Options
Present day stuff that would baffle/bemuse people from yesteryear...
Ted C
Posts: 11,731 Forum Member
✭✭
I have often wondered how (though in truth it's pretty much impossible) how a person from 100 years or so back suddenly catapulted into the present day would react in reality, as opposed to the time-travel movies and tv shows we often see, with the wide-eyed fascination and wonderment at the future.
I have always believed in truth people would be terrified, and would feel like they are on a different planet. It would be too much for them to take in...they could literally go mad.
But what specific things do people think would bemuse, baffle or surprise such people, rather than the obvious ones?
Two that have always struck me...cashpoint machines that say 'Free withdrawals'. I am sure such people would take this to mean they can get free money, as that is what it appears to say.
The other one is language. Though we still speak English, it's a very different form of English than that of years gone by. For example, if you said you had taken a selfie on your blackberry and posted it on twitter/facebook, it would sound like complete gibberish to that person (Mind you...personally I maintain it is).
Any other examples?
ps - re the changing language issue, look up a superb little short Twilight Zone story called Wordplay, only about 15 mins but a very good illustration of my point above.
I have always believed in truth people would be terrified, and would feel like they are on a different planet. It would be too much for them to take in...they could literally go mad.
But what specific things do people think would bemuse, baffle or surprise such people, rather than the obvious ones?
Two that have always struck me...cashpoint machines that say 'Free withdrawals'. I am sure such people would take this to mean they can get free money, as that is what it appears to say.
The other one is language. Though we still speak English, it's a very different form of English than that of years gone by. For example, if you said you had taken a selfie on your blackberry and posted it on twitter/facebook, it would sound like complete gibberish to that person (Mind you...personally I maintain it is).
Any other examples?
ps - re the changing language issue, look up a superb little short Twilight Zone story called Wordplay, only about 15 mins but a very good illustration of my point above.
0
Comments
And ebook readers that can hold a whole library of books. Still bemuses me
Optimus Prime.
"I have a device in my pocket with which I can access all the knowledge known to man. I use it to look at pictures of cats and argue with strangers".
I remember our first teletext tv and my dad just standing looking at it, "It's not a telly, it's a bloody computer!" I'd love to know what he's make of smart phones
Ah Teletext. The best way to keep uptodate with football scores and play Bamboozle
Actually, they would probably just get a headache getting their head around how it can even possibly work.
Once they got their heads around it and saw social media (including sites like DS) they would probably sit there wondering why we waste our time doing this when we could be doing so much more useful things.
Love it...that actually made me laugh out loud.
It also raises an interesting notion that the type of technology we are now using in everyday life was considered the stuff of science fiction and spy movies...who would have thought that we would not only have access to such technology, but to be using it for such 'important' pursuits like phoning your wife/husband/mum/friend etc to say
'Hi it's me...I'm on the train/bus'.
or
'I'm in Sainsbury's, do you want fish fingers or fried chicken for dinner?'
or that evergreen classic
'Its me, what you doin/where are you/whats up' etc
Somebody from the 1850's on the other hand, really would be in shock.
A very good point in your last sentence. Bearing in mind even people from 50 years ago where everything was very hands-on/manual...if you wanted to eat a meal, you spent hours preparing food...if you wanted to send a message you spent ages writing a letter in pen...probably more and better examples than I can think of right now.
But I take the point that we never would have dreamed that we would be using such technology for such trivial things.
And as previously mentioned, our ability to procrastinate and lose entire days on the internet.
The illegalisation of several recreational drugs.
Women, children and the poo-ah having rights.
They would probably be with me with the language. I'm also bemused by things that are sick or fat. Or is phat?
Is the internet much more than a newspaper on screen that you can add bits to? A smaller version of a library?
A TV set in the room is just another way of watching films?
Think they would understand everything, even if they couldn't grasp how we can send a photo/mail/song to the other side of the world in a milisecond - but not how to use it obviously.
They might fight back with "we used to get across the city in twenty minutes, you sit in a metal box for two hours"!
Absolutely. When I think about how it was to look after a home without all the conveniences we take for granted I feel thoroughly ridiculous at building the thought of putting another load in the washing machine, or emptying the tumble-drier, into such a big deal I have to talk myself into getting off my arse to just do it.
I'm a little overwhelmed by it myself, truth be told.
Widespread open atheism.
They'd be absolutely gobsmacked by what they would see being displayed if someone switched a TV on for them.
Showing them a DVD/Blu-Ray pre-recorded disc and then showing them the content that was on it.
Showing them what happens when you're online browsing sites.
Letting them see characters appearing on the screen as you type, especially with a wireless keyboard. Also showing them the cursor moving when you move the wireless mouse.
SSDs that can hold tons of photos and other stuff on them.
The latest games consoles.
Digital TV.
Personal audio player.
Personal video player.
Showing them the wealth of videos and music that's online.
Yeah, there'd be a load of stuff to show them that they'd be shocked at.