Why You Can’t Travel Back in Time and Kill Hitler - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Can't Know · #1 09-17-2013, 07:29 PM

Or...more proof that some people have too much time on their hands...

Quote:

You've gotten your hands on a shiny new time machine, and you decide that your first order of business is to travel back in time and kill Hitler. But killing Hitler and preventing the Holocaust isn't quite as simple as it sounds. Here's why.

Full item: Why You Can't Travel Back and Kill Hitler

Botnst · #2 09-17-2013, 07:32 PM

I already did, which caused a bifurcation according to the many-worlds theory. Too bad we're in this reality, huh?

Can't Know · #3 09-17-2013, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

I already did, which caused a bifurcation according to the many-worlds theory. Too bad we're in this reality, huh?

Well, that's one explanation for Obama, perhaps...but then how do you explain Bush II?

Botnst · #4 09-17-2013, 10:14 PM

The worms crawl in
The worms crawl out
The worms crawl all about.

KarTek · #5 09-17-2013, 10:21 PM

I always thought it was pretty straight forward. You can never go back in time with the intent of doing something specific to alter it, even if you're sent by someone else to unwitting do their bidding.

As soon as there is an intent to "correct" time then taking action on that intent cancels the original cause of concern so that now, there's no reason to go back.

"I'm going back in time to kill Hitler" (goes back in time and kills Hitler). Now, he didn't do all those horrible things so there's no reason to go back so I don't go back when that same second comes around again and history is restored to it's original configuration. (or something earth shattering and horrible happens)

Can't Know · #6 09-17-2013, 10:39 PM

^^^ Although if the time machine was invented for another purpose, that vitiates your argument...

Botnst · #7 09-18-2013, 08:04 AM

Check out the 'many worlds' theory of causality.

Air&Road · #8 09-18-2013, 08:09 AM

What did Dr. Brown call it? The Time Continuum or something like that.

SELLC · #9 09-20-2013, 01:52 AM

Don't you people know that if you go back in time you will be eaten by the Langoliers?

The Langoliers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sheesh... You guys are lucky I got here when I did or you would have all been eaten alive!

strelnik · #10 09-20-2013, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

Check out the 'many worlds' theory of causality.

I know insurance companies that use the theory of the many worlds of casualty for their rate increases!

strelnik · #11 09-20-2013, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarTek

I always thought it was pretty straight forward. You can never go back in time with the intent of doing something specific to alter it, even if you're sent by someone else to unwitting do their bidding.

As soon as there is an intent to "correct" time then taking action on that intent cancels the original cause of concern so that now, there's no reason to go back.

"I'm going back in time to kill Hitler" (goes back in time and kills Hitler). Now, he didn't do all those horrible things so there's no reason to go back so I don't go back when that same second comes around again and history is restored to it's original configuration. (or something earth shattering and horrible happens)

But if you kill him after he has done some things (say, 1936) but not others (everything else), can't you claim a partial victory?

4x4_Welder · #12 09-20-2013, 07:23 PM

Would you know there's a partial victory to claim? It's like the terror crap, we only know if they aren't doing a good job, never if the job they are doing is effective or even needed.