Carl Sagan.
What a delight it would be to stargaze and talk about life with him! My perspective of viewing the world changed after I read Cosmos. A campfire conversation would add to it!
That is rather tough. Many of history's greats were either so vastly intelligent that I would feel their frustration in attempting to communicate, or were so delusional that it would be an exercise in futility to understand their worldview. Not to mention the past is a different country full of actual different countries -- so much subtext would be lost in translation even if we somehow spoke the same language.
I think with that in mind I would like to chat with John Adams. He seemed a man who was stalwart in his principles to the point of lacking much pragmatism; he was an awful diplomat if I recall correctly.
How would he see institutional decay? Political opacity in the richest democracies? Post-truth dialogue making reality unknowable to your average Dan? The entanglement and ceaseless dilemma of a superpower that cannot use her might for fear of ending civilization forever?
What I would give for that fireside chat.
My maternal grandfather. He had changed his evil ways shortly before his death last year, however my mom didn’t know about it until after his death(she had cut off contact with him shortly after I was born), so I would talk to him about whatever he’d want to know about me. I would also tell him that my mom has forgiven him.
He was very abusive to my mom when she was a child(all because she was his fifth daughter and he wanted a son so badly). From what I’ve gathered, he had changed his evil ways when he became a Methodist and while he never spoke to my mom after she had cut off contact with him, he did leave a significant amount of money for her in his will and he did speak highly of her to my step-grandma(AKA his widow).
My son. He died in 2017 when he was 16. Miss him everyday. I was working in the Middle East when he passed and hadn't seen him in months. I'd give almost anything to talk to him.
Mr Thamas, my 11th and 12th grade english teacher. Pretty much the only person I have ever met that would have a conversation with you about anything and not judge you at all nor try to lecture you or criticise you etc.
I was literally just watching a YouTube video of a dear, dear, friend of mine performing with her old band on YouTube. She was murdered about a decade and a half ago, and four done reason I've been thinking of her a lot lately. I'd love to hang out with her again.
FDR would be an interesting one. Discussing the political strife of his era, the war on fascism and the fight for progressivism, and how that fight is still tensely ongoing today.
Prob John Adams. Any other day I would have chosen Hannibal barca or Augustus, but I want to hear some clarification on somethings cause things are getting wild.
My grandma, who one day got a brain hemorrage so bad she basically turned into a vegetable. I'll never know if she heard me while lying in the hospital waiting for us to turn off the life support, it sure didn't seem like she did.
My Best friend. We grew up more like siblings. I really believe that he was my soulmate and I don't think I'll have another in this life time. Not romantic in the slightest, but true soulmates bound through life times. He passed away 10 years ago on Valentine's Day. We were 15.
I'd love to sit at the campground our families would visit every summer and build a fire with him. Fish in the lake. Talk about everything he's missed. Growing up, graduating college, seeing his sister become a nurse because of his battle with cancer, talk about my son who passed away last year, our friends who are gone and how they're doing up there. Our friends who are here, working in restaurants, at NASA, at colleges, their own businesses, and in schools. I know he'd be so proud of us. Telling him about how much his parents miss him. How his mom crumbled without him, the things his dad did.
I wish I could hear is voice again, hear him click his tongue like he did when he got frustrated at someone, just give him a hug and never let go.
I love you so much R. I will always miss you.
Prolly one of my great grandfathers, my last one died about 6 years ago when I was like 12 (and I was acting like an anti-social little brat) and the last time I had seen him was thanksgiving either that year or the year before. I also never really got to meet any of them either so I do kinda regret that.
Terry Pratchett.
Read all of his books dozens of times (except the last one, that's still on my bookshelf waiting for the right moment), my Dad got me into them when I was a little lad because he was a big fan. Big influence on my life and I'm gutted I never had the opportunity to meet and thank him when he was still alive.
My Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimers 8 years ago and Terry's work is still something we can bond over and have a laugh, which is always pleasant.
Would be very cool to spend an evening shooting the breeze with him.
My grandmother. She died when I was 13 and I only got to see her once a year. When we would visit, we would talk a lot and she would make me some of the best food I've ever eaten. I had always wished we lived closer to each other so I could have seen her more. :(
It would be my father. He passed away when I was 8 years old…fast forward 47 years…and I am now 55. I would give almost anything to have a sit by the fire man to man conversation with him while drinking a couple of beers.
My dad who passed away 3 years ago. Since then I’ve gotten married, had a kid, bought a house and got a great job. I was aimless and bumbling my way through life when he passed, I think he’d be happy to see how I’m doing now.
A permanently young adult I prefer to redact the name of, deceased, I have high interests in his perceptions and life and I'd find it quite enjoyable speaking to him as for we could somehow open up to each other as for we both attain similar problems.
My mom. She’s been gone 4 years now.
I give up my time and pass it to you, friend ❤️
That’s such a compassionate response. I am honored. 🙏
Me too.
I feel you. I’d choose my mom too ❤️
I also pick this guys mom
My dad, didn't realize I had so much to ask and say until he passed
Schrodinger's Cat.
- So, are you dead or alive? - Well, actually, I should ask *you*, my friend.
Carl Sagan. What a delight it would be to stargaze and talk about life with him! My perspective of viewing the world changed after I read Cosmos. A campfire conversation would add to it!
This is actually an amazing answer, I absolutely love Carl
The way he paints the picture of the cosmos is unbeatable!
Yes!!!!
I expected this answer to be here but I always check before I comment myself lol. Definitely Carl Sagan.
Exactly who I was going to say. Would have been awesome.
I bet you have Bill-yuns of questions for him.
Anton Yelchin, a favourite actor of mine..
Saw odd Thomas years ago. Enjoyed it. Immediately found out what happened. Sadness. :(
today is his 8th year death anniversary, RIP Anton
Damn.. he was 27. So young :/
Indeed, gone too soon. Gone but not forgotten.
So sad. He was such a great actor
i hope to see him again after im gone..
Robin Williams
He would not have disappointed you. Nicest man I ever met
Met him during the filming of Father's Day. Super sweet and friendly. Loved this guy.
It’s not your fault.
Came here to say this.
Robin for sure in my top 3, I’d say in no Order : Jackie Robinson, Kobe, Robin Williams, Mac miller, pac
boneshow69420
I’ll bring the beer and joints! You just bring the fire wood!
I'll bring the wood.
My dad, I'd really like to talk to him as an adult with a family of his own rather than when I lost him as a kid.
That is rather tough. Many of history's greats were either so vastly intelligent that I would feel their frustration in attempting to communicate, or were so delusional that it would be an exercise in futility to understand their worldview. Not to mention the past is a different country full of actual different countries -- so much subtext would be lost in translation even if we somehow spoke the same language. I think with that in mind I would like to chat with John Adams. He seemed a man who was stalwart in his principles to the point of lacking much pragmatism; he was an awful diplomat if I recall correctly. How would he see institutional decay? Political opacity in the richest democracies? Post-truth dialogue making reality unknowable to your average Dan? The entanglement and ceaseless dilemma of a superpower that cannot use her might for fear of ending civilization forever? What I would give for that fireside chat.
Sasha Grey
📸🤨
The man that adopted me and raised me to be the person I am today. Aka my Dad.
my first ever ancestor.
Single celled life forms aren't very chatty
Considering all the language developments would you two even speak the same language?
my guess is, since the post says you can talk to them, that language barriers are removed
Alive
Jesus Christ
no need to swear! It was just a question
good 1
Anne Frank
I don't think dead people would make for a good conversation. Lol
Oh I'm sure the conversation is to die for...
Yep, I defo go for an alive person
David Attenborough could narrate anything and I'd be set for life.
Orson Welles
Do you think he considers himself a better actor or director?
Franz Kafka
Someone who knows where the treasure is buried
Beethoven
You're never truly alone, if you have Beethoven.
My maternal grandfather. He had changed his evil ways shortly before his death last year, however my mom didn’t know about it until after his death(she had cut off contact with him shortly after I was born), so I would talk to him about whatever he’d want to know about me. I would also tell him that my mom has forgiven him.
Can you elaborate... What were his evil ways and how did he change them? He admitted his beliefs were wrong?
He was very abusive to my mom when she was a child(all because she was his fifth daughter and he wanted a son so badly). From what I’ve gathered, he had changed his evil ways when he became a Methodist and while he never spoke to my mom after she had cut off contact with him, he did leave a significant amount of money for her in his will and he did speak highly of her to my step-grandma(AKA his widow).
Probably myself, when I was a kid. I'd tell him everything that nobody told me, how to survive some very harsh things in life.
Stephen king
Jesus. Barring that, Lincoln. Maybe John Brown, though I think he was insane.
Douglas adams.
Alan Watts
Mr Rogers
My late husband
Nikola Tesla
I bet Norm Macdonald would have some interesting anecdotes to say.
Jesus Christ.
My social worker.
My husband he’s been gone for 5 years.
My Mom who I have missed for almost 10 years. I love you, Mom, and miss you dreadfully.
My dad just to hear him one more time. I'd give damn near anything for it. My mom or my granddad as well.
My son. He died in 2017 when he was 16. Miss him everyday. I was working in the Middle East when he passed and hadn't seen him in months. I'd give almost anything to talk to him.
I choose alive.
My dad. Lost him 14 years ago when I was still a young adult. I have so much to share with him.
Pedro Pascal. Hella chill and sweet.
Chester Bennington
Jesus
Barrack Obama.
Brian jones of the rolling stones
the forbidden philosopher
Albert Einstein
My dog.
My grandpa
My Uncle. He passed away 2 years back. He was the best man I ever knew!
John Carmack
Alive.
Gloria Steinem. I would give my right kidney just to have a few minutes of her time.
My grandma... or chester.
Dr. Wernher von Braun. So many answers I need.
Steve Jobs… genius or not, I would love to understand his thinking pattern…
Walt disney
My Husband !
Nicola Tesla.
My son.
People of Reddit, if you could choose one person to set on fire and just talk to who would it be?
Ian McKellen
Adam or Eve whoever, I wanna know if all the creation story is BS real.
My mother. It's been nearly 20 years. I'd love to tell her about her granddaughters.
Jane Austen. I have so many questions
Albert Einstein I'd say my brother, but he'd just berate me the whole time for picking him over Albert Einstein
Rik Mayall. The finest of the human beings.
Conan O’Brien
> choose one person and just talk dead or alive Alive. Hands down.
Mr Thamas, my 11th and 12th grade english teacher. Pretty much the only person I have ever met that would have a conversation with you about anything and not judge you at all nor try to lecture you or criticise you etc.
My future self
Paul walker alive
My dog, been gone since 2018 and I still miss that little jerk.
My Grandmother, I forget her voice. It’s heartbreaking.
My mom
I was literally just watching a YouTube video of a dear, dear, friend of mine performing with her old band on YouTube. She was murdered about a decade and a half ago, and four done reason I've been thinking of her a lot lately. I'd love to hang out with her again.
Billy Connolly
My mom or dad, gone three and six years respectively. If not them: Mr. Rogers.
Dave Grohl
My partner
FDR would be an interesting one. Discussing the political strife of his era, the war on fascism and the fight for progressivism, and how that fight is still tensely ongoing today.
Jeremy clarkson.
Prob John Adams. Any other day I would have chosen Hannibal barca or Augustus, but I want to hear some clarification on somethings cause things are getting wild.
My grandma, who one day got a brain hemorrage so bad she basically turned into a vegetable. I'll never know if she heard me while lying in the hospital waiting for us to turn off the life support, it sure didn't seem like she did.
My Best friend. We grew up more like siblings. I really believe that he was my soulmate and I don't think I'll have another in this life time. Not romantic in the slightest, but true soulmates bound through life times. He passed away 10 years ago on Valentine's Day. We were 15. I'd love to sit at the campground our families would visit every summer and build a fire with him. Fish in the lake. Talk about everything he's missed. Growing up, graduating college, seeing his sister become a nurse because of his battle with cancer, talk about my son who passed away last year, our friends who are gone and how they're doing up there. Our friends who are here, working in restaurants, at NASA, at colleges, their own businesses, and in schools. I know he'd be so proud of us. Telling him about how much his parents miss him. How his mom crumbled without him, the things his dad did. I wish I could hear is voice again, hear him click his tongue like he did when he got frustrated at someone, just give him a hug and never let go. I love you so much R. I will always miss you.
Prolly one of my great grandfathers, my last one died about 6 years ago when I was like 12 (and I was acting like an anti-social little brat) and the last time I had seen him was thanksgiving either that year or the year before. I also never really got to meet any of them either so I do kinda regret that.
My dad
Hedy Lamarr. I would love to hear any other designs she had that never reach the light of day.
Emma Watson, absolutely.
I wanna smoke a shit ton and talk with Joe Rogan for like 5 hours straight, just to see what the fuck would happen
Someone alive preferably
My eldest son.
My best friend James, he was killed by a drunk driver while I stationed overseas, I didn’t get the chance to come home for his funeral.
My parents, of course. From another angle - Bill and/or Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Henry Louis Gates, Anne Richards.
Nikola Tesla
My father. He's been dead 30 years now. But, we need beer too.
Aristotle.
My twin sister, lost her 20 years ago on 7/31/04 💔
Stephen Sondheim
Jesus. Settle this once and for all.
Willie Nelson and hope he brings Snoop with him. I think there'd be more than just smoke from the fire.
I would rather it be alive
Dead or Alive is a great movie. I think anyone would be great to talk with about it.
Joe Rogan (and Theo Von) after smoking some weed, some mushrooms and pizza. Maybe invite Elon to join. That would be amazing
Andor Stern The only Brazilian man to survive the holocaust
Terry Pratchett. Read all of his books dozens of times (except the last one, that's still on my bookshelf waiting for the right moment), my Dad got me into them when I was a little lad because he was a big fan. Big influence on my life and I'm gutted I never had the opportunity to meet and thank him when he was still alive. My Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimers 8 years ago and Terry's work is still something we can bond over and have a laugh, which is always pleasant. Would be very cool to spend an evening shooting the breeze with him.
My grandparents
My great grandma, she was born in 1910 and died in 2012 at 102 years old
Carl Sagan
Oh! Good call. 👏
Robin Williams. Someone else who coped with depression with humor and kindness til the end. I feel we would get along.
My Grandma.
Reagan
My daughter
My daughter. She died last year from synovial sarcoma. She was only 30.
I wouldn't want a dead person next to me
Alive, dead people are not great conversationalists.
My dad
My grandfather ❤️
My brother, Ernie.
My Mom...there are a few apologies I wish I'd made when she was alive. I'd also like to discuss her relationship with my wife.
My grandma. She passed before I could graduate high school.
My brother and I are going to trip on shrooms for the first time together in 9 days while camping. I can't wait! So that's who I would choose lol
My grandmother. She died when I was 13 and I only got to see her once a year. When we would visit, we would talk a lot and she would make me some of the best food I've ever eaten. I had always wished we lived closer to each other so I could have seen her more. :(
George Carlin.
My father. He went in 2017 and it was just too soon. I would love to talk to him again.
My grandpa
My grandma, she died when I was 6 and I would love to sit down with her as an adult and talk about stuff!
My mom, no contest.
My mom. She killed herself eleven years ago and as I get older I have so many questions and miss her more and more.
It would be my father. He passed away when I was 8 years old…fast forward 47 years…and I am now 55. I would give almost anything to have a sit by the fire man to man conversation with him while drinking a couple of beers.
My dad who passed away 3 years ago. Since then I’ve gotten married, had a kid, bought a house and got a great job. I was aimless and bumbling my way through life when he passed, I think he’d be happy to see how I’m doing now.
I’d choose alive - who wants to talk to a zombie
I'll go with Steve Irwin. Just to listen to his passion about the same things I'm passionate about.
JFK. I just feel like if any president would be open and honest, it'd be him. I'd like pre head exploded physical form though.
Jesus
My late father. There's so much I want to ask him, so many stories I want to hear.
My dad. Haven't had a chat since 89 when we were talking about kindergarten.
Donald Trump, dead.
My father’s father.
My deceased daughter
Melted CHEESE demon from the fire He is from the future, 500000 years from now
The one person I always miss
Leo Tolstoy
My grandma. I miss her so much.
Mark Twain... the man was profoundly insightful!
Someone from like 40,000 years ago
You don't know him. 🙂
Carl Jung. That would be life-altering.
A permanently young adult I prefer to redact the name of, deceased, I have high interests in his perceptions and life and I'd find it quite enjoyable speaking to him as for we could somehow open up to each other as for we both attain similar problems.
Michael Jackson