At the heart of much speculative fiction (and fiction in general) is a question. What if? On Tuesdays I like to throw one out there and see what you make of it. Do with it as you please. If a for-instance is not specified, feel free to interpret that instance as you wish. And if you find this becomes a novel-length answer, I'd appreciate a thank you in the acknowledgements ;)
Not so much a What if? today as a Would you rather? (I've been struggling with figuring out a question all week, so I hope you will forgive me.)
If you had the option of living forever or having unlimited access to a time machine, which one would you choose (and no, you can't do both)?
Unlimited access to a time machine. There's no way I'd want to live forever. But I certainly am curious about the future.
ReplyDeleteYeah, living forever... Not terribly appealing.
DeleteHi Liz! I'm new to your blog. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sherry on this. I'd definitely want unlimited access to a time machine. There's so much of our history that I want to explore. Living forever just seems much less adventurous, though I'm sure that just depends! You can live through history rather than go back in time, I suppose. :)
But what if you die while exploring...? Just a thought.
DeleteThanks for commenting.
I want to live a long, long life but I think of the first movie "Highlander" where the ultimate gift is becoming mortal. I would have to see all I know die before me including my niece and anyone else I grow close to. In our life we see death constantly and loved ones die but do I want to deal with that all the time...I don't think so. I would rather have a time machine and be able to travel back and forward because, even if I die on these travels I will have seen more than the average person
ReplyDeleteLiving forever! I'd rather watch the future come than bounce around history where anything could happen. Plus I'd love having all that time to write and learn new things. It'd be awesome.
ReplyDeleteDid you see the Age of Adeline? This question made me think of that movie. I would want to live forever, but only if others around me did the same :)
ReplyDeletebetty
I saw the ads for the movie. I'm sure I'll see the whole movie one of these days.
DeleteOh boy! Another hard one. On the one hand I would want to live forever. But then to see everyone die but me would be horrible. And to have a time machine and be able to go into the past would be wonderful because I could visit with Richard. But I don't want to re-live a lot of the aspects of my past life. And I am not at all interested in seeing the future ahead of time. Such a hard, hard choice. I am going to chose the time machine! But don't ask me again tomorrow. I might change my mind!
ReplyDeleteIt is a hard question.
DeleteAs a one-time history major in college (that lasted one year) I would be so tempted to use that time machine. And, what fun is living forever once everyone you knew and loved was gone. But, on the other hand, if it was a wonderful future, I would have missed out. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThat's the problem with immortality--everyone around you dies eventually.
DeleteI actually have a time machine, and I'm not a huge fan of it (besides the maintenance costs and repair of the damn thing...
ReplyDeletehttp://uwannapeaceome.blogspot.com/2015/04/good-times-long-long-time-ago-yesterday.html
So, it doesn't work so well? Good to know.
DeleteI have written about immortals, and it's kinda depressing how their lives turn out--or at least how much sadness they see. I guess it depends. To be immortal with a purpose, a selfless purpose, that would be amazing. To affect humanity throughout the ages and change lives, just wow. I think the time machine is a more selfish wish...and mine is broken anyway. (I hear you, Ronnie!)
ReplyDeleteThey don't make them like they used to, eh
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