Time Machine

But how can something that doesn't exist restrict you?

Not being funny or anything... but there is no oxygen in outer-space, I think you'll find that fairly restricting...

You know, space-ships aren't *that* new.Still, that was not what I ment. You say that since time does not exist, you can only travel forward in it. I want you to explain that reasoning, because I can not see why such a limitation can be a direct effect of time not existing.What is it that actually limits you from going anyway you want in time, since time as you said does not exist except as a construct. I mean, we can see that the spacial dimentions, which you say are merely a construct, allows us to go in any direction we wish. Why would a time dimention be different?What is it that actually limits us, when time itself isn't around to do it?[This message has been edited by Melchior, 03-29-2004]

I was just pointing out that sometimes the 'absence' of something can be very restricting indeed.

Yeah, sorry, it took me until after I hit submit to actually get your point. Please check the edited post.

No problem.What you ask is actually quite hard to explain.Space, altho in itself does not exist, has things scattered about that have distance between them and us, they have mass, we have mass, both have tangible 'existence'.We invented the X,Y and then Z co-ordinates for this planet so as to allow us to explore and come back, to navigate, first [ironically] by stars and then that more sophisticated means.Now we could have just set sail into the evening sun and found America, it was there, it existed.Time is also a co-ordinate but it is going only one way.If you re-run a film you have just watched backwards, time still goes forward no matter if the sequence is perfect.This is an inadequate explanation for which I apologise, my only excuse is that I am at the moment tearing apart a Scientologist on another forum and enjoying the sport too much to concentrate fully on a better one.RegardsV.Very early on I pointed out that space-time/spacetime is a dreadful term because it gives a false intimacy to something that is entirely remote.

But what is it that gives rise to the phenomenas we commonly attribute to time? We can determine events in comparison to other events, yes (in terms of before, during, after, time dillution compared to observer, and so on) but how can you determine which time-way is the right one? In spatial explanations, we can use terms such as movement energy. Are you saying you have found and can formulate rules for time energy?

The Scientologist has gone quiet so...The mistake is that you may be thinking that we measure time, well we don't, time is the measure, and just as on a ruler all the numbers are 'postive' so are all the measures we make with time, all minus numbers are also a construct of Mathematics... show me -1 inch on a ruler.

Has that helped or has it raised more questions?

Perhaps another way to put this is that time only measures movement, movement is processional, even reversing an action, like swinging your leg whilst sitting at your computer one action follows another.

I know I'm kinda late, since everyone has probably gotten tired of this post by now, and, since there are 8 friggen pages of posts, everyone has spoken their mind about it. Anyway...I haven't taken the time to read all 8 pages of these posts, so I don't know if any one has addressed this, but I'll go ahead and say my thoughts.First thought: IF time travel were possible, ya think it would take a while to figure out how it would work, and even longer for practical application.(I said "IF" so don't jump on my back about all the stuff everyone has already said about "It's not possible, so shut up!" well, you can shove it, if you were going to tell me that. If you weren't going to tell me that, then think happy thoughts, it's good for digestion.)So, by the time any humans figured it out, they would have been smart enough to know how they should act, dress, and all that stuff, when they go back in time. I mean, surely the guys that figure it out will be nerds of some degree and they will have surely watched EVERY episode of EVERY brand of Star Trek, so they'll naturally have some sort of "observe only" or "temporal prime directive" in action. Oh, don't get me wrong, I like Star Trek too, I'm just not a nerd. You have to be smart to be a nerd, so I don't qualify.Second thought: This one is the most important one of the two thoughts I've written. Has anyone thought that maybe time travel IS possible.... but maybe humanity doesn't stick around long enough to figure it out, or use it? I don't know if anyone has said that, but I just haven't ever read it anywhere as a viable thought. I mean, you have Stephen Hawking talking about if it were possible you would have visitors from the future, and all that stuff, but I never hear anyone say, "Well, maybe we don't exist long enough to advance that far scientifically and technologically."It's a sad thought, I know, but it's probably the best, practical applicable solution to all of this.Anyway, I've had my fun rambling. I guess I'll be on my way now.

please dont wake V-Bird up.