Ask Lemmy

As a kind of generalist (risk analysis-mitigation, engineering and NGOs), I think I could go back some centuries in time as an advisor or leading teams to improve their quality of life.

I'm a musician, so my skills have always been in demand, although the wages have always been in dispute for as long as there has been music. People love music, they just don't like to pay for it.

Considering the Aztecs developed hydroponic technology without other advanced technology, I could probably go back to the beginning of humanity with my knowledge, even if I only get to bring one skillset and not the whole of my knowledge. And boy would things change from there!

I could be an excellent prostitute, so checkmate motherfuckers.

Hmm. Before the end of the 19th century you're going to run into non-standardised/completely bespoke parts problems. How are you on a lathe, or doing blacksmith work? Hot riveting was a separate trade which you wouldn't have to do, at least.

I'm kinda obsessed with what I call technological bootstrapping, and so I have useful book knowledge about every step along the way. Doing it in practice is another thing, though; the locals are going to run circles around me unless I can invent stuff. (And even the scenario rules aside, not starving or being "disturbed" while I work on whatever project is a thing)

So, I think I have to echo the "it's not going great in 2025" answer.

Yikes. I've moved from IT tech support to MGMT. I don't really write with a pen, and largely rely on emails/teams. I think if we went back any further than the late 80s I'd be totally screwed.

If I had access to good quality copper, I could invent electricity and do very well for myself.

So long as I can avoid Ur in the 18th century BC, I could go back pretty far.

Umm, but what if I'm a science teacher? Like, my specialty is history and presentation of science experimentation. The primary limitation is whether I am allowed to bring the tools of my trade (books), which would help me survive in England or Iceland as far back as 900 AD.

I've been doing computer engineering long enough to do the field in the 80s and still live as comfortably as I do now, if not more so.

I also sail, with a license old enough that I have my own sextant and reduction tables. I'd assume those skills transfer hundreds of years back, but I wouldn't like those survivability odds.

If language isn't an issue I could probably work as an engineer in ancient Egypt or a math teacher in ancient Greece

I don't even got skills for today

My skills travel pretty far. But with my gender id not be allowed to use them.

and be a productive member of society

I just write useless software for a useless company. I'm not a productive member of society today, I wouldn't be one at any point in the past. 🤷‍♂️

I'm not even sure I can survive with my skills now.

I can learn new things, so any time in human history.

As a software engineer, I’d struggle with the limitations of ten years ago.

But on the non-work side, I have no problems with maintenance on my house and hand tools haven’t changed much, so at least 80 years

I'm a physician - am MD. As long as I don't get burnt at the stake for witchcraft, I could go back as far as I wanted. People's biology hasn't changed much since Neolithic times.

Grew up hunting, growing, and preserving a good percent of my food. I might need to brush up on specifics but i think i could do okay if i had social supports for my disability (food providers usually do/did)

I'm a structural engineer. I might not have all the materials needed, but I could probably still design old masonry structures if needed.

I think my knowledge of first aid and basic anatomy would be of some use in any pre-modern time period. I know enough to make a positive difference at least (wash that cut, dont drink water from downstream of your encampment, give the sick plenty of fluids, etc)

Beyond that, i'd be behind everyone else. I can fish, forage, garden, cook, start fires, and build shelter, but so could everyone for most of human history. I could probaby keep up with a hunter-gatherer society, but i'd be the least capable among them.

my skills sadly don't allow me to go back in time at all.

If you placed me at the beginning of the industrial revolution I could from available materials build a working telegraph and telephone system and do pretty well for myself.

Prior to that I could be a pretty good peasant.

Baking bread goes back pretty far. Think I'd rather just jump of a cliff, though.

I dont know how my skills might translate. But my ex would find work immediately. I mean, being a whore was a living back then. She could suck and fuck cavemen and probably eat well enough. She would probably try to get double teamed by Neanderthals, because filling 1 hole wasnt enough for her.

At least as far back as keyboard instruments have been around I could be a musician. Ending up further in time, I'd be a composer; the guy that revolutionised polyphony.

'Palestrina, that's really nice. Now check this out'

I'm a chef, so probably back to when fire started to be a thing people used.

I can dig a hole in the earth so I'd say my skills apply all the way back to Ur and Sumeria.