So two people show up in your place one day. They explain they are from the year 2114, and a horrible plague is killing everyone. Nobody has a natural defense and everyone will eventually be infected. And die.
After going through the medical records of every one who ever lived, they discovered that your blood has the only antibodies that will kill the virus. You can take a trip into the future and do this fantastic good deed, but their is one kicker: You cannot return. Once in the future, you would become infected and would bring the virus into the past. And we don’t have the technology needed to fight it.
If you decide to go into the future, the people promise you will be treated like a god for your good deed. You will have anything you want, and be well taken care of.
Where do I sign up? Worth it just to see humanity’s state a century hence. Think what life was like in 1914 compare to 2014, and progress begets progress.
If humanity’s entire survival was at stake, though, the future denizens would be morally justified in phasering you on stun setting and bringing you forward regardless of your consent.
ETA; I’d also do it on the condition that I wouldn’t be treated like a god, which would be maddening. I’d make my living from future historians interviewing me.
Garumph. I missed the edit window. Here’s my full answer:
Depends. Can I get a preview of life then? Can they fix medical wrong with me today? Hey, reciprocity! What’s different beyond the plague? Can my pets come with me? A friend/SO? Will someone look after my parents now (my brother is an idiot)?
If I can have all of the above, and say goodbye and make someone believe where I’m going, then yes.
Otherwise, I give them my blood and stay hell here.
I wouldn’t believe them. As I pointed out in another thread started this morning, there is (in my opinion) no danger that a disease will exterminate the human species, since we have no evidence (that I know of) of any disease being singularly responsible for the extinction of any other otherwise vibrant and flourishing species.
First, it’s plausible that it’s a manmade disease and wouldn’t necessarily follow precedent.
Second, even if it’s only a million lives I’d save, it’s worth considering, because it’s not the species as a whole I’m concerned about, but folks suffering. One person’s relationships ruined to save a million lives? It’s hard to say no to that.
Third, I still think you’re right not to believe them, because what kind of idiot hears someone say, “Ooh, I’m from the future, only you can save humanity” and believes them? This is some kind of long con being played on nerds, and I’m not gonna fall for it.
While I’d go out of the good-deedyness of it all, it wouldn’t be without reservations. I’m of the belief that every species has a shelf life, and either goes extinct or evolves into new species. But this plague doesn’t sound like the type of thing to be of nature, so I’d probably go.
I wouldn’t want to necessarily be treated like a god, but never having to buy a drink again would be nice. There are still bars in the future, right?
Sure. Since they are time travelers, they can come get me either after my wife has passed, or just before I do. Makes no difference to them - they will be returning to the same time in the future in any case.
I’ve actually thought of this before, nearly the exact same scenario. The major difference was that instead of a plague, it was determined that the person’s presence at that point in the timeline would trigger a catastrophic chain reaction that could only be prevented via assassination or taking the person to the future.
I would probably do it if I would be allowed to safely take my lady love with me (and assuming she would also be willing to leave everything behind and come with me). If I had to leave her behind, it would be a much harder decision.
Beyond that, however, there’s also the question of screwing with the timeline. Is it truly the right thing to do to travel to the future and cure a plague? Would it be the right call to travel back in time and cure smallpox, polio, the bubonic plague, or any other major illness? Do they know that everyone will die, and if so, that humanity’s extinction isn’t the best thing for the planet?
Also, why can’t they just take samples of my blood? Unless this is a trick and they actually need it all, or need to vivisect me and are just trying to get me to come along quietly with promises of good times?
So I guess I don’t really know. I want to do a good deed, but in big, weighty matters like this, considering the greatest good is important.
does this future society have a repository of culture from a century ago (and slightly beyond) so i could listen to music, read book and see tv/movies that i enjoy. i want to finish musicians, shows and authors in progress now. i’m not interested in getting to like what’s hot then.
Setting aside the spousal issues, I can’t see why the hell I’d turn down the opportunity to see a society 100 years more advanced than this one. (Granted, I am making assumptions that society hasn’t gone downhill, but if they’ve got time travel, it can’t be all bad.) I choose the living like a god option because I wouldn’t be doing it purely out of the goodness of my heart, but I don’t necessarily want to be treated that way. I’d just want to be well taken care of, since I have no idea if any skill I have currently would translate into being able to make a living in a future society.
Maybe. Depends how they intend on harvesting my blood. Sounds creepy. If I could manage some secure storage for my cool shit so its there waiting for me. Ain’t nobody gonna miss me if I go. Why not?
I’d be boss of the road, rollin’ in my 150 year old wheels!
A) The leverage is all on my side.
B) My daughters go with me because that would be awesome and there’d be another 100 years of Doctor Who to catch up on
C) They have to take me to 2112 just so I can say I was there