# If you could travel in time to see a single event on a single day in a single place: where and when? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 25, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960 "2012-02-25T15:02:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960/41 "2012-02-27T02:24:08Z")
“Computer, I want to see The Fall” UNKNOWN EVENT “The Fall of Man! Garden of Eden.” NO SUCH LOCATION “Fine. Take me to the Ark during the Great Deluge.” INVALID INPUT “I wanna at least see Moses split the Red Sea.” FILE NOT FOUND * * * I’d never have the patience to get to other non-historic biblical events, but your time-travel machine makes for one hell of a mythbuster. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960/42 "2012-02-27T03:06:50Z")
Pearl Harbor would be a good one. I’d be sitting somewhere on shore with a good vantage point. I might be in the audience of Ford’s Thetare in April 1865, but I’d be too tempted to try and stop the assassination. Pearl Harbor I would know there’s no way I could get the government to pay attention to me and so just sit back and watch. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960/43 "2012-02-27T03:18:25Z")
Well, I’m torn between two events. 11/22/1963. Put the bullshit about the shooter on the grassy knoll to rest once and for all. 10/26/1881. Watch the buildup to the famous gunfight at the O. K. Corral. Video it and settle the question about who shot first. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960/44 "2012-02-27T03:25:18Z")
The KT impact event. From a safe distance. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960/45 "2012-02-27T04:15:04Z")
Kowloon walled city. ---
**Author:** ![Kataskopo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aca169/32.png) [@Kataskopo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kataskopo)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960/46 "2012-02-27T04:21:04Z")
I’m not sure if it was a true event, but the talk that happened between the Pope and Genghis Khan. And of course a translator. Because if Age of Empires 2 is somewhat correct, that made Genghis stop his invasion to europe and go back to Asia. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960/47 "2012-02-27T07:54:36Z")
Anytime between 1984 and 1998. Those yeArs because I was an adult. I would use my day just to spend it with my Grandfather. I miss him very much and there are so many things I never got to ask him about his life. Plus I would have another chance to tell him I loved him and let him know how much he meant to me. He was the finest man I have ever known. It is a shame I didn’t realize it until after he was gone. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960/48 "2012-02-27T08:08:05Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Yes. Just as Armstrong touches the surface, sneak up behind him and tap his shoulder. :eek: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant HOLY MUTHAFALUTIN BEJEEZUS…” ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960/49 "2012-02-27T08:31:19Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Yeah, this. Seeing that event would have a big influence on my current belief that the Jesus suffering story is exaggerated bullshit. Seriously? I wasn’t expecting “crucifixion is a bitch” to be something controversial. Do you doubt the painfulness of iron maidens as well? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960/50 "2012-02-27T09:40:57Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Yes. Just as Armstrong touches the surface, sneak up behind him and tap his shoulder. :eek: “Space Police! You’re under arrest!” ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960/51 "2012-02-27T11:23:25Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Seriously? I wasn’t expecting “crucifixion is a bitch” to be something controversial. Do you doubt the painfulness of iron maidens as well? I’d doubt the _use_ of iron maidens, they appear to have been pretty much invented during the 1800-1900s, when collecting ‘medieval torture devices’ became fashionable, and people forged more and more dramatic fakes to cash in on it. Crucufixion unfortunately was not invented later though, and I’ll agree, it sounds like a thoroughly unpleasant way to spend a weekend. As for where I’d go; I dunno- with the language issue, and the fact I’d really rather go do something fun than watch any battle, I’d probably go for something quite recent. Maybe a day of Woodstock, or the first Glastonbury festival- see if the hype I’ve always heard as a grandchild of the 60s really was deserved. That or dinosaur spottin’, if I could work that in. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960/52 "2012-02-27T11:27:48Z")
A nice tour of the Great Library at Alexandria would be nifty. ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960/53 "2012-02-27T13:01:18Z")
Day one of the formation of the Straight Dope. It would be nice to have a single digit member number. 😃 Failing that, to attend the inaugural meeting of the Solvay Conference in 1911. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960/54 "2012-02-27T14:23:59Z")
Battle of the Little Bighorn. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960/55 "2012-02-27T14:48:45Z")
I’d pick the Resurrection as well. Though to satisfy the skeptics, I’d put it thusly: Since we get to observe the events at a given site for one day, I’d like to begin my observation at the tomb Jesus was buried in at sunset, local time, on the day after the crucifixion, and watch the events at the site over the following 24 hours. With night vision goggles along to observe the overnight part. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960/56 "2012-02-27T14:51:32Z")
> [@Esox\_Lucius](#): > > July 20, 1969, on the moon. Too bad we can only observe, under this hypothetical. Would be kinda cool to have a “No Trespassing - $50,000,000 Fine” sign awaiting Armstrong as he steps down the ladder. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960/57 "2012-02-27T14:53:35Z")
It might be interesting to watch the audience at the first ever performance of Swan Lake. Especially the death scene just so I could watch the music yank their heartstrings damn near out of their chest. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960/58 "2012-02-27T22:08:10Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Yeah, this. Seeing that event would have a big influence on my current belief that the Jesus suffering story is exaggerated bullshit. I’d say having your back laid open by scourging, then being \*hung up by your wrists to slowly suffocate has a lot of opportunity for suffering–unless going into shock beforehand numbs you to the pain. \*Hmmm. . . I was tempted to say “hanged,” since it is an execution, but a cursory glance at my M-W indicates that that past tense is only for hanging by the neck. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960/59 "2012-02-27T22:39:30Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > I’d say having your back laid open by scourging, then being \*hung up by your wrists to slowly suffocate has a lot of opportunity for suffering–unless going into shock beforehand numbs you to the pain. > > \*Hmmm. . . I was tempted to say “hanged,” since it is an execution, but a cursory glance at my M-W indicates that that past tense is only for hanging by the neck. That reminds me that defenestration is death from someone else putting you out a window; throwing yourself out a window is **self** -defenestration. Nutty. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960/60 "2012-02-27T23:19:37Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I’d pick the Resurrection as well. Though to satisfy the skeptics, I’d put it thusly: > > Since we get to observe the events at a given site for one day, I’d like to begin my observation at the tomb Jesus was buried in at sunset, local time, on the day after the crucifixion, and watch the events at the site over the following 24 hours. With night vision goggles along to observe the overnight part. NO sniper rifle, it violates the rules. Although, if you were going to try to make angel-piercing ammunition, the dope would be where I’d start. > [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > That reminds me that defenestration is death from someone else putting you out a window; throwing yourself out a window is **self** -defenestration. Nutty. So your pick is to go see the defenestration of [Prague](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defenestration_of_prague) ? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-travel-in-time-to-see-a-single-event-on-a-single-day-in-a-single-place-where-and-when/613960.md?page=4)