# Debunking the Time Travel Tale of John Titor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 17, 2004, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunking-the-time-travel-tale-of-john-titor/224877 "2004-01-17T02:23:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bingowah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@bingowah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bingowah)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2004, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunking-the-time-travel-tale-of-john-titor/224877/1 "2004-01-17T02:23:04Z")
Now, I consider myself an advocate of freethought and an openminded chap but a skeptic to boot when it comes to claims of the paranormal and supernatural, but this one tale interested me more than others. It is told by a man who calls himself “John Titor” and states that he is a time traveller from 2036… he made numerous postings on a number of message boards some years ago and now interest in him has ramped up rapidly again, in part because he predicts in 2004-2005 the beginnings of a U.S. Civil War will be in the making. I’ve read a number of Googled-up pages (try it for yourself, there are plenty of results for his name) but no conclusive debunking… there are some that try to invalidate his scientific “facts”, but I’m surprised [straightdope.com](http://straightdope.com) hasn’t touched it (I did a search here on the new forums too…) and neither has snopes Urban Legends, nor many other sites – not even [randi.org](http://randi.org)! Oh my. This seems to be quite popular now… has anyone come up with information that supports a conclusive case against, or perhaps for (althought unlikely), this time traveller’s tale? Many thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2004, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunking-the-time-travel-tale-of-john-titor/224877/2 "2004-01-17T02:30:48Z")
It was thoroughly debunked here a few months ago. Unfortunately, the search engine is not yet finished being reindexed, so I can’t find it right now. The consensus was that it was pure Grade-A bullshit all the way. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2004, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunking-the-time-travel-tale-of-john-titor/224877/3 "2004-01-17T02:34:06Z")
Doesn’t feel like “a few months ago,” I believe it was only during Christmas week. The general feeling was that it was not even high grade BS. ---
**Author:** ![bingowah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@bingowah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bingowah)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2004, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunking-the-time-travel-tale-of-john-titor/224877/4 "2004-01-17T02:41:43Z")
Thanks guys… ah, I’m new here… that’s why the search engine on here didn’t work 😑 I like the new look so far though, what other major features have been upgraded? Problem with B.S. with this is it perpetuates very quickly unless dealt with publically. I mean, how many email forwards do you get from otherwise well-meaning friends stating that Bill Gates is feeling charitable and wants you to help him… yadda yadda… Anyway I’ll try searching again later. Gratz. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2004, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunking-the-time-travel-tale-of-john-titor/224877/5 "2004-01-17T02:47:03Z")
Found it. > **[John Titor: Brilliant Fraud Or An Ordinary Soldier From 2036?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=227289)** > > Has anyone heard about the soldier from 2036 who was able to come back in a time machine? Before you reject the idea, look at this site which says: You can also look at this site, where you can see pictures of his time machine, as well as read... ---
**Author:** ![bingowah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@bingowah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bingowah)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2004, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunking-the-time-travel-tale-of-john-titor/224877/6 "2004-01-17T09:13:16Z")
Why thank you very much, DrFidelius! I’ll go read it now 🙂 Much appreciation.