Moral Dilemma and Time Travel

nightmare · Post by **nightmare** » 2006-02-28 11:54am

If I actually managed to warn about one disaster, I'll die and can't do anything more about the rest of the future from that point. Secondly, I will have changed the future, so there's no telling what would happen - perhaps the result would be worse than it was in my history.

For example, let's say 9/11 never happens. No war on terrorism happens, and ten years later, terrorists blow up NY with an Iranian nuke. End result, worse than original (as far as I know).

So I would instead use my foreknowledge to accumulate wealth; lottery, stock pickings, etc. Then I can use this wealth to improve the world... both for myself and for others. My first plan would be to make a foundation for risk capital venture, in the spirit that more risk capital may lead to more businesses, which leads to more employment, etc, improving the economy, and in prolongation make the world a little better on the whole.

Secondly I would create a welfare foundation which would invest its capital in the free markets of the world and donate the surplus to research, primarily medical.

The idea of making foundations for this is to create something that can't be messed with easily by outsiders or the government, while at the same time surviving me, hopefully creating a lasting good. Of course I have to be careful when deciding on the working rules for them, so I'll hire consultants to help me with that.

Kojiro · Post by **Kojiro** » 2006-03-01 12:05am

I'd love a chance to redo it all. I don't consider it a moral problem not to tell people about events, even moreso that doing such endangers me. If I got to do it all over again I'd be a wealthy man. My only consideration would be I'd likely not be with the same partner.

Crazy_Vasey · Post by **Crazy_Vasey** » 2006-03-01 05:04pm

Ye gods, no. Not only would nobody listen to me but I have no love for the idea of being two years old again. There's something about having, you know, bladder control that I really can't do without and signing up for two decades of 24/7 boredom doesn't appeal. It's not like I'd have much to look forward to, is it? Starting school? Yawn. College. Yawn. University? OH GOD NO! Three extra years of shit boring lectures does NOT appeal. New movies? Seen 'em. New games? Already played 'em to death. Introduction of new technology? Already used it. I couldn't even make myself rich because there's no way I could make any investments based off my knowledge and my family doesn't invest anyway. I suppose I could avoid some of my more bone-headed mistakes over the years but I'd probably make ten times more out of sheer boredom.

I doubt I'd even be able to make my old friendships again. It's not like the common interests that served as the foundation would even be there anymore and I doubt I'd have the patience to deal with them at that young age.