5,000 years ago

[tinribz]

OK instead of your bed you wake up tomorrow morning naked on a beach somewhere in the north Africa 5,000 years ago, no explanation, no prospect of getting back.

What is the career plan for the rest of your life?

Make your way to China where probably the most civilised societies exist and live out the rest of your life in the nearest thing to a peaceful existence with decent conveniences? (My history is probably a little shaky).

As you are the most highly educated individual on earth, invent firearms, and regular army training and strategies, build a world wide empire with you as a demi god?

Focus on medical advances for roll-out to the masses content in the knowledge you will save countless lives?

Use your knowledge to give a small region an edge, turn it into a controllable fortress and establish the first truly civilised city / society with democracy, education for the masses and hope the rest of the world desire to follow your example because of the massive raise in living standards for the populace? Or at least live safely and happily yourself.

Become a king’s advisor and live a relatively luxurious life out of the spotlight?

Become a famous person born before their time like Devinci doodling strange futuristic machines, or Nostradamus making predictions of the future (keeping them abstract so as not to upset the time line) and generally taking the piss out of the established scientific community?

Use your knowledge of psychology to invent a contagious religion with you as messiah and real power?

You preach morality because it is the best way to make a real big difference to humanity. You use easily understood parables and although atheist / agnostic, tack on some the mystic stuff and perform a few miracles because in the long run you know tapping in to religion is the only way to make it successful?

Spread the real Christian word prophesising the genuine messiah’s coming, it is god's plan?

Teach a small community some advanced irrigation techniques, become their king and have monuments that will last 1000’s of years to come built in your name?

Go live as a scary ranting hermit in the hills somewhere hoping it is just a bad dream and longing for a pack of Marlboro for the rest of your life?

Open the first casino? Start a rock band? Kill yourself?

[Pooja]

I'd build a raft, and row myself north, to nearby Crete. There, I'd ask some peasants for directions to the capital city of Knossus, and live peacefully among the Minoan civilization, and it's people. Perhaps, I'd present myself as a sort of demi-goddess, who can foresee the future. I'd set up a little 'booth' similar to that of the Oracle of Delphi, and tell the future. Which I could do, b/c I know my ancient greek history. I'd be like, "look Minos, I really don't think it's a good idea to leave Ariadne and Theseus in a room togeher, alone." Or, "I'd watch out for those Myceans... they don't want to be your friends"...

[melancholeric]

Make your way to China where probably the most civilised societies exist and live out the rest of your life in the nearest thing to a peaceful existence with decent conveniences? (My history is probably a little shaky).
I guess Egypt might be a bit closer; if they were more "civilised" is open to debate. A debate I'm not particularly interested in,as you'd first have to define "civilised" and I imagine you might run into some problems with this.


Go live as a scary ranting hermit in the hills somewhere hoping it is just a bad dream and longing for a pack of Marlboro for the rest of your life?I'd build a vessel and sail to the new world to get my nicotine fix. Tobacco only grew in America at the time.

The sad thing is that I'm not even sure how serious I am with that.

5 000 years ago. I'd head for the Indus Valley only to see the civilization first hand. And possibly to see why it disappeared. The timing seems to be suitably close.

[domokun]

5 000 years ago. I'd head for the Indus Valley only to see the civilization first hand. And possibly to see why it disappeared. The timing seems to be suitably close.
Thats a good idea. Also in time to see if the Aryan invasion theory is true or not.

[last_caress]

Smoke some doobs.

[Zero Angel]

I'd become a kings advisor and do my best to advocate education, science, and strategy. I would go throughout the kingdom and find all the people with the best qualities and use my knowledge of the MBTI to put them into a productive team. Ie: Having the NT's doing much of the strategy among the kingdom and having the NFs interpret religion so that it works in the capacity of compassion and empathy rather then fear and governance. Failing that, I would like to be a military strategist or thinker.

[Mr. Good Beats]

well, seeing as how i haven't brushed up on any ancient languages in a few years, i would have to first teach everyone modern canadian english so they would be be able to understand me (who am i kidding, people who have spoke modern canadian english their whole lives don't even understand me) then i would lead them to slavation through the knowledge of jeeSus, or get stoned to death because i was seen as some crazy man speaking in devil tongues.

yeah smoke some doobs would probably be a better idea

[Pooja]

Thats a good idea. Also in time to see if the Aryan invasion theory is true or not.

That's actually what I would do. I wrote my 25 page term paper on the Aryan Invasion Theory, arguing against it (even though I actually do believe it) because it seemed like more of a challenge.
I think it'd be awesome, to be able to track down an ancestor or two, just to get a better idea of my roots.
I'd kill 2 birds with 1 stone, if my ancestors were invading aryans...

[kuranes]

I'd probably try to become advisor to small groups at first, and be careful to publicly not seem that advanced or special. Just enough beter to get the elite status. I would try to gradually learn the language, or teach an assistant mine. Soon my assistants would need assistants, of course. I would carefully monitor the tribal chief's jealousy and make sure he didn't feel threatened. When I sensed the time was right, I would assume power over a small group of people myself, who could take care of basics while I came up with a more advanced game plan. I would avoid the really powerful organizations and keep news of my progress under the radar as much as possible, in a sequestered area. Eventually the group would become a "for hire" group that would be more like "mercenaries" for knowledge more than just mercenaries for fighting. I would cultivate some fighters too, though, as well as new armour, but they would all be restrained from usurping my position because of some mumbo-jumbo I'd feed them. Lots of things, such as my whereabouts, would be on a "need to know basis" until I had achieved some security for myself.

[domokun]

That's actually what I would do. I wrote my 25 page term paper on the Aryan Invasion Theory, arguing against it (even though I actually do believe it) because it seemed like more of a challenge.
I think it'd be awesome, to be able to track down an ancestor or two, just to get a better idea of my roots.
I'd kill 2 birds with 1 stone, if my ancestors were invading aryans...
From what I know the Aryan invasion theory is widely regarded as british propoganda during their colonial periods. So much for the swastika.

[ApeTheDog]

Well, if we wake up in north africa - with the level of public transportation available back in those days, we'll probably never get out of north africa :(

So, I would probably end up, well, hunted down and killed by the natives, who would think me a strange, white monster.

[distraction tactics]

First item of business would be kicking myself for not reading "How to Not Became a Slave for Dummies.

Then I'd BS my way through Egypt, check out Mesopotamia, and eventually head north to check out early Greece. Maybe become a mercenary, or find my own plot of land and farm the shit outta it.

[Nadiar]

'Invent' Steel. Create an agrarian culture with a strong military force. Make sure everyone thinks that Steel comes from a magical proccess given to me by the gods. After 15-20 years, I would establish a republic, transition them into it, then stage my own death, and live the rest of my life as a hermit.

I shall call it... Atlantis. Just to get a perverse pleasure out of fucking with history.

[dubbeltop]

OK instead of your bed you wake up tomorrow morning naked on a beach somewhere in the north Africa 5,000 years ago, no explanation, no prospect of getting back.

What is the career plan for the rest of your life?

Teach a small community some advanced irrigation techniques, become their king and have monuments that will last 1000’s of years to come built in your name?

yeah baby thats it !! Not only do somethings usefull but that 1000 years of free publicity i like that :) :),

[fripping]

Smoke some doobs.
yeah

[Heather Harrison]

Societies usually don't appreciate people with knowledge that is highly advanced compared to theirs; if any of us went into one of those ancient societies and revealed the extent of our modern knowledge, they would likely kill us in horrific ways before we could use our advanced technical knowledge to defend ourselves. Perhaps, if a group of people, complete with modern weapons and lots of ammunition, appeared in North Africa at that time, we could just take over, but otherwise it wouldn't be a good situation.

Given that, I think the ranting hermit idea sounds like a good one; then, perhaps people would put up with me because they think that I'm crazy or that I'm some sort of guru that they can't figure out. I like to spend a lot of time alone anyway.

Heather

[domokun]

Societies usually don't appreciate people with knowledge that is highly advanced compared to theirs; if any of us went into one of those ancient societies and revealed the extent of our modern knowledge, they would likely kill us in horrific ways before we could use our advanced technical knowledge to defend ourselves. Perhaps, if a group of people, complete with modern weapons and lots of ammunition, appeared in North Africa at that time, we could just take over, but otherwise it wouldn't be a good situation.

Given that, I think the ranting hermit idea sounds like a good one; then, perhaps people would put up with me because they think that I'm crazy or that I'm some sort of guru that they can't figure out. I like to spend a lot of time alone anyway.

Heather

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

[Ferrus]

China? I think Mesapotamia would be a safer option.

But if you are in sub-Saharan Africa crossing the Saharan desert will prove an insuperable task.

[kuranes]

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

Do ya think ? We could wow 'em with some eclipse action. Or point to a comet/meteor shower which is supposed to be happening soon. "Well, some viewing points are ..uh . . .really better... than others. May I . . .uh . . .suggest that we move to . . . uhm . . . ."

[domokun]

Do ya think ? We could wow 'em with some eclipse action.
Maybe. Even if your astronomy is strong it would be hard to know what point in time you are.

[kuranes]

Maybe. Even if your astronomy is strong it would be hard to know what point in time you are.

True. I was just domoking with you.

[Stillwater]

Short list of things to do:

1. Invent religion based on my personal philosophy (not a novel concept, mind you) that would have strong taboos against eating me. My mystical ability to improve agricultural yields would credited to my awesome supernatural power, rather than mere mortal cleverness.

2. Very important: play dumb when necessary to avoid periodic culling of intellectuals. There's a reason why truly smart people are a minority, even today.

3. Write a book of prophecy in secret and hide it away, to be discovered centuries later. In it, I will predict everything Nostradamus will say, before he even thinks it. This will ensure future celebrity and renewed interest in my religious teachings. A sort of practical joke, the last laugh.


On second thought, I'd probably be far less ambitious. I would likely fall in with any village that would have me and find love with a woman stronger and hairier than me.