What Would Happen If Someone Went Back in Time?
Theories on time travel, and slightly more…
People love to fantisize about time travel; it is a basis for hundreds, if not thousands of films and books, and many people even spend thousands on trying to do it. Why? Because not only could they become unbelieveably rich, they could also change things about their lives that would not only make them richer, but also happier (imagine if you could go back and stop the child version of yourself painting your parents bedroom with mud…). But is this what would happen? Would going back in time really change the past? (This is a fairly long article, but there will be biscuits at the end).
There are three main theories on the effects of time travel (at least, there are according to wikipedia…); that is, what would happen if you changed something in the past.
Number one is a commonly held one: We can change anything in the past, and this would have impacts on the present/future. For example, someone goes back in time and stops someone from being killed (for example, series one of the new ‘Doctor Who’, where Rose saves her father). There is one serious flaw in this theory however: If this is true, and time travel is possible in the future, why are we still here? Say some maniacal person went back in time and planted a huge bomb that destroyed the entire planet. We would cease to exist (thus you would not be reading this and getting me money!). Then you consider the grandfather paradox: Timmy goes back in time and shoots his grandfather before he met Timmy’s grandmother. Thus Timmy would never exist, so he wouldn’t go back in time to kill his grandfather. So Grandad meets Grandma, Timmy eventually comes. Then goes back and kills grandad again. Timmy never born… And so on. The same applies to the maniacal man with a bomb theory. So it is possible. But another flaw is that what would stop Mr man from the future coming back in time and giving us the tech to time travel? Nothing. Which either means that time travel is impossible, or that the next theory is true.
Number two was originally concieved by and named after Dr. Igor Dmitrievich Novikov; The Novikov theory. This theory states that whilst time travel pay be possible, changing things in the past isn’t. Thus, when Mr maniacal man from future gets bomb and tries to plant, he has changed of heart and throws the thing in a volcano, before promptly going back to his own time. Timmy misses the shot at his grandad, and grandad later tells dad about the day he was nearly shot. And Mr man from future with time travel tech tries to tell people about the tech, but when they want him to test it, it doesn’t work and then people say: ‘That’s not a time travel machine you demented half-wit! Thats a wristwatch!’ And then he gets locked up in a nice padded cell.
A split from number two is that when trying to change things in the past, we create a new universe, with the original having nothing changed in it, and the new one having the change. So Timmy shoots grandad, then goes forward to new universe where he never existed.
In theory three, which is shorter, change is possible, but the time traveller will never see it. (Yup, that’s how clearly wikipedia explained it, more or less)
So which is the correct theory? Well, I personally believe in theory two, becuase the idea that if someone changed something, which consequently changed themselves, was constantly being done and undone over and over again is too far fetched. Also, what happens to Timmy after he has shot his grandad? He can’t carry on his life, because he won’t exist, so he must just be stuck there forever, which is also very far fetched.
However, if you do believe in theory two, then there is a slight twist I thought up a little while back, which, as far as I know, no-one has thought of (at least, wikipedia hasn’t): If you can’t change the past, then surely changing the future is also impossible as well? As our present is in the future of our past (hope you understand what i’m saying) then if we can’t change the past, we can’t change the present or the future.
It’s easiest to understand if you look at it this way: picture a straight line with two arrows pointing at two different points, the one on the left called ‘A’, and the one on the right called ‘B’. The further right you go, the further into the future you go as well. Imagine that our present is point ‘B’, and point ‘A’ is something in our past. According to theory two, we can’t change point ‘A’ as it’s already happened. But then, what if we say that point ‘A’ is our present? The same rule must apply, with point ‘A’ being unchangeable, as it would affect point ‘B’.
Basically, our present is the past of our future, as in for a future us, it has already happened, even if it hasn’t happened to our present form. This must mean that the future is unchangeable, so our lives are on a set track that we can’t change. Thus (to quote old films) free choice is merely an illusion. (In the words of the ever great ‘Portal’: The cake is a lie! And it always will be!). So forget tossing a coin: it isn’t at all fair, as the outcome is predetermined.
I hope you liked reading this article, as much as I will enjoy the cash I get from it! I would be interested to see your opinions about it, and I hope I haven’t made your head explode (who will do the cleaning up?).
And here are the biscuits:
Liked it
48 Responses to “What Would Happen If Someone Went Back in Time?”
On August 2, 2009 at 8:24 am
wooo amazing
On August 2, 2009 at 9:14 am
Please see
http://www.authspot.com/Thoughts/Travel-Through-Time.821889
For my thoughts on the subject
On August 2, 2009 at 9:28 am
Thanks for the comments. I have 14 views! Yay! I read yours nish, and I left a comment.
On August 2, 2009 at 9:29 am
Send links to peeps hu u think wud like this!
On August 2, 2009 at 10:23 am
Very interesting article. I have wondered for years on the subject of time travel. I would like to go back and view the events but I would be afraid I would by some random act change them. Most people want to view major events in history. I would like to meet my parents and grandparents as young adults just starting their lives. I want to see if all the stories I have heard are true.
On August 2, 2009 at 10:25 am
Well, check with your parents if they ever saw someone who looked like you. If they have, time travel might well be possible!
On August 2, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Interesting piece. I have always believed in time travel, although in most cases I really don’t think you could change a thing. History always repeats itself.
On August 2, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Nice article!
On August 2, 2009 at 3:06 pm
time travel is interesting, but i am glad it is still a mystery. somehow i think God does not want us meddling there. just my 2 cents. Very good write sir.
On August 2, 2009 at 4:37 pm
I’ve noticed you quite a lot on the forums clafleur. Especially where Rob winslow is concerned. I stand by you on that one. Anyone who has ever read anything by Rob Winslow on the forums should attempt to ban him. Even if you haven’t, look him up then try to ban him.
But thank you people for the comments I have had.
On August 2, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Very interesting title. I believe it is true just how becoming invisible is possible and living to 1000 is now possible!!!!
On August 2, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Hmmmm the concept of time travel has always been very controversal we could say… with much debate and speculation. I like what you say here and every point you brought up is a double edged blade, The Timmy theory as an example… We can not predict or even infer if the past, present, and future are unchangable due to the fact that when a choice is made the result produced will be the given, whereas the choice left alone will become an unknown. This makes it seem predetermined in some ways but then again… didn’t we choose? If one was to go back into the past, i am uncertain as to why they would jepordize thier own future existence, rather i would assume {based on selfish natures of the masses} it would be a mad dash to who could improve thier pasts and confirm a better furture {unlike timmy indirectly killing himself}. Topics like these can have clear oppositions but never will it have solide fact to back either stand point you presented or any third party could. Simply put, the only true answer would be if someone did time travel, which involves so much calculation between time, space, speed… levels which we as humans haven’t reached yet. In short, i must declare Time Travel is a paradoxial subject. ^_^
However this article was very good food for thought, i enjoyed and appreciate it alot.
On August 2, 2009 at 5:32 pm
I see your point, but it stands to reason that if we can change the past, then time travel must be impossible, due to the fact that someone would undoubtedly try to destroy the human race. But as we are still here, either this theory or time travel must be impossible.
On August 2, 2009 at 5:58 pm
You have an interesting point here, and i must say i was gonna argue the point where perhaps when it was made it was kept from corrupt hands… but then again the government everywhere is rather corrupt so i suppose that isn’t valid. Unless the like sof conspiracy theories exist and there is someone manipulating from shadow, and cpouldn;t rule a world they destroy. Then again, im so far in left field right now, i like it out here though, grass is nice. <_<
Anywho, your point stands very strong, i don’t wish to argue it any longer however… why is it undoubtedly that someone would destroy the human race?
What if a rift in time travel is also a rift in dimensional span where the past may be a totally seperate unlinked world?
I dislike running on ‘what ifs’ but making everyone think of every possibility is my thing, after all time travel is a big what if also, so I’m certain you see my points? Or at least i hope.
On August 2, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Fun article – here is another view, like and comment for you! And once again, congrats on making the hot list
On August 2, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Because some people are just crazy like that lense. Or they might try and stop us from ruining the world, as shown in primeval.
Also, I think time travel will be possible, as we are advancing at such a rate now, that we are sure to come up with something. Afterall, it took us millenium to invent the wheel, but only a hundred years to go from ten mile an hour car to supersonic concorde.
Yes, I see your points, and they are well placed. But we have different views of things.
On August 2, 2009 at 6:58 pm
yet even in our differences i see we do also understand the opposing points. I’m done for now, thanks for being a good sport about this. I have to say i agree fully about time travel coming… although more then likely after our time, and after light speed is achieved lol
On August 2, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Very, very interesting! (Imagine that spoken in a badly faked German accent). Throw religious beliefs about reincarnation into the mix and you’ve got a party in the forum.I don’t believe in reincarnation, but I do believe that God exists outside of our time and space. I’m open to the idea that ours is not the only reality that He has created.
On August 3, 2009 at 12:20 am
Hey, nice article. Intriguing.
there are a group of scientists saying that time travel is theoretically possible through the concept of temporal gymnastics. It’s kinda creepy exploring this.
On August 3, 2009 at 2:04 am
Wow, nice article. I really liked it. Even though i’m a 13 year old kid
On August 3, 2009 at 3:50 am
Karen, that’s called being agnostic, like me. And mirza, glad you liked it. It wasn’t written to be hard to read or anything, just interesting. Mind you, I am only 14…
On August 3, 2009 at 7:45 am
Russell I can see you have a great science mind. Good luck with your posts on here.
Well done for getting o the Hot content list with your first post
On August 3, 2009 at 7:53 am
Thanks lol.
Peeps who liked this should check out some of my other articles like:
Food web
and
Proud to be British.
You might like them
On August 3, 2009 at 8:32 am
Russell,
Good article. Like it. Especially the biscuits.
I’m doing a bit of computer programming at the moment in Microsoft Project. (This has a point, dont worry). This is basically a spreadsheet with ‘predecessor’ cells. So the content of Cell B depends on the content of Cell A.
However, if they are predecessors of each other, then there is an error. A never ending loop causes both incidences to become infinite!
Imagine: Time loop 1- Jimmy goes through life as normal, and returns 10 years in the past via time travel. There are now 2 Jimmys. Imagine that he never meets himself. Original Jimmy continues on and eventually time travels as before. Jimmy from the future sticks about, not necessarily time travelling- but consider the butterfly effect. If Jimmy from the future changes something, there is a cascading effect. Consider the butterfly effect. Person A walks into Jimmy 2, and slows down 1 second. He interacts with Person B who is waiting on A. B meets a multitude of other people, 1 second behind time loop 1. Then, somehow, Original Jimmy is delayed 1 second. He goes back in time and arrives at a slightly different time. There are now 3 Jimmys.
Looking from a purely engineering point of view, there would be some issues with 3 dimensional space. If someone “appears” slowly in thin air, there will be a small pressure wave as air is displaced. Presumably, if the appearance is spontaneous and instantaneous as is usually suggested, i.e. the man’s fingers appear at the same time as his toes, there will be 0 seconds for a pressure gradient to propagate. Therefore, the matter will NOT have time to displace: the man will appear and “fill up” like a balloon with air!
Presumably, too, of the zillions of atoms in the human body, with instantaneous appearance, at least one atom will superimpose on another. (You may argue that there is too much free space for it to be likely, but if we assume that the volume of mass in a volume of ’space’ is about 1/1,000,000 from the tennis ball in a cathedral analogy then a zillion atoms are likely to touch) When atoms are close enough to overcome the strong force that repels nuclei (its been years since i did chemistry, so sorry if i use the wrong terminology), nuclear fusion ensues. Therefore, the individual in question will erupt in a ball of energy…
Am I ruining this for everyone?
On August 3, 2009 at 9:10 am
You have an interesting point here, and i must say i was gonna argue the point where perhaps when it was made it was kept from corrupt hands… but then again the government everywhere is rather corrupt so i suppose that isn’t valid. Unless the like sof conspiracy theories exist and there is someone manipulating from shadow, and cpouldn;t rule a world they destroy. Then again, im so far in left field right now, i like it out here though, grass is nice. <_<
Anywho, your point stands very strong, i don’t wish to argue it any longer however… why is it undoubtedly that someone would destroy the human race?
What if a rift in time travel is also a rift in dimensional span where the past may be a totally seperate unlinked world?
I dislike running on ‘what ifs’ but making everyone think of every possibility is my thing, after all time travel is a big what if also, so I’m certain you see my points? Or at least i hope.
On August 3, 2009 at 10:45 am
Doesn’t seem to want to let me post. I had a huge answer for popider, but it didn’t post. mamahora have you just copied lense?
On August 3, 2009 at 11:03 am
Good article. I click your article and give comment. Now your turn.
On August 3, 2009 at 11:15 am
Very interesting.
I believe that its just not possible, just seems so complicated
Oh, and +like for you.
On August 3, 2009 at 11:29 am
Spread the word people. If you post a comment and add an ‘I like it’ I’ll do the same for you.
On August 3, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Waw! we’re really trying to try our creativity, imaginative prowess, and scientific know-how in getting those thoughts never believed to be possible to come true.
Interesting…
On August 3, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Russell, send me a personal message? I’m always interested in this kind of chat and I dont mind being told im wrong!
Either that or copy it before u hit post, and then paste and try again if it fails…
On August 3, 2009 at 2:44 pm
And I just re-read my long comment- sorry. Strong force is the thing that overcomes repulsion of two positively charged particles in the nucleus, so I should amend that to “the particles become close enough that the strong force comes into effect” etc etc.
On August 3, 2009 at 7:11 pm
The concept of time travel is intriguing.
On August 3, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Hmmn Nice touch on the ending. Very interesting theories and facts. If that power did exist,we wouldn’t be living in the future,but the past to prevent sudden events.
On August 3, 2009 at 10:34 pm
from the womb to tomb is imaginable
from the tomb back to the womb is imaginative
On August 4, 2009 at 4:59 am
The concept of time travel is indeed fascinating, which is why I wrote about it. Popider, don’t worry bout the long comment, they’re all welcome here. As are all other comments. I appreciate any tips to improve etc, as well as well mannered criticisms. NO FLAMING!. And Honey? That’s a very… odd… poem.
On August 4, 2009 at 5:12 am
Mmm! Thanks for the biscuits!!
Well reaearcghed and written article – I am a sucker for anything like this to be honest!
On August 4, 2009 at 5:30 am
What a great idea. What a great article.
On August 4, 2009 at 5:35 am
Lol, thanks. A well reaearcghed? lol, slight typo there i tink!
On August 4, 2009 at 7:11 am
I am sure if we were able to go back it time, it would become abused and life would truly be an adventure.
Going back in time, truly would be interesting though, I have a few things I would like to set right, but at this time it wont happen so I make the best of it.
Interesting Information
On August 5, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Here is my new article about time travel:
http://scienceray.com/physics/what-would-happen-if-someone-from-the-future-time-travelled-into-our-present/
It carries on about what is brushed upon here.
On August 7, 2009 at 11:59 am
I liked it. CHeck it out: http://gameolosophy.com/games/rpg/jagex-money-hungry/
On August 8, 2009 at 8:33 am
Um, Blinky? Whilst I may be a fan of runescape, many people aren’t. And this also has nothing to do with what I have written about.
On August 10, 2009 at 7:09 am
http://www.authspot.com/Short-Stories/The-Everything-Boy—Chapter-1.945911
plz go on this.
On August 13, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Wow lots of famous writers commenting on this and I see why. This is another well written article. And I personally do not believe in time travel AT ALL.
On August 13, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Time travel would be possible for astronauts traveling very fast, -not even the speed of light (where time allegedly stops completely) but ‘escape velocity’ during a voyage to the moon & back does it, albeit on a very lesser scale. The astronauts actually aged very slightly slower during transit both ways so upon returning to Earth, they had aged every so slightly slower than those us us that remained here. We were all respectively a fraction of a second older than they by comparison had they stayed here. So, that is is possible to ‘travel time’ is shown. It just isn’t very applicable at present.
On August 15, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Thats whats up shawty ok i don’t know how else to say this but i read yours know you read mine. I promise its not boring its busara swahili for wisdom knowledge understanding and good judgement.holla
On September 27, 2009 at 11:17 am
well if Timmy did shoot his granddad and was stuck in the past then what would stop him from sleeping with his grandmother seeing she isnt his grandmother anymore since his granddad is now deceased, then wouldn’t Timmy still be alive because he’s actually got his grandmother pregnant which would lead to his dad which in turn would lead to Timmy. Then again Timmy would probably go back in time and continue killing his granddad until he figured out he was killing himself off as well. I see that if someone can go back in time they could change like 911 and so one from happenening then the future would be changed and no body would be hurt, but if you’ve seen the movie White Noise 2 then you know that if you save someone from dying when they were suppose to then they would consiquently come back and kill others as being the new murderer as it would be much easier to just let the people die as I see it instead of save them and have them kill other people causing them to die and causing you to have to save them causing them to come back and kill others and then you come back and save them. I call this theory the Paradox theory as seeing that it never ends.
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