QUESTION OF THE DAY

[telophase]

...spurred by listening to podcasts of the BBC History Magazine all weekend.

So. We've got a time machine. And you're an academic, and as such are allowed one day-long trip in this time machine (too many people clamoring for trips; it has to be carefully scheduled!). You can go back and interact with people and events, or you can go back as an invisible observer (for instance, I'd love to observe the Mongol horde to see how the steppe warriors lived, but NO WAY IN HELL would it be as anything other than an invisible observer).

Where and when do you go and why?

Comments

[crevanfox]

Ancient Egypt, during Hapshetsuts reign.

[telophase]

Ooh, nice one!

[tokyoghoststory.livejournal.com]

I'd totally love to hang around with Magellan On a ship! But I'd probably be a silent observer as well. I don't wanna, you know, do ship work...

[telophase.livejournal.com]

I don't wanna, you know, do ship work...

Totally understandable! XD

[tokyoghoststory.livejournal.com]

I'd probably fall apart before anyone else did. screaming and crying. NOOO. NO MORE OCEAN WATER. NO MORE BOOOOATS

[telophase.livejournal.com]

I'd get seasick and start throwing up an hour into the voyage. XD

[tokyoghoststory.livejournal.com]

HAHA, same, probably. but man, my ridic interest in the age of exploration would force me to truck on!

[ebony14.livejournal.com]

Two possiblities. First, I would probably want to bone up on my Classical Italian and spend an afternoon talking with Leonardo da Vinci, possibly around the time he was working on the Mona Lisa. It'd be interesting to see the man at work, but I wouldn't mind just talking with him as well.

Second, Downtown Dallas on Friday, November 22, 1963. I could even give them lattitudinal and longitudinal coordinates. Just to observe, to see where the damn bullet came from, so I could say, beyond a shadow of a doubt, "Hey, we know who shot Kennedy, now shut the fuck up and move on with your lives!"

[telophase.livejournal.com]

And then the theorists would claim that you're part of the conspiracy!

[fmanalyst.livejournal.com]

I want to go back and study the beginning of writing, wherever that was.

[seawolf10.livejournal.com]

Ancient Sumeria.

[the-z.livejournal.com]

First thing that sprang to mind was taking out Caligula.

I think I would have liked to say "hi" to Jesus if not get a chance to listen to him talk. :/a

[tammylee.livejournal.com]

Definitely go back to the time of Jesus and find out EXACTLY what is up with him.

[fourthage.livejournal.com]

That was my first thought too.

[m00nface.livejournal.com]

Invisible witness at a key point in the life of one of the modern Japanese emperors. Meiji on the first day he had to wear Western dress. Taisho, the day he rolled up his papers into a telescope and peered at the members of parliament surrounding him. Showa, at discussions of Pearl Harbour, to find out exactly what part he really did play in it. Watching any of these times wouldn't take too long, so I could spend the rest of the day observing life outside the palace, get some insight on gender relations in particular.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

This is a tough choice between "solve history mysteries/observe poorly documented times" and "go somewhere I think would be really cool."

For the latter, though it's a very well documented time, and IF I could magically get a language-infusion, I'd love to spend a day in the court of Emperor Akbar as a foreign guest. Imagine the food alone! Or in the Heian court, though I think I might have to be an invisible observer there.

As for historical mysteries, I've always been fascinated by the Mary Celeste. Definitely an invisible observer there, though, and preferably an intangible one with a beam-me-up-Scotty button.

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

Dude, yes, definitely an out button for the Marie Celeste!

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

Like Rachel, I'm torn between pleasure and curiosity. I think perhaps I'd like best to go to either the library at Alexandria (pre-burn) or the great Mayan library that was also burned, can't remember the city. With a digital camera.

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

Two words: ANCIENT. EGYPT.

Well, there's a lot of choice, but I'd be okay with either seeing some of the construction of the Step Pyramid, some of the construction of one of the three Giza pyramids, a look at Tel el-Armana (nd if Nefertiti was looked like the bust, or they fudged on it), a day glimpsing Hatshepsut, I dunno. Just a chance to *see* what it really was like. And I could be seen, I wouldn't be in anybody nasty's way. (I don't think.)

I don't ask for much. But I'd be happy with one of those ~ %^D