as smart as you are now. What would you do to change your life?

I hear you - Replay was a great book - not sure there would be much to differently, aside from avert any personal disasters (family deaths, etc.). However, once a little older, could definitely do things differently, assuming you play the same life/world again (i.e. sport teams win, politicians, etc.).

I would make sure I was taken care of financially (buying stock in key companies early). Then, when I was in charge of my life (18+, or thereabouts) I would take a different path of education and adventure. I would continue to learn but include travel and new experiences. For education, I would do science and computing.

Would be a very cool experience, regardless.

Might drive me a little insane to start out that early, though - nothing you could do and no one would believe you.

[Dendrek]

You don't get it :P

Im talking about living your life AGAIN from yourself as a six year old. You continue to age as life begins again, but you know everything that's gonna happen and you can change things that happened in the past to avoid accidents/embarrasing situations.

Almost no events that occurred in your life would be exactly the same, so except for events outside of your scope of influence, you really wouldn't know what was going to happen.

[cubby]

Almost no events that occurred in your life would be exactly the same, so except for events outside of your scope of influence, you really wouldn't know what was going to happen.

Actually, you don't know that at all. Only chaos theory tells us small details would change longer or larger outcomes. However, many people of knowledge would say that one persons life would have little to no affect on the world at large. Unless we went for something huge - like killing a known future president or something.

[apepi]

Actually, you don't know that at all. Only chaos theory tells us small details would change longer or larger outcomes. However, many people of knowledge would say that one persons life would have little to no affect on the world at large. Unless we went for something huge - like killing a known future president or something.

I agree with you the chaos theory/domino effect/butterfly effect(they are all similar and closely related), tells us small changes should change the outcome to many things.

Here is an old saying

For want of a shoe, the horse was lost,
For want of a horse, the battle was lost,
For want of a battle ,the kingdom was lost.

[Mercadi]

I think it would be terrible, you'd have to keep it secret lest you end up locked in a medical facility being tested. If you were going back to being 6 or even 13 you'd probably end up alienating yourself because your peers would be so insufferable, not to mention school would be tedious as hell.

If you've moved out then reverting back to a time when you were dependent on your parents would be a nightmare. You'd have so little independence in comparison, no money (and jobs pay a pittance at that age), you can't drive, you can't go out and you can't crash at a friends house one night because they don't have their own place and they're an annoying little runt anyway.

Not to mention, people would be so uncomfortable around you because you know so much more than you should. Can you imagine how it would be if you met a long-term partner and it was their 'first' time meeting you? Or if you let slip something about 9/11 a couple of years before it happened, and by the way, let's not get any asinine notions that you could somehow prevent that tragedy or Michael Jackson's death. Also unless you have an astonishing memory, or some sort of preparation before going back, you're not going to be predicting lottery numbers any time soon.

I'm sure there are plenty of other reasons why this fantasy would be pretty shitty.

True that. My relatives would have thought I am possessed or something. Hehe.

[inboundpaper]

I'd do it, and my ass would fill out so many scholarships, so many.

[Dendrek]

Actually, you don't know that at all. Only chaos theory tells us small details would change longer or larger outcomes. However, many people of knowledge would say that one persons life would have little to no affect on the world at large. Unless we went for something huge - like killing a known future president or something.

I assume you noticed I said "except for events outside of your scope of influence." Anything that you actually affect would be changed, including people you know, places you live, and things you do. You wouldn't likely affect anything one state over, but you could conceivably have an effect on everything within your city (given enough time for the consequences of your actions to effect enough people).

[vindicatorx]

yes, I would for sure there are plenty of things I would do differently

[cubby]

I assume you noticed I said "except for events outside of your scope of influence." Anything that you actually affect would be changed, including people you know, places you live, and things you do. You wouldn't likely affect anything one state over, but you could conceivably have an effect on everything within your city (given enough time for the consequences of your actions to effect enough people).

Shit, yeah, I missed that part - my bad. I agree with the above, too - might see some bigger effects down the line, like, say the mayor election 15 years after you come back.

[StayTuned]

Given the fact that 6 years old piss me off, Id rather take an older age. Imagine how freaking anti social you would be.... or do you still have 6yo friends around you?
Imagine the trouble you would have once you "grew up" to the age of, lets say 14 or 15... I would be in the mindset of a 30 years old by then...

I am also not that much into 13 years old girls; however, thats the time you should normally get interested in girls. I am not sure if a 21 years old woman would go on a date with my 13 years old self. You would be a complete dropout OR... a pedofile....

Yes, I would be smarter than anybody but only until a specific point. I dont know shit about the stuff I learned in school when I was 18. Algebra, geometrics, history, music class... I barely passed that stuff back in school and I havent touched it since. I would most likely learn it, since I learned HOW to learn, but it would still piss me off to re-do the same shit all over again.


If I could, Id jump back to being 16 again. Id start to work out, change my diet to get rid of my unclean face and to gain some weight. Change glasses for contact lenses and beat the shit out of some people I used to be scared of and finish school with way better grades but without having to do class 1-10 again. That would be enough.

[Nathiest]

Not yes, but HELL YES!

[Deleted]

You are who you are because of past experiences (be it good or bad ones). Avoiding mistakes will mean that you miss out on certain events, thus leading to a change in who you are. And in so, creating a paradox.

Except if we take for granted that a person with his current mindset goes back to his younger self, then it would mean his mindset would hardly change past that point. Since it already formed.

And let's not get into the issue of paradox please. That destroys the entire idea.

[Deleted]

I wouldn't change a thing. I'm very happy with the people I have met along the way and the friends that I've made for life. Anything that endangers the chance of me meeting the same people again, is not worth it IMHO.

Ok, so maybe I'd use my knowledge to win a couple of rounds at sports betting

[Deleted]

This one is easy, i would fix money, put it ALL in Apple, Ask my parents to do the same.
Become a multi millionare
Profit

[Dendrek]

This one is easy, i would fix money, put it ALL in Apple, Ask my parents to do the same.
Become a multi millionare
Profit

1. Put money into Apple
2. Make money
3. ???
4. Profit

I don't think you'd need the step 4 when you have step 2.

[Deleted]

Instead of 6 years old, I'd rather be 13 and just starting high school again.

I would be the sickest dude ever, knowing everything that I do now at 19.

Most adults don't know how to solve 5th grade math problems, even if they knew at some point.

[frogger237]

I would. Hopefully by the time I got out of high school again I would be more mature and not be as lazy as I am atm. I would do my life the same as I have done it so far except for a few things like win the lottery, not be as lazy as I have been the past 5 years ,invest in certain things and also there were 4 women in college I regret not sleeping with.

[Deleted]

Yes I would, without a doubt. Even though the 90s were more or less "dark ages" and I'd probably be bored to death till at least 2000. However, it would be an amazing opportunity to do a lot of things differently, see my grandparents again, maybe even prevent my grandmothers death because she had cancer that was discovered too late. I wouldnt try to change and major things though and just use my knowledge to improve the lives of myself and family.

Sure, I wouldn't be guessing any lottery numbers but a 6 year old genius can make a lot of money too plus I could buy the stocks of companies that became successful or well.. advice my parents to do it and take a portion of their income:P