A Time Travel Thought Experiment

For an intelligent person, I don't think it would take long. You know, by the Civil War we had amazing technology, mass transportation (train), electronic communications (telegraph), photography, aircraft (balloons), iron ships, the submarine, the machine gun... and on and on. Everything we have today is simply an improvement over the technology they already had. So, an informed and intelligent person would adapt to it quickly.

 

What is the spiritual state of this supposed person?

 

I agree with Scarlett.

He would have a heart attack and drop dead. He would be overcome by distress over the technological advancements (thinking of things like seeing planes fly) as well as the spiritual and moral rot that is America.

 

I think the technological hurdles would be overcome quickly, in less than 6 months. Most technology exists to save labor or to entertain so it would be welcomed and adapted to very quickly.

I think the most challenging aspect for our hypothetical young man from the 1850's would be adapting to the role of women in society. I think he would find it very difficult to understand gender roles. I doubt he would ever adjust to women being in positions of authority over men nor would he be able to accept their clothing styles.

 

I would say it would make his head hurt. He would not be able to belt his wife, force his attentions on her without comment. He would be APPALLED by the dress codes, the mannerless manners and sharing his space with different cultures, religions etc.

I suspect he would think he had died and gone to hell and be an alcoholic within a few weeks.

 

Hmm considering the man would be from Southern California, he'd be either Mexican or a Southerner (Los Angeles was a hotbed of secessionist sentiment back in 1860), so I guess he'd be surprised at slavery being abolished, blacks having equal rights, and a black man being President of the United States (and a Democrat to boot) [1]. He'd also be amazed at how big Los Angeles has grown in addition to such marvelous inventions as computers, televisions, airplanes, and so on.

[1] While we must focus on the sins of our own times for obvious reasons, I don't think on the balance we are any more greatly sinful than in 1850-abortion is legal now, divorce and sexual immorality has grown yet on the other hand slavery is abolished, racism is condemned, women have equal rights, the excesses of colonialism are no more.

 

The Christian film Time Changer has an interesting perspective on almost the exact same scenario.

 

I admit that I enjoyed that movie. However, I think it failed to really capture just how dramatic the shock would be.

 

An interesting premise that was let down by wooden acting and shoddy dialogue. Still, I enjoyed watching it, just not analyzing it afterwards.

 

If he had any entrepreneurial sense, he'd get a good agent and shop around for a reality-show deal.

 

I recall reading about this idea in a sci-fi book which eludes me at the present, something about cryogenics.

I could not imagine anything more appalling, however, there would be those who are great survivors and would.