Time Travel discussion

Ingenious Camera Work Allows Photographer To “Time Travel” In Self Portrait Series:

http://fstoppers.com/ingenious-camera...

This project reminds me of how rarely literary time travelers do travel to be side by side with their younger selves. I wonder what it says about us? Do we really prefer to re-live our life's best moments in our brains in first-person rather than as an onlooker? Think about that for a minute. Do you really want to voyeuristically experience your first kiss again? Would you experience the same kind of seaside happiness and wonder watching your young self at the beach for the first time as you did experiencing it for the first time first hand? So the question I guess is ... what moments from your life would you actually want to experience voyeuristically if you could time travel?

Loved this idea. So much fun. Such a serious little girl though. Maybe her older self can give her a reason to smile. :)

Oh, this is EASY. The one and only time I got a hole-in-one. 175-yard par 3 into a setting sun. Hit a good tee shot (or so I thought); certainly thought I hit the green, but wasn't sure since the sun was so blinding. But when I walked up to the green, no golf ball. Well, my playing partners and I looked all over for the ball but couldn't find it. We all surmised that I overshot the green (always a safe bet) and hit the ball into the adjacent pond. So I had to take a penalty stroke, drop a ball at the edge of the pond where we guessed the ball went in, then I hit my "third" shot onto the green. When someone removed the flag stick so we all could putt, a golf ball popped out of the hole -- from my tee shot.

So, never saw it go in. I'd make sure I did this second time around.

(And for those who think this event may be superficial, you probably never played golf. Think of Springsteen's "Glory Days.")

I would love to go back in time and watch my college-age self riding. That was back when I was fearless and at my peak in terms of ability. Not like today when I am old, and, having broken myself a few times since those days, not even close to fearless.

When I say riding, I mean horses, not motorcycles, bicycles, or bulls.

Wow, what stunning photoshop work and artistry. I know there is the time traveller meaning to it but I cant help first admiring the technicality and artistry first. The way she chooses to pose and express herself with the younger counterpart is playfully beautiful. These are going to be some of my favourites. These photos show a woman who has no intention to give advice to her child counterpart. What I see is a woman longing for the joys of her childhood. See how she is sharing the fun with her. I also see a little loneliness too in both adult and child, a longing to have a friend and be a friend to her younger self. The actual pictures of the child are actually quite wonderful in their own right. Nathan points out the seriousness in the little girl expression but she seems to be thinking, "why does mummy keep taking these damn photos?", in many pictures she seems she wants something more...someone to play with and not just keep taking pictures of her?!

This actually reminds me of the lovely Korean time travel film I saw recently, Project Makeover (which is free to watch on Hulu) where a 30 year old woman, goes back in time and meets her teenage self and becomes a friends with her which they both enjoy each other's company have much in common...but not everything! Its a funny and sweet time travel tale, do see it. http://www.hulu.com/watch/358997


As for Amy's main question. Well I dont want to go in the past to meet my younger self. I want to go into the future and get the advice from my older self, so I can determine whether I want to take the path of my projected future or not. Pointless going to the past to meet myself because I will almost always be embarrased at how I conducted myself...although there are several moments of pride but that pride is always still with me, I dont need to go back and see myself doing it, I might even get disappointed. Meet future self is the way to go!

Thanks for sharing that article, Amy.

Tej's comment reminded me that when I was a teenager, I frequently imagined being visited by a future version of myself. I was not the time traveler but rather the one being visited. I was thoroughly prepared for that eventuality. I guess it was later in life that I related more with the traveler.
I think it would be incredibly difficult not to meddle with your younger self. I imagine I would try to be encouraging, but the potential for practical jokes would be hard to ignore.

Nathan wrote: "but the potential for practical jokes would be hard to ignore. ..."

Oh? Such as?

I love those photos. I was looking at them yesterday. The one on the train is especially perfect and haunting. And this conversation is definitely fuel for writing. I don't know the answers for myself, but I'm thinking about that now.

Tej wrote: "Wow, what stunning photoshop work and artistry. I know there is the time traveller meaning to it but I cant help first admiring the technicality and artistry first. The way she chooses to pose an..."

I'm with you, Tej, when it comes to the more serious moments of my life. Best leave them be. Kinda reminds me of the one time I attended a high school reunion (I think it was my 15th). Saw how everyone had changed -- and most for the worst (not just "looks"). Completely ruined by fond memories of the innocent times and classmates.

Nathan wrote: "but the potential for practical jokes would be hard to ignore. ..."

Amy wrote: Oh? Such as?

As the older version of yourself you are potentially in the ultimate irritating big brother/big sister role. You know all your younger self's secrets, from who they secretly like to where they stash their money, diaries etc. Not to mention you know where the spare key to the house is. You have the same handwriting, so you could leave notes for anyone pretending to be them. If you didn't let them know of your existence right away, you could totally mess with yourself in a zillion ways. It could be mean, or potentially hilarious, depending on your perspective and your flair for creativity. Having an older self as irritating big brother or sister would be hard but if they crossed the line to actual enemy, that would be terrible. Having an enemy who knows all your weaknesses and is capable of masquerading as you is basically a nightmare.

(BTW the older self as weird sibling idea plays a role in my next novel, so if all you wonderful citizens of the internet reading this can refrain from using this idea for a story till after it's published, that would be super ;)

Amy wrote: "Ingenious Camera Work Allows Photographer To “Time Travel” In Self Portrait Series:

http://fstoppers.com/ingenious-camera...

This proj..."

Wow. Deep question. Getting the ebee-jeebies thinking about it. Will think over. Lots of possibilities.

Garrett SmithAmy wrote: "Ingenious Camera Work Allows Photographer To “Time Travel” In Self Portrait Series:

http://fstoppers.com/ingenious-camera...

This proj..."

Amy, good question and thoughtful insight! My answer is 'none'. I don't want to be separated from that which makes me 'me'. If I could stand apart and look at myself, it would seem to me that the experience would divide my soul. Part of it would be in young me, while part of it would be in the voyeur older me.

What is odd, is that the idea seems like such an invasion of privacy. Invasion by self? Is that possible?

Your question is valid, is this a universal tendancy among writers and readers, do we prefer not to stand outside ourselves?

Cynthia (The Garrett half of Garrett Smith)

On the same theme?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrt-N...

Howard wrote: "On the same theme?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrt-N..."


Howard,

The link you provided was so touching. A must share!

How come nobody mentioned yet something about going back in time to prevent a mistake he/she made, instead of simply watching oneself? I know a few moments in my life that I would gladly change if I could.

Michel wrote: "How come nobody mentioned yet something about going back in time to prevent a mistake he/she made, instead of simply watching oneself? I know a few moments in my life that I would gladly change if..."

Amen to that.

I wouldn't want to meet my younger self, or my older self, for that matter.
I think we'd all be quite unhappy to see each other.

Everyone belongs to the time, the phase, and the heartbeat to which they belong.

A.K. wrote: "Great pictures.

I once tried to put a bed together all by myself. That was really quite difficult. I'd go back and give younger me a hand.

Or, more likely, derive great amusement from just watchi..."
I did the same with one of those metal utility shelves. That was a day on which I did not feel like a member of the most cerebrally evolved species on the planet.