If I had a time machine...

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: If I had a time machine...

Everything is relative and contingent on where you are, at what time and what experience or circumstances you are in...

I think we have a tendency to look at it through rose colored glasses, caught up in the nostalgia, and might think differently if we actually lived during that time.

Michael-

Yes, granted, perpective in anything is relative to the viewer and we certainly do look though what we love through rose-colored glasses, but we of the 21st century in a time machine in the above situation don't have that perspective of the guy dying from gangrene or in debtor's prison.

In this hypothetical instance, we of today have the comfort to decide where/when we'd want to be since you have a time machine to go back in.

As the person you are now, what if you could choose to clime into that time machine, what would you do... nothing more added to the above than that question.

Therein lies the conundrum...

...interesting fun, yes?

:p;)

-Johnny Lloyd

[Michael Comer]

Re: If I had a time machine...

Might be interesting to go back and give those folks this poll. Perhaps there would be many that longed for the 18th century because life was simpler then or because they thought their time period stunk. Everything is relative and contingent on where you are, at what time and what experience or circumstances you are in. The guy dying from gangrene after having a limb amputated may very well have thought the 1860's were the absolute worse period in the history of mankind. The person sitting in a debtor's prison would certainly have liked to be in a better place and time etc.

I think we have a tendency to look at it through rose colored glasses, caught up in the nostalgia, and might think differently if we actually lived during that time.

While I think I would like to live during that period it would be on a visiting basis to see how it goes. I like having relatively safe food and water. I like having modern medical techniques. If I had lived then I would have been dead at 20 because they did not have the medical knowledge and techniques to save my life as they did when I really was 20.

So while I'm fascinated by the time period and often daydream about being there and what life would be like, I also know enough about it to be thankful I live when I do.

[Steve Acker]

Re: If I had a time machine...

May sound weird but the smells would be tough. Or could you imagine having an injury, say a laceration, and then going to the doctor for a treatment? Yikes.

Steve Acker

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: If I had a time machine...

Hmmm... yes, I'd like to live back then, but have a way to either purify water OR make a way to do so. Same thing with modern medicines...

-Johnny

[Mcouioui]

Re: If I had a time machine...

I would go directly to the 19th. Not because I think that the life is there better or not, every century its problems, but I would go because there were still places on earth where the man had not been, virgin spaces ;)

[vmi2009]

Re: If I had a time machine...

I would go back only temporarily. I would love to go back and find out what happened to my GGGGrandfathers brother who was left in a barn, but never heard from again on the retreat from Richmond. I also could not help but stop back by New Market on a certain rainy day in May of 1864 and see the Corps go forward across the field of lost shoes.

[Augusta Carr]

Re: If I had a time machine...

Maybe those of us who want to move back to the 19th century can for our own commune.

[jschw90]

Re: If I had a time machine...

I would definately like to meet my ancestors. I would like to see how everyone lived and it would be 100% accurate.

[chesnutmor]

Re: If I had a time machine...

This was tough. I would hope I would be able to retain the knowledge I have of the 20th and 21st Century especially medical knowledge. However, if it was inbetween peace or wartime. It would offer one the opportunity to be a transient. :)

Jill

[PalmettoBugler]

Re: If I had a time machine...

If I could go back, I would want to go back and visit some of my ancestors; to get to know them personally. I can quote birthdates, deathdates, place of burial, Companys, regiments; but I know little of the men themselves. Wouldn't you like to see your ancestor in battle? Did he survive the war because he was a fearless fighter; or someone who knew enough to keep his head down and behind cover? A black Confederate once told General Lee he had never sustained an injury in battle because "he stays back where the generals stays". I had two G-G-Grandfathers that made the A.P. Hill march from Harper's Ferry to Antiedam/Sharpsburg....did they both fight and survive the battle; or were they among the many that succombed to the exhaustion of the 18 mile forced march uphill that never took the field? What was it like for one of the ancestors who was captured at Fredericksburg and how was he treated until he was exchanged a few days later? What type of men were my ancestors in camp? These are the type of questions I would like to have answered, but most likely never will. Yes I would like to go back, just to see and know.

[firstmdes]

Re: If I had a time machine...

There are many different times and places I would like to visit. The Civil War would only be one time/place of interest for me! I took choice number two...that way I could take that machine all over and return to the comforts of home when I wanted!! :wink_smil

Anyone remember the Voyagers television series from the 1980s?

[Becky Morgan]

Re: If I had a time machine...

And how much *could* we change, after all? Mr. Lincoln was, by most accounts, very ill by the end of the war. Would the end of hostilities have given him a break, or would he have passed on in any case? Had he not been a martyr, would Reconstruction have been so terrible? On the other hand, had he not been murdered, would he have been treated as kindly by history?
We'll never know, but it sure is fun to speculate.

[fedcampaigner]

Re: If I had a time machine...

Like many others, I would like to go back to the period to experience a campaign and cw combat. I think this would help all of us determine if our impression is correct. I have to second Mr. Kasmer's thoughts on not changing history. I think our ideas of certian times and people may be biased because we already know what happened. I could ponder this all day...Cheers!!!

[lambrew]

Re: If I had a time machine...

It's a great thread friend. I am glad to see I'm not the only one who ponders the question of time travel. After further reflection on this subject, I would try to thwart Lincoln's death. I wonder how different this country would be had he lived.

Respectfully....
Sean Collicott

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: If I had a time machine...

6,280 hits on this thread as of 16 JUN 08???

Wow, I feel honored, ya'll... ;)

Never thought THAT many people were thinking the same thing as I... :p

-Johnny Lloyd