# Would you host a time traveller from the past? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 10, 2024, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-host-a-time-traveller-from-the-past/1003984 "2024-07-10T03:49:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-host-a-time-traveller-from-the-past/1003984/21 "2024-07-10T14:13:08Z")
I just picked the one from the furthest time back. I’m curious about how ways of thinking have changed and are similar in all that time. But I’d better host them in the winter. I haven’t time for all that sightseeing business in farm season. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-host-a-time-traveller-from-the-past/1003984/22 "2024-07-10T14:19:53Z")
I picked the Assyrian from 2000 BC as well, just because we know the least about that time period. But on the other hand, a good point has been raised - we are very unlikely to learn much of anything if the traveler is an illiterate peasant who has never been more than a couple miles from his farm, and the further back you go the more likely it is that this is what you will get. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-host-a-time-traveller-from-the-past/1003984/23 "2024-07-10T14:39:35Z")
To anybody before 1940 America: “No, seriously, you need to shower every day. And use this new thing we have called deodorant.” ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-host-a-time-traveller-from-the-past/1003984/24 "2024-07-10T14:57:39Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > No thank you. Thinking further, I think I’d give up my quiet solitude and offer to host a time traveler from the future if that ever became an option… ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-host-a-time-traveller-from-the-past/1003984/25 "2024-07-10T18:34:37Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > . Ask them not to smoke and give 'em a nicotine patch – problem solved Hahahha. > [@Mangetout](#): > > 100 AD Rome, and before we go sightseeing, I have an important question about dodecahedra Good one, but he might not know- they seemed pretty specialized. However, I have questions about that Roman dice gambling game. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-host-a-time-traveller-from-the-past/1003984/26 "2024-07-10T19:38:11Z")
True, they might not know, but we should definitely ask ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-host-a-time-traveller-from-the-past/1003984/27 "2024-07-10T21:14:48Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > But on the other hand, a good point has been raised - we are very unlikely to learn much of anything if the traveler is an illiterate peasant who has never been more than a couple miles from his farm, and the further back you go the more likely it is that this is what you will get. I could learn a whole lot about farming in Assyria in 2000 BC. Also about what the person thought were normal interpersonal relationships, how they thought the universe/world was constructed, what their attitude was toward religions, what their attitude was toward members of different species they were familiar with, what species they were familiar with, and I’m sure a whole shitload of things that aren’t coming to the top of my head at the moment. > [@Hampshire](#): > > To anybody before 1940 America: > “No, seriously, you need to shower every day. And use this new thing we have called deodorant.” Considering that just about everybody before 1940’s America, and a number of people since, would disagree with you: I think that some word other than “need” is called for there. Unless, of course, you just mean “if you’re going to stay in my house.” After which you can discuss whether or not they need to take off their shoes at the door. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-host-a-time-traveller-from-the-past/1003984/28 "2024-07-10T21:31:36Z")
These folks have been engaging with Time Travel Tourism Institute personnel for weeks or months before we get a hold of them. I think it’s fair to assume we know all there is to know about these time periods as a result of those interactions so I don’t think it’s necessary to choose based on what novel historical data I might be able to extract. I think the cool thing here is the opportunity to show off the modern world and experience lots of “commonplace” things through a truly fresh lens. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-host-a-time-traveller-from-the-past/1003984/29 "2024-07-10T21:34:19Z")
> [@susan](#): > > 1940 America? I know people who were alive then; they’re doing okay with their own slow time-travel to the present. I am a time traveller from 1940 America. Or 1937 to be exact. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-host-a-time-traveller-from-the-past/1003984/30 "2024-07-10T21:46:32Z")
I will answer this poll two Wednesdays ago. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-host-a-time-traveller-from-the-past/1003984/31 "2024-07-10T22:27:12Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > > [@susan](#): > > > > 1940 America? I know people who were alive then; they’re doing okay with their own slow time-travel to the present. > > I am a time traveller from 1940 America. Or 1937 to be exact. - If time travel is that slow, I want nothing to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-host-a-time-traveller-from-the-past/1003984/32 "2024-07-10T22:32:09Z")
Good luck getting off the Wheel. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-host-a-time-traveller-from-the-past/1003984/33 "2024-07-10T22:37:03Z")
Are they tested/treated for communicable diseases and parasites? If be afraid of catching something i have no immunity to. And i hope they’ve been vaccinated against our stuff. But if so, sure. It was hard to decide, but i went with ancient Egypt over ancient Assyria because i guess I’m more curious about it. I wonder what they’d think of our skyscrapers? Maybe i can take a road trip to visit @thorny_locust and show them our agriculture. I bet they’d LOVE our hot running water and clean toilets. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-host-a-time-traveller-from-the-past/1003984/34 "2024-07-11T00:35:00Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > To anybody before 1940 America: > “No, seriously, you need to shower every day. And use this new thing we have called deodorant.” It’s my understanding that Egyptians were quite fastidious. Didn’t they pluck their body hair? And Romans enjoyed baths, did they not? They’d be the guy who hangs out naked in the gym locker room, inviting everyone to come join him in the sauna. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-host-a-time-traveller-from-the-past/1003984/35 "2024-07-11T01:41:06Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > I am a time traveller from 1940 America. Or 1937 to be exact. You are ancient sir. I bow to you in respect. > [@Moriarty](#): > > It’s my understanding that Egyptians were quite fastidious. They had the idea of putting hardened scented blocks of oil on their heads and letting it melt in the heat and smell nice. I am not sure if that is “clean” but they likely didnt smell like barbarians, anyway. An educated Roman would be fairly clean. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-host-a-time-traveller-from-the-past/1003984/36 "2024-07-11T02:18:52Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > I think the cool thing here is the opportunity to show off the modern world and experience lots of “commonplace” things through a truly fresh lens. Yes, this. We always say how much fun it is to take a first-timer to Disneyland. It’s actually fun for us, as well. I picked the Egyptian because I’d like to know if we’ve made any big mistakes interpretting his culture/religion/etc. ---
**Author:** ![betonbill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b782af/32.png) [@betonbill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betonbill)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-host-a-time-traveller-from-the-past/1003984/37 "2024-07-12T17:52:26Z")
Off topic a bit, but this thread seemed very compatible with two films that I streamed last week through Amazon Prime video. The first was titled The Man From Earth, which dealt with the main character being a person who had lived for 14,000 years, telling friends about his experiences before moving away. The second was a continuation, Man From Earth (Holocene) which continued the saga. Mostly dialogue, but I really enjoyed it. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-host-a-time-traveller-from-the-past/1003984/38 "2024-07-17T00:20:54Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > > > I am a time traveller from 1940 America. Or 1937 to be exact. > > You are ancient sir. I bow to you in respect. … anyway … do you know anything about those dodecahedras? if not, don’t call again. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-host-a-time-traveller-from-the-past/1003984.md?page=1)