# unravel the mystery **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 30, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056 "2010-08-30T22:58:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056/21 "2010-08-31T17:35:58Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > > [@T.Zone](#): > > > > When does the future, become the past? > > Never. The future is always the future, the past is always the past. As heavy as this is, I accept it. The _words_ are one thing and the _slices of time_ are another. The analogy I always tried to adapt my thinking to was when I worked in Sales Forecasting. Our methods for predicting the future involved looking at progressively nearer slices of the past. But somebody pointed out that predicting the future based on the past is like driving a car on a winding mountain road by looking in the rearview mirror. The same applies, though in a subtler way, by trying to predict the immediate past! As the future slides past now into the then of the past, our viewpoint shifts and we have to factor into our view of the past by what has just finished happening. Fun flies when you’re having time… ---
**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:** [August 31, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056/22 "2010-08-31T17:44:03Z")
> [@T.Zone](#): > > When does the future, become the past? It already has, and still will. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056/23 "2010-08-31T17:50:15Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > > [@T.Zone](#): > > > > When does the future, become the past? > > It already has, and still will. When did the future ever become the past? The future is our inaccurate perception of what will happen, and it never does. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056/24 "2010-09-01T00:55:53Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Fun flies when you’re having time… Correct. The past rolls out, fixed; the future never happens. They’re two different entities that can’t touch. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2010, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056/25 "2010-09-01T04:21:43Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > > [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > > > It already has, and still will. > > When did the future ever become the past? The future is our inaccurate perception of what will happen, and it never does. It hasn’t yet, except for what already did. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056/26 "2010-09-01T14:10:51Z")
Yoyodyne: Bringing you the future tomorrow! ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056/27 "2010-09-01T23:49:26Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Which means of course that, not only can’t we predict the future-we can’t even predict the _present_. And considering the various ways our memories mess with us, the past becomes iffy pretty fast as well. We’re kind of screwed, aren’t we ? ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056/28 "2010-09-01T23:56:10Z")
On reflection, after looking at the OP’s user name, I speculate that the answer he’s looking for is “the international date line”. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056/29 "2010-09-02T00:15:46Z")
> [@T.Zone](#): > > When does the future, become the past? When, people, use, commas, for, no, reason,. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056/30 "2010-09-02T00:30:54Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > > [@T.Zone](#): > > > > When does the future, become the past? > > When, people, use, commas, for, no, reason,. Commas may be used anywhere in dialogue or exposition to indicate the tempo of speech. I may have to use that over in GD, in the future. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056/31 "2010-09-02T00:46:41Z")
Now. No, dammit, I was too early. So . . . now! Damn, did it again. Now. Fuck, this time I’ll wait a while. . . . Ok, ready? . . . uh . . . now. Shit. I give up. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056/32 "2010-09-02T01:15:41Z")
Just then! Damn, you missed it. Oh, OK, here it comes again… ---
**Author:** ![Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prelude_to_Fascination)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056/33 "2010-09-02T01:49:23Z")
George Carlin: There’s a moment coming…wait, it’s not here yet…there it is! Aw shit, it’s gone! ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056/34 "2010-09-02T07:41:19Z")
When you’re living backwards, according to Bob Dylan: _“We’ll meet on edges, soon,” said I Proud ’neath heated brow Ah, but I was so much older then I’m younger than that now._ ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056/35 "2010-09-02T12:57:45Z")
> [@T.Zone](#): > > When does the future, become the past? I don’t think it does. Time is an illusion. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056/36 "2010-09-02T13:19:08Z")
> [@Meatros](#): > > Time is an illusion. Perhaps this deserves its own thread (or looking up those older threads where it has been the main topic) but I’d like somebody (you perhaps, **Meatros** ) to elaborate on this statement. I know that _Time_ is that thing that clocks measure, and that it’s somehow a measurement of change or process. But to say it’s an illusion is like saying Reality is an illusion, to my way of thinking. Serious question here. ---
**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:** [September 2, 2010, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056/37 "2010-09-02T13:32:55Z")
I believe Stephen Hawking teaches that time is a feature of this universe. It could be completely different in another universe. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056/38 "2010-09-02T13:57:15Z")
> [@Meatros](#): > > > [@T.Zone](#): > > > > When does the future, become the past? > > I don’t think it does. > > Time is an illusion. Then you typed all those letters at the same . . . uh . . . :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056/39 "2010-09-02T14:22:20Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > > [@Meatros](#): > > > > Time is an illusion. > > Perhaps this deserves its own thread… Done and done: [Is Time an illusion? - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=576800) ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056/40 "2010-09-02T14:22:56Z")
> [@Meatros](#): > > > [@T.Zone](#): > > > > When does the future, become the past? > > I don’t think it does. > > Time is an illusion. Lunchtime, doubly so. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unravel-the-mystery/552056.md?page=3)