Everything Changes...

[Spacescifi]

 

For this scenario, you get three life reloads.

Whic means that at any point in your life from 7 years old and up, you can go back to. But only THREE times.

 

There is a catch though. Everyone else can do this too. And people nearby notice the effect visually (a flash of light) when a time shift occurs.

Also, if you to choose to leave your current timeline you leave it forever, including everyone you know and love. Yet the original timeline continues without you.

When you go back in time as a younger you (albeit with future memories from the original timeline), a new timeline is created.

 

Questions: When and how do you use this ability? How would the world change?

 

One possibility: An original timeline with earth free of most of mankind, since if most of mankind timeshifts within a year (very likely), that would be the result. More land, less people and nany abandoned homes and cities.

[Nuke]

this thread made me want to watch primer again. 

[Spacescifi]

17 minutes ago, Nuke said:

this thread made me want to watch primer again. 

 

Although this thread has much farther reaching consequences than Primer.

Consider just some of the implications:

 

Crime: Commit a crime and get away by time shifting to when you were seven if you wanna go as far back as possible.

Time cops: A time shift agency would be created. Special agents would be selected to time shift and catch criminals of the original timeline.

 

Granted the crime would have to be quite serious to merit an agent chasing anyone back in time.

How would anyone know: Subtle but noticable changes in the cells at a microscopic level would indicate an individual shifted.

So I would expect roving CNA's taking blood samples and ID. If anyone is a criminal, a time agent will find out. Even if they are only 7!

 

Edited June 6, 2019 by Spacescifi

[cubinator]

There is one thing I would maybe go back for...but it is too late now. My place is here.

If I encounter a catastrophic problem on my way to Mars that could be avoided by going back to before the start of the mission, and can react fast enough, I would do that. 

===========

You're right, though - most people would probably use their first shift within a year, causing the original timeline to become very empty. It's likely that anyone who wants to get anything done will have to go back just so there are more people. 

============

Since you de-age when you go back, you could wait until you are very old and then skip back, effectively getting to live three full lives. Your parents in the new timeline would probably not be happy about 7 year-old you suddenly becoming a wise old person in spirit and leaving to go do incredible things, though, so you might consider skipping to a later age.

[Spacescifi]

2 hours ago, cubinator said:

There is one thing I would maybe go back for...but it is too late now. My place is here.

If I encounter a catastrophic problem on my way to Mars that could be avoided by going back to before the start of the mission, and can react fast enough, I would do that. 

===========

You're right, though - most people would probably use their first shift within a year, causing the original timeline to become very empty. It's likely that anyone who wants to get anything done will have to go back just so there are more people. 

============

Since you de-age when you go back, you could wait until you are very old and then skip back, effectively getting to live three full lives. Your parents in the new timeline would probably not be happy about 7 year-old you suddenly becoming a wise old person in spirit and leaving to go do incredible things, though, so you might consider skipping to a later age.

 

Sounds like you have a sense of honor and commitment to the present timeline... family perhaps? I respect that. Given how many nowadays struggle with that.

Yes, as story material it can be taken so many directions for a writer. Like, this would be a very interesting, almost harmless way to take over the planet for those that remain.

Also the possibilty of dangerous, waay too smart children commiting crimes is too real.

I do not want to hear about elementary school sex crimes by students who time shifted... but humans are like the living manifestion of Murphy's law. So I would hear about it likely.

Too many freaks and sickos.

Also science. All those dangerous projects like project Orion?

We can do them in the original timeline now!

Edited June 8, 2019 by Spacescifi

[Guest]

Actually interesting concept. You can get maths involved with it.

Considering the oldest person alive was born on 2nd January 1903, the last possible date where time would be intact is 2nd January 1910. After that, who knows. Infinite different timelines, since a new must be created every time you switch, and everyone else in that new timeline still retains their switches even though their future selves who have switched to other timelines in the future have spent theirs.

[Spacescifi]

5 minutes ago, Aperture Science said:

Actually interesting concept. You can get maths involved with it.

Considering the oldest person alive was born on 2nd January 1903, the last possible date where time would be intact is 2nd January 1910. After that, who knows. Infinite different timelines, since a new must be created every time you switch, and everyone else in that new timeline still retains their switches even though their future selves who have switched to other timelines in the future have spent theirs.

 

Looks like Hitler will get at least 3 chances to win WWII.

Who knows?

Altered time lines here we come!

Although who knows?

 Maybe after winning he just calls it quits and becomes an artist in the third timeline?

Although other time shifters might likely screw up his plans so bad we may get something that makes WWII look benign.

Like the cold war? Could happen a lot earlier now.

[Guest]

Just now, Spacescifi said:

 

Looks like Hitler will get at least 3 chances to win WWII.

Who knows?

Altered time lines here we come!

Although who knows?

 Maybe after winning he just calls it quits and becomes an artist in the third timeline?

Although other time shifters might likely screw up his plans so bad we may get something that makes WWII look benign.

Like the cold war? Could happen a lot earlier now.

Infinite chances.

When you go back and create a new timeline, he hasn't spent his switches yet. He might spend them later, but there will be infinite timelines as a result. It's kinda difficult to explain it, but it's a result of having to preserve the past of the timeline you were previously in, and being in a new separate timeline where everyone else is a "different" person completely unaware from the previous one you were in

[Guest]

Here's what I mean

Spoiler

Every timeline is different. You essentially gain infinite switches.

Edited June 8, 2019 by Guest

[Spacescifi]

6 minutes ago, Aperture Science said:

Here's what I mean

  Reveal hidden contents

Every timeline is different. You essentially gain infinite switches.

 

Yea I get what you're saying.

But that is different from the original post.

Where you get 3 chances and everyone alive presently can time-shift. No one else can.

Which means that hitler could not rewrite history afterall. But some really old person could who is still alive.

[Guest]

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