JCC If You Could Inhabit Anyone in History…

Everyone picks famous people. Seems like a lot of extra work and expectations. What about just ordinary non-famous people throughout the ages. There are billions upon billions to choose from.

 

Would be interesting to relive my own life seen with a new perspective of age.

 

my first thought was actually my great-grandfather, who was a hot air balloonist in world war i and a south american explorer for standard oil in the 20's and 30's, which is not a great look now, but he lived an exciting life.

 

My grandpa lived an exciting life which is why I wouldn't want to live his life.... Drafted at 18 into WWII frontlines, this is after living through traveling to California in a model T during the Great Depression as a teen. Grapes of Wrath style.

That's entirely too exciting for me.

 

That was a tv show back in the early 2000s. A 40 year wakes up as his 17 year old self. I think it lasted all of 3 episodes.

 

The proto-human who figured out how to start a fire. I'd patent that **** and make billions.

 

Just go the bathroom before you poof into someone from the past. You'll be set for a few hours of inhabiting fun.

I was just watching a doc on youtube that was basically "would you survive a day in the life of" x person in Rome, Ancient Egypt, history, wherever. And the answer was basically you'd be murdered before lunch, exposed to disease fairly quickly, etc.

 

I don’t want to see your life.

How about the guy who invented the drum.

 

But if you're in someone else's body presumably you're immune to the diseases they're immune to.

So you'd only die of Smallpox.

 

It's a great question, but I find it almost paralyzingly complex to contemplate.

First, as touched on above -- length of time? Hours or moments, versus days, weeks, years (I think being a silent powerless observer for years would be hellish)? Think we have to assume you would be given the language skills of the person you are inhabiting, right - so you will understand what they say and what is said to them (if they do)? Also assuming you wouldn't "hear their thoughts", just their spoken words?

Then - for me anyway - the problem I run into right away is how do you begin to narrow this down? You could literally witness ANY great event in human history, from a first person (or second person, if you wanted) perspective? You'd get to almost experience it? I honestly can't begin to choose. I mean, in some way, anything less than a truly historical, epic, hugely significant moment would be a waste, a terrible reflection on the chooser, no?

 

Don't overthink it, just pick someone interesting, or someone who saw something interesting.

 

You make it sound so easy. But this project is fraught with potential hazards.

 

William Clark, just to see the country before we burned all these fossil fuels and ruined it. I can't imagine how clean the air must have been.

 

Probably the stench of all his traveling companions overwhelmed all other sensory inputs.

 

Robert Duvall.
Yes, I am that disgusting.

 

What’d THX-1138 do?

 

You would star in The Judge (2014)? You monster.

 

1. Cheops
2. Jesus
3. Leonardo DaVinci

 

Forget famous people.

What about going back to see shows and live events.

40 years ago today you could see the premier of Return of the Jedi. Why watch a movie at home if you could go back and watch it through someone else’s eyes at the premier?

See a sporting event. Watch Tina and Ike Turner play a gig in 1972. See the Beatles playing clubs in Germany. Check out Haleys comet or a famous asteroid shower. Check out some of these reported devine events like the Miracle of the Sun in Fatima in Portugal. Go to an Amusement Park that’s no longer there. See Stonehenge on the solstice 5,000 years ago. Just listen to an evening of network radio in 1938.

There are so many observational opportunities.

 

I'd hate to go back in time to try to find out whether Jesus was real and then be disappointed. This is why time travel is impossible: to prevent religions from being debunked.

 

Is the year 0 when Christ was born or crucified?


I’d go back to the birth. We know it was December 25th. Possible a leap year go mixed up at some point - so I’ll go back a week early and stay through to New Years.

We’ll have our definitive answer. (Also may have film director James Cameron go along as well. It will help word of out finds to be heard.)

 

Pliny the Younger to witness the eruption of Vesuvius from a relatively safe distance. Or Pliny the Elder for a slightly better view.