# Margin of error-Time travel poll **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 24, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043 "2011-05-24T18:26:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043/1 "2011-05-24T18:26:51Z")
The premise is that we have a working time machine, but that there are two problems with it: 1. The trip is one-way, and 2. The machine will randomly choose the direction of time travel-you can only choose the number of years to travel. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043/2 "2011-05-24T18:31:55Z")
I’ve read the OP, but I still don’t understand what question the poll is for. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043/3 "2011-05-24T18:35:42Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > I’ve read the OP, but I still don’t understand what question the poll is for. Changed poll title to “how far would you travel”. Does that help? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043/4 "2011-05-24T18:37:11Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > I’ve read the OP, but I still don’t understand what question the poll is for. Yeah, this. My assumption is that we are to select a point in time where some number of years missed for the exact date of arrival is least troubling. Like Ancient Rome could be a few years off, but that might be bad for Civil War days. That something like it? ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043/5 "2011-05-24T18:37:14Z")
Nope, for that I’ll wait for the 2.0 version with more control please. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043/6 "2011-05-24T18:38:39Z")
One hundred for me. Anything less wouldn’t be as interesting, and one thousand I wouldn’t even recognize. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043/7 "2011-05-24T18:39:21Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Yeah, this. My assumption is that we are to select a point in time where some number of years missed for the exact date of arrival is least troubling. > > Like Ancient Rome could be a few years off, but that might be bad for Civil War days. > > That something like it? Just assume that the machine, for some reason that I will never explain, will only transport you to the presets given. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043/8 "2011-05-24T18:45:42Z")
I picked 100 years-I need my glasses to see so a bigger jump backwards is out of the question, and I think I could survive a 100-year future shock just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043/9 "2011-05-24T18:50:32Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Just assume that the machine, for some reason that I will never explain, will only transport you to the presets given. Just one more try at comprehension, if you please. 1. I pick some number 2. The machine takes me that precise number of years out of the present 3. It may be future or past, but I won’t know that until I get there 4. Wherever that is, I’m stuck there What am I missing? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043/10 "2011-05-24T19:19:27Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Just one more try at comprehension, if you please. > > 1. I pick some number > 2. The machine takes me that precise number of years out of the present > 3. It may be future or past, but I won’t know that until I get there > 4. Wherever that is, I’m stuck there > > What am I missing? Nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043/11 "2011-05-24T19:24:12Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Nothing. Thanks. I picked 25 since I can relate to that far back in my past and would be curious about how much things will have changed by then in the future. Also I suspect I would notice the 50 year difference and could adapt to that. By the way, do we retain our current ages in the travel? If not, I think I’ll punt. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043/12 "2011-05-24T19:26:49Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Thanks. I picked 25 since I can relate to that far back in my past and would be curious about how much things will have changed by then in the future. Also I suspect I would notice the 50 year difference and could adapt to that. > > By the way, do we retain our current ages in the travel? If not, I think I’ll punt. Standard time travel-the world ages or de-ages, but you don’t. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043/13 "2011-05-24T19:30:04Z")
Do we arrive buck naked, can we take at least a bit of luggage, what about current chronic health issues, how much lead time [can we pack luggage or is it pick one and poof?] can hubby travel with me, can we pick a place [like right now I am in CT, if I opt for 1000 years, would we pop up exactly where we are or could we pick a destination without having to travel there first?] ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043/14 "2011-05-24T19:39:13Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Do we arrive buck naked, can we take at least a bit of luggage, what about current chronic health issues, how much lead time [can we pack luggage or is it pick one and poof?] can hubby travel with me, can we pick a place [like right now I am in CT, if I opt for 1000 years, would we pop up exactly where we are or could we pick a destination without having to travel there first?] _sigh_ Your body weight plus 20 pounds to account for clothing and incidentals. One person at a time. Time travel only-where you start out is where you end up. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043/15 "2011-05-24T19:50:16Z")
I wasn’t willing to risk going backwards more than 10 years. That’s about the amount of technological advance I’m willing to sacrifice. Which probably gets me very little reward if I go forward, but that’s why it’s a gamble, no? ETA: I skipped the 25-year option because, in addition to the lack of internet, I really have no desire to re-live the 80s. And anything beyond that puts me at too much of a disadvantage in terms of civil rights, so forget it. 10 years is little enough convenience if I go backwards with the advantage of me knowing enough about “future” market trends to make my money and live comfortably. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043/16 "2011-05-24T19:54:23Z")
100 years. I could probably make it in 1911. My skillset might need some retooling if I show up in 2111, but maybe the world will need old-school C# developers. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043/17 "2011-05-24T19:56:13Z")
I’d like to pick +/- 1,000 but I’m afraid I’d end in the future and it would be a world-wide wasteland. I think 1000 years in the past would be cool though. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043/18 "2011-05-24T19:56:37Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I wasn’t willing to risk going backwards more than 10 years. That’s about the amount of technological advance I’m willing to sacrifice. Which probably gets me very little reward if I go forward, but that’s why it’s a gamble, no? > > ETA: I skipped the 25-year option because, in addition to the lack of internet, I really have no desire to re-live the 80s. And anything beyond that puts me at too much of a disadvantage in terms of civil rights, so forget it. 10 years is little enough convenience if I go backwards with the advantage of me knowing enough about “future” market trends to make my money and live comfortably. I presume you will be dressing lightly and carrying reference books? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043/19 "2011-05-24T19:57:52Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > 100 years. > I could probably make it in 1911. > My skillset might need some retooling if I show up in 2111, but maybe the world will need old-school C# developers. 😉 The world loves an optimist…for dinner. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043/20 "2011-05-24T20:01:17Z")
I decided on 1 year. Starting with the backwards cases…I’m horrified with the idea of living in Pre-Columbus America, I would actively dislike 1911 New Jersey, I could deal with 1961 and 1986, though I’m not keen on being there. Late May 2001, I wonder what I’m going to be spending the first 3 months trying to do? While preventing the terrorist attacks is a laudable goal, I don’t know if I could deal with failing. 2006, who cares? It’s hardly any different than today. 2010, It’s basically just like today, but I’ll have a year’s worth of Lottery numbers and stocks picked, so I will be filthy rich by the next year, and could pick up where my life left off. Going forward, it’s a total crapshoot, just a ton of trouble dealing with your disappearance, and apparent lack of aging. In this case, I’m most likely to get by with a 1 year span, I could tell people I went on a hitchiking trip to “find myself” or some other crap. Can I get something shorter than a year, 2 weeks, maybe? I’ll hide out in my basement, win the lottery, then go on with my life, or I take a 2 week vacation in the void, which nobody is going to care about. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margin-of-error-time-travel-poll/583043.md?page=2)