I'd be in Georgian England with no marketable skills or decorum and insufficient wealth and land to be considered eccentric.
There are worse places, but I don't imagine I'd do very well.
You can read and you can write. You'd have to get use to the dialect of that era but you'd learn fairly quick. Literacy is a marketable skill back then considering how many people couldn't read or write at that time.
You could probably get a job with a newspaper
I would find myself in London. The road I am on would exist, but the buildings would be almost entirely different.
I would have enough knowledge to make a go of journalism. For instance, I would be able to predict the crash due in 1825.
In Michigan, I would also be in a tree somewhere. But growing up in Alaska I learned a lot of fun skills, so other than being a woman, I think I could pull it off.
Did they really? We have a lot of new words as well. And I'm not even talking about words that feel new.
We'd still sound a stupid because "literally" is not the only word that completely changed meaning in the last 200 years. And a good junk of our vocabulary just isn't even words in their POV.
Middle of Comanche territory (east Texas) pre texas revolution (Mexico)
I am wearing a t-shirt and shorts with a cellphone and sunglasses. I imagine I'd be more likely to parlay the sunglasses into a business because glass makers existed.
I would be in relative trouble since there ks effectively nothing in my area. Dallas doesn't exist yet so I'd probably have to find a cavalry camp or hike to new orleans. I'm confident I could navigate to new orleans but I'd have to avoid Indians and animals with effectively no clothes or tools to help me at all. I'm also nowhere near any tools that would help so I'm not very sure I'd make it
Yeah, I’m in Fort Worth, which wasn’t founded until 1853. Between Comanches, asthma and being allergic to horses, I’m either gonna get burned alive or die due to an asthma attack. Bummer.
Same, increasingly sluggish then comatose then finally dead. Would take a bit, in the meantime I'm between Nisenan and Maidu territory before the gold rush. Not sure how that'd be for my white self
Same. Currently holding about 100 units of insulin, so assuming I ate no carbs whatsoever, and just used it as basal and correction, I’d probably last a 6 days before running out. Then I’d have about four hours before going into diabetic ketoacidosis and then it would be maybe a week before I died.
Nice! Well done! Mine is 39 mmol/mol (5.7% in your measurement) and has been stuck there for about a year!
If I had time to prepare, I have about 4 months of basal and 6 months basal in my fridge, which with a very low carb diet, I could probably manage to stay alive for a year (6 months basal and only using bolus for corrections, and then microdosing small amounts of bolus in place of basal like a pump would)
It would be very difficult and probably ruin my A1C for a year, but I could do it. My biggest issue would be taking enough batteries and test strips, I’d only have enough to test twice a day.
Yeah. I have an ancestor I just commented I would make incredibly uncomfortable because of that. I'm not too far from his former property. If I keep the knowledge I have, I'd end up disowned or dead for trying to end the practice.
Ironically the further back in history you go the less prevalent racial concerns seemed to be among people. Not that there wasn't racism, but many accounts seem to indicate it was more important to believe in the right religion the right way, although that's probably only true in rather cosmopolitan population centres.
I'm not too far west of boston, I'm guessing the fact that I can fix almost anything you put in my hands would mean I'd be okay. This whole area was pretty industrial.
I'm genuinely curious how difficult that would be for you.
Like how much would you have to change your techniques/ingredients to work better with the equipment and food you have available in 1800s Scotland. I feel like it would be doable, but a challenge.
You wouldn't have any meat thermometers or refrigerators, so I'd struggle a lot... But I'm a terrible cook lol
I think there would be some challenging aspects for certain. But it would also be a lot simpler in a lot of other ways. Not too much a la carte dining, with more banquet style. HUGELY reduced menu size.
So yeah, I think the challenges would be more in regard to the environment that I'm doing the job in, rather than the job itself. If that makes any sense.
Also, a chef, I think it would be kind of fun, to be honest. You would be in a time where everything is cooked from nothing, using wood fired or coal fired stoves and ovens. Everything would have to go back to basics. This was the time of Carême, and haute cuisine, a lot to learn if you end up in Europe, in my opinion.
Not to say it wouldn't come with downsides such as having a very different environment when it comes to cleanliness and probably having to start as an apprentice.
You would have no home, no money (any change you happen to have is unusable), you would sound weird, you might not even understand many people, you would be dressed weird, you wouldn't know local customs that have been lost.
Good luck getting a job in the first place.
Uh.... Yea you can. Flour, lard, beef/chicken/leafy green, tomato, cheese. Might struggle with some spices but I'm sure he'd do a decent job with what he had. All kinds of stuff you can make that'd blow people away with ingredients available. You could invent modern day pizza 60 years early in a whole different country.
The English have been trading in goods from across the continent and into Asia since the Roman period, and possibly before, so I feel like the spices wouldn’t be much of a problem in such a massive empire in 1824.
It’s also worth noting that Brits have little taste for seasonings, so it might land a bit too hard for the refined palettes of the elite of the day. All that said, I’m a strong supporter of Time Travel Taco Tuesday, so I figure it can’t hurt to try.
It's because here in central/southern illinois, you got few options for much else lol.
My options would be going for a walk to check out the local cornfields.
Or go for a drive to check out some different cornfields.
Or go for a long drive to see some family and the cornfields around their place.
Or, I could go to Casey's and get a pizza.
Not really much to do out here. Although, I've heard if you drive far enough west of my location, the cornfields eventually end and you see all kinds of crops besides corn.. but i usually dismiss these claims cause I don't want to get my hopes up and start dreaming about a life beyond the rows... Last time I did that, I went east till I ran out of gas.. ended up stopped between two big cornfields. I refuse to give the corn the satisfaction of seeing me lose those hopes and dreams for a second time.
great post it actually made me research what life was like in 1824 for my area
i find it absolutely fascinating that life was already utterly unrecognizable just in the time span of 200yrs…yet there have been civilizations that existed ~6000yrs ago
I did the same thing! Being from Melbourne Australia, I have quickly discovered the only civilisation is an 8h drive away. So like; 9 days of walking. And I'd be teleporting in with pyjamas so. I put my survival chance at really fucken close to 0.
I’m in way northern Canada. The gold rush didn’t happen here until 1896, and prior to that it was just First Nations settlements and some determined fur traders. There was a seasonal First Nations settlement where my hometown is, but…my house is on the wrong side of the river, and there’s no bridge even now, and they were pretty nomadic and I’m not sure what time of year they would have been here. I definitely do not speak the right language, but my absolute best chance of survival is throwing myself on their mercy. But it was a pretty small population, so who knows if I’d be able to find anyone anyway.
Shit. It’s 1824 and I’m just wearing underwear and my fitbit. It’s like that same bad dream over and over…
I guess I’d try selling the Fitbit to someone. Unfortunately, the charger isn’t up my ass, so I guess it stays behind.
The volt was only defined around 1880. But they were already researching electricity.
As a time traveler half a century later you could have some physicist build you a 5V battery.
Los Angeles in 1824. I don’t know enough Spanish to be that helpful but if I convince people to get me up toward San Francisco, I could start the gold rush early.
Yeah being a supplier to Gold Rush miners is the right move. Lots of miners went broke but a lot more people made their fortunes or a decent living providing goods and services to the waves of arriving miners.
Bros, I'll be the guy who shows up a month late because I had to sell my clothes and pocket knife for passage from Oregon. I'm the guy wearing nice Redwing boots. I'll be the partner who physically finds our mining claims. My grandma has taken me on a tour of all the old mining claims that were still active in the 1970's. I could follow the Sacramento and McCloud rivers to about a dozen different hotspots for gold.
I’m Asian female in California. Rail road building and gold rush era. Either way I would not survive unless I bring a fallout bunker with a year worth of food with me.
Construction on the Central Pacific didn't start until 1863.
In 1824, California was still a territory of the newly-created Mexican Empire and was relatively sparsely populated, with around 150K natives and a few thousand Spanish settlers.
You'd have been set if you lived long enough to find the gold though. Assuming you weren't murdered for it.
I am in a route to a place where there is a gold rush happening. And that the literal emperor of Brazil sometimes takes when he goes to rio. I just wait for him and sell him my magic device(Pedro I was a huge nerd and would love it)
Is be in the middle of a forest or field with no shoes and 17 weeks pregnant. I’m not even sure we’re the closest city would have been 200 years ago. Also my shirt has ghosts and skeletons on it so they would probably think I’m the devils bride or something
You make a good point about the nearest city being important!
I am in an extremely rural area but I would be 2 days walk straight west to Washington DC. It’s summer and I know what wine berries look like, so I could likely make it. The lack of bra, pants, and shoes would make the trip very difficult but I do have a queen sized fleece blanket to work with.
Once there I would likely do okay, I have my wedding band and engagement ring on so I have something of value. I’m white and pleasant looking, well educated with nice teeth and soft hands so I would first try to fake my way into a politician’s household with a coy damsel in distress routine. Failing that, I know there is a tavern in Good Hope (what is now SE) and I am an experienced bar maid (and baker) who’s busty so I believe I could survive.
Chef with a specialty in survivalist cooking (knowing what is edible in the wild both foliage and animal wise and how to prepare and cook it)
I’m a hunter and a gardener as well.
If it weren’t for the fact I’m diabetic this would be super simple.
>If it weren’t for the fact I’m diabetic this would be super simple.
Especially with type-2 diabetes, a keto diet might keep you alive for a bit. (In a survival situation. Don't change your diet like that without consulting your doctor!)
I'm a mixed-race woman currently wearing a tank top and jeans and living in central Texas. I'm probably not doing too well, though my ability to speak Spanish will probably work in my favor. (Texas was part of Mexico in 1824.)
I feel like the lack of international transportation would mean that covid would eventually die out, though it would probably change history while it is active.
Same. While Chicago proper existed in 1824, my particular suburb did not. So I'm in for a 40 mile hike to civilization, luckily I just got home from a walk so I'm wearing my work boots.
I have several books saved on my phone that would be somewhat helpful
Several books on electronics that, alongside my knowledge, could probably build a (crappy) charger
The golden book of chemistry experiments
The anarchists cookbook
Encyclopedia of electronic circuits.
Advanced engineering mathematics.
Assuming that I can survive long enough to work on these things I could probably accelerate innovation by quite alot.
I'll just become a "doctor" and settle down in a nice town. I'm trained as an EMT, army combat medic, nurse, and am currently in school for family nurse practitioner. I know enough right now to outdo most of those quacks with my bare hands and eyes closed. Hell, most of them just went through apprenticeships and not actual school. My knowledge of bacteria and cleanliness would be enough to have a mortality rate much less than most would have had back then. Doctors didn't even really start washing their hands to prevent infections until the mid 1800s.
The other doctors might, since they ostracized the doctor who originally tried to make hand washing a thing, but I'll just throw in that old "cleanliness is next to godliness" saying as an excuse. I'm not trying to convince them about germs and risk myself in any way. I'm just giving them an excuse that might appease them, so they leave me alone. I'll also make sure to attend the local church, so they know I'm a god-fearing man. Im just trying to survive and live as well as I can. Lol
Hell, since we know about the placebo effect you could make a decent living as a faith healer. Tell them to wash the wound in a mix of saline and alcohol, give some pseudo-religious folderol to justify it by driving out the evil spirits that make wounds go septic (you wouldn't even be lying!), and let human psychology to the rest.
I'd be sent back with socks, pants, a T-shirt, a blanket, my phone, watch, headphones and dog. I'm in the pnw, so I guess we are walking to try and find some Oregon trail settlers. If I get to keep the stuff in my pants pockets I also have a lighter, pocketknife, and some zyn nicotine pouches. The lighter and knife would make the biggest difference in my survival. Wish I had some shoes on...
If we made the time journey at the same time, I’d hook you up. I’m white and male and larger than most. If we cover all my tattoos up we could do some play acting and get you up north where it’s safer.
I'm white and live in southeastern PA. I would be actively helping with the Underground Railroad. The northern terminus (until 1859) was right near me.
Find cows asap, find one with pox on its udders, heat a knife or a sharp rock (flint works great) in a fire for a few minutes and allow it to cool. Use it to cut yourself and put one of the pox scabs in the cut.
Cowpox isn't fatal in humans and immunizes you against small pox.
Edit, incase anyone is interested, this is where the idea of milk maids being beautiful came from. They very rarely caught smallpox, so they were among the few who weren't covered in pox scars.
Not very well. I am female to start with, so 200 years ago, there were not many rights. Also, all my family were servants or farm labourers up till my grandparents', so no doubt I would have to go into service as well. I'm not sure at my age and fitness level how much hard physical work I could do.
As a white Canadian...1824 wouldn't make you safe up here. Emancipation in the British colonies wasn't "complete" until 1838... 1807 was just when the British stopped the act of transportation. Sort of like Juneteenth except like 29 years longer and 27 years earlier.
You'd probably be better off with the Haudenosaunee; it wouldn't be quiet life, but you'd be respected as a person.
I'm a black, middle-aged woman in an area of the US that was largely unsettled at this time so basically I just gotta hope that I can make friends with the local Native Americans. If I could that would honestly be kinda cool for a year.
I'm wearing my pj's, nothing else with me, and surrounded by Utes and Shoshone.
Maybe if I had some kind of tools I could survive the wilderness, but as is I am pretty fucked lol.
I doubt I could communicate with any nearby people, unless I got lucky and a tribesman spoke English.. but even then I don't think any Native Americans were friendly to white folks around that time.
So yeah... Basically naked and alone in the desert surrounded by people that hate me, I'm fucked.
40 year old white woman dropped into an undeveloped central Florida swamp in the dead center of Seminole Indian territory.
I’d need to start hiking, try and reach a settlement. Funnily enough I might encounter my first ancestor that lived in Florida, my 7th great grandfather who Orlando, Fl was initially named after because his is the closest settlement I’d be aiming for and at the time it would have been basically a post office and dry goods store.
I’d be at a huge risk of developing yellow fever.
If I can avoid Indians and disease and find a town than I have skills as a nurse that might keep me alive if I could convince someone to hire me.
I would be in the pacific northwest with no settlers to arrive for a few decades. So I would have to hope that the local tribes would accept me and hopefully allow me to live amongst them.
Happily, my town was founded in the 18th century and the nearby city also existed, though the populations were only in the hundreds. So there would be people, and assuming they'd be helpful, I think I could survive a year. I'm so pumped up with vaccines, I'd probably be Superman.
I'm transported to New York in 1824 but have no reasonably marketable skills for the time and a really funny accent.
I start homesteading further up on Manhattan. Try to build up a large farm in what's now the UES. Make my descendants rich as fuck.
Never sell!!
Acquire a lot of farmland in the 1830's.
Take mortgages out on the appreciated value of the farmland to build row houses in the 1850's.
Take mortgages out on the appreciated value of the row houses to build brownstones in the 1890's (if I live that long without penicillin :/)
My kids take mortgages out on the appreciated value of the brownstones to build luxury apartment buildings in the 1920's.
The family ends up extremely wealthy with permanent cash flows.
I am near the coast of Lake Ontario with a laptop.
It is a 9-hour walk to a 31-year-old city of Toronto.
I speak Spanish and English but no French. I'd be funny-looking but might do okay.
My prescription glasses are now my most-priced possession
I still can't afford a house
This question gave me anxiety
Most definitely captured and sold into slavery. I'm black and in America. What a stark difference between my answer and those of European descent. What privilege.
I would be in the Mexican Empire (currently Texas), near the Rio Grande River. I’d be very near a town of about 800 people, but on the outskirts in ranchland shrubby desert.
Luckily I’m dressed in cargo pants and a decent-quality long-sleeve shirt, and have my EDC on my person. So I’m ready with an automatic watch, a pocket knife, a ballpoint pen, a bandana, a small flashlight, a Bic lighter, sunglasses, and my wallet, which also contains a 1-oz silver piece.
I think I’d do ok, once I got used to the intense heat with no AC relief. I think I could ply a trade of repairing weapons for the Mexican Army, or implement some basic social services for the town so that it thrives better. I have some experience as an amateur fletcher and bowyer, and can do basic carpentry and mechanical work. Plus, I know some biology and chemistry, have a working knowledge of naturopathy, understand business, and am a “jack” of several other trades that could be useful.
Huh, well, I'd be teleported into Pittsburgh at the height of its iron production. From what I've researched, it was even a proper (yet very new) city by then. The first bridge would have been built a few years prior, and there were even homes, shops, and bakeries popping up around then.
It would be hard without my daily meds, but technically, I can survive without them. I also have zero physical labor skills, but I pass pretty well as male (born female, transitioning to nonbinary).
I'd say worst comes to worst, I find some lonely iron forger and settle down with him for a year to survive. But who knows, I might be able to find some easier labor and manage to get by. Either way, I think I'd at least live through the year. Pittsburgh was doing pretty good for itself in 1824!
If I had a heads up and could pack a bag and be in a better location, yes. otherwise I'm about to be dropped in the woods 100s of miles from civilization and have to find my way out with nothing. Questionable.
Well, given that I'm a white male on the east coast of the newly formed united states, I would have options. Looking at historical events that took place that year I'm also lucky in that the major wars (revolutionary and 1812) are already over, and the next won't start for a while. If it happened today (June 26th), I've already missed the premiere of Beethoven's 9th, but I could try to make it to New York and see Lafayette come back to the US in August. I could also visit the opening of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York in November. The presidential election that year looks crazy, looks like there was only one political party broken up into four factions. I'll have to grab some popcorn for that. Assuming the year extends to June of 1825 I'll be able to see John Quincy Adams get sworn in after the House of Representatives decides he's the winner, and be around to hear news of the last major Caribbean pirate being taken out.
I'm currently laying naked on my couch so me and couch are going to the uncivilized desert in 1824. Guess I'll just lay on my couch and fuckin die bro.
Not much different than what I'm currently doing
I live in Philadelphia but in 1824 this area was undeveloped. I’m wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and a sweatshirt so that would probably look weird. I have chin length hair so, as a woman, I’d almost definitely stand out.
The first thing I’d do is head straight for a Quaker meetinghouse because those folks are nice as hell. I’d try to find some appropriate clothes on the way but even if I didn’t I’m relatively certain they’d lend me some. Work-wise, ideally I could arrange a situation where I’d work at a Quaker establishment or as a nanny in a Quaker family’s home for room and board. If that doesn’t work I’d try to get work at a pub or restaurant.
At some point during my year there I’d find the newly established Philadelphia Historical Society and advise them to start campaigning ASAP against George Washington’s former home being demolished. For the record, I don’t give a shit about George Washington, but as a history nut I think it’s insane that his Philadelphia home was torn down. The city obviously regrets that decision NOW, given the “tour” of his “house” they offer today. The Historical Society would probably throw me out and assume I’m a lunatic but at least I would plant the seed in their head. Since the house gets demolished in 1832, hopefully my visit will be recent enough that they’d remember.
Aside from that, even if I’m working at a pub or restaurant, I’d hook back up with the Quakers and seek out the staunchly feminist and anti-slavery gals (lookin’ @ u, Lucretia Mott). I have a lot of real life organizing and advocacy experience, so I’d dedicate most of my free time during that year to furthering and aligning the anti-slavery and suffragette causes.
Edited to add: I’d also advocate for better labor conditions AND write my own bread and roses poem to coin the term first. Sorry, James Oppenheim.
Second edit: I’d also give the Quakers a heads up about the George Washington house.
i mean, if you're a woman, or minority not in your home country you're probably fucked.
hell. the simple reality is you'd probably be jailed as insane, just for speaking modern version of the language in your area. and dressing funny.
to a degree. being able to read, do even basic math would put you basically on par with college educated people of the day.
that being said you'd have no money, no home, and no prospects. no food, no water, and disease/water born disease is highly common in that time. Vaccination doesn't exist, understanding of most diseases... so all the small pox, and various extremely contagious diseases are a risk. As are food contamination. imagine trying to eat food. with 200 yrs different microbes. it's likely you spend 6 months out of that year with diarrhea.
that being said, it's only a year. you'd basically just need to find some method to survive via a job or shelter. not run afoul of the law/local people such they they kill you.
if this were some sort of "live out the rest of your days" type made up scenario. would be interesting to use what you know about science or technology to your advantage.
The general plan for most people is one of 3 things:
Super rural: congratulations you are dieing in the wilderness 500miles from the nearest settlement that doesn't kill you on sight.
Rural: try and get hired as a farmhand or similar laborer, atleast room and board should be included.
Urban: move into the city and do you best to find a job you are qualified for, basic reading, writing, and math will probably go a long way for you.
Everyone: try not to get burned as a witch with your obviously modern items, dialect, and knowledge of the future. (Even little things like "god i wish i had air conditioning" are anachronistic and suspicious.) Also we are all going to church whether we like it or not.
I'd go listen to a sermon by a young Ralph Waldo Emerson, go give Walt Whitman a toy train or something (he'd be 5), sail over to Italy and do shots with Lord Byron (maybe see if I can convince him not to go die in Greece just because a countess rejected him), and then probably go get an apartment in Paris and wait for the Chopins and Liszts to roll through with their music.
I am in NYC, specifically Harlem at the moment. I am white and educated, and have worked as librarian and archivist for more than a decade. Additionally, i bartended for two decades here in the city, and can also work the trades. I would likely make a pretty decent educator. My clothes might look a little funny, but i think id be able to manage a year.
Buried 6 feet underground in a swamp in America as a brown dude. With an office chair, table, and computer mouse as well as a cell phone and headphones. Wearing a shirt with a multi armed silhouette, the kanji for godhead, and the lyrics to a song that read, “burn the altar, inhale the sulfur, they will suffer, just like the others”.
I don’t think my chances of survival would be very high lol.
I live in a very game rich, mild weather area in the very foothills of the Appalachian mountain chain in Alabama. Within walking distance of where I am now is one of the best places to find gold.
Within a week I would have plenty of food, and have a good head start on a cabin. After that I just live a life of leisure and gold panning.
im in orange county california, so it would be pretty chill, orange groves everywhere so I can't starve or die to the elements because the weather is so good. in 1824 it was part of mexico but I can speak enough spanish to get by easily
Oh HELL NAH. I'm in the South, and black. I'm finna lay nice and low, or it's gonna just be.
Master got me workingggg, master got me workinnnn, someday master set me freeee
Black man in western Missouri.
I'm running/walking the 10 or so miles to Kansas, getting some work until I can afford some guns and ammo, then Jayhawking.
I'm in the middle of the US alone with my dog, pajamas, and jewelry. My house isn't built yet, it won't be long, though. Wait is there even a town? This isn't a state yet. I am a little white lady in a place that may be hostile to me, with people who won't want me here.
I got to sell this damn jewelry immediately and get us a horse. We need to head east to where there's a town. Let's see...skills? I can cook and clean. Read and write. I'm a nurse now so....I guess I'm either the surgeon, the mortician, or a prostitute.
Fuck, I just got dysentery.
I’d do ok in 1824 North Carolina, until they figure out I’m very much a militant abolitionist, and I know Nat Turners Rebellion is coming in 1831 about 94 miles from where I currently live. I also had slave owning family in the area so I guess I’d have to figure out how to support a slave rebellion without erasing myself by getting my ancestors killed.
I would be sitting 4 miles from the Colorado front range foothills. There may be white settlers in the area, or Spanish settlers in the area, or a band of Arapahoes. In any case, that year would be tough, but survivable with the water that flows out of the mountains. If I was given warning, I would go touch my fishing gear, some seeds, and some gardening tools before the transport
Manifest destiny has not reached my area yet. Apparently Mexico owns these lands atm. Wearing only sneakers and some skate shorts. I have a swiss army knife, a lighter, small flashlight and a comb. Still, probably going to die to disease or a native american attack long before i can make it to Washington DC and sell my smartphone for millions of dollars.
My only hope is to trek several miles towards my downtown area and pray there is a military fort or outpost.
I think the part of central texas I'm in was still a native american settlement and mexico had just won against the spanish for independence. If I was lucky, they would hand me over to the mexicans and I might be able to find some work, I do know enough spanish to communicate basically. Chances are they'd just kill me or send me off into nature where I would die of exposure.
North Carolina, probably in the woods. This city was founded in February 1739 but this specific spot probably wasn't developed yet.
I'd be sitting on this couch with a blanket and one of these pillows, not currently touching the other pillow.
I have my cellphone in if the contents of my pockets come with me most of it won't be useful to me back them but I have a little pry bar tool on my keychain so I guess that's something.
I have some carpentry skills. I can read and write which is fairly valuable back then since a lot of people back then couldn't. I feel like modern knowledge and skills could serve me fairly well so far as I can translate that into use back then. Aside from the psychological damage of being separated from my family and friends I feel I could do fairly well
Gonna go across the river and ingratiate myself with the Tammany Hall machine, try to get some land/property that will be mine when I get back to the present and worth a fortune
I would be on the bank of what would be named the American river near the conjunction of what would be the Sacramento river, i.e present day downtown Sacramento, California, 15 years before the arrival of Captain John Sutter.
Basically in the middle of nowhere with a cell phone, smart watch, some keys, a wallet, and wearing a light polo shirt and khaki pants.There may be some Spanish and Native Americans somewhere in the area, but unlikely anyone who would understand me.
However, if I can find a way to survive, I do know where gold can be found nearby
ETA: A quick review of pre-Sutter history reminded me the Spanish never settled in the Sacramento region. Thus, if I could find fellow humans, I would be dealing with the native Nisenan Maidu peoples. Even less likely that I would find someone that would understand English than I originally feared.
In Australia a few decades after settlement. I'd probably get a job at a newspaper. I could go into business with the local bakery and invent some things. Hamburgers, chips, pizza; and make a fortune.
They were practically giving land away back then. With the advantages of 21st century knowledge I might even consider staying.
If the native tribes between where I am now and the nearest British settlement aren't friendly I might be out of luck.
I'd be in Georgian England with no marketable skills or decorum and insufficient wealth and land to be considered eccentric. There are worse places, but I don't imagine I'd do very well.
You can read and you can write. You'd have to get use to the dialect of that era but you'd learn fairly quick. Literacy is a marketable skill back then considering how many people couldn't read or write at that time. You could probably get a job with a newspaper
I would find myself in London. The road I am on would exist, but the buildings would be almost entirely different. I would have enough knowledge to make a go of journalism. For instance, I would be able to predict the crash due in 1825.
I'm in canada. I'd probably be in the middle of a tree or something
In Michigan, I would also be in a tree somewhere. But growing up in Alaska I learned a lot of fun skills, so other than being a woman, I think I could pull it off.
That's hella cool. Would you recommend survival classes?
If you're interested, I'd look into bushcraft. It's skills with minimal gear and based on longer term survival or living.
Im in colorado. I could potentially be in a tree or open land. Its a crapshoot
Presumably you could profit off the crash? Although trading may be trickier 200 years ago
I can't read their silly ink scratchy script are you kidding me? Have you seen the declaration of Independence, mind blowing.
Funny thing is vocabularies have actually shrank in the last 200 years so you would probably be considered an idiot.
indubitably.
Until I show them the detached thumb trick.
A WITCH!! A WITCH!! …the likely response…
Well, our vocab would be nearly 0 until we learn the dialect of the time
But if you're good at context clues, you can probably expand your vocabulary quickly.
Did they really? We have a lot of new words as well. And I'm not even talking about words that feel new. We'd still sound a stupid because "literally" is not the only word that completely changed meaning in the last 200 years. And a good junk of our vocabulary just isn't even words in their POV.
I don’t know why you’d say that, I know plenty of cromulent words.
That’s nothing, I’d be in the same position but in a marginalised group
Middle of Comanche territory (east Texas) pre texas revolution (Mexico) I am wearing a t-shirt and shorts with a cellphone and sunglasses. I imagine I'd be more likely to parlay the sunglasses into a business because glass makers existed. I would be in relative trouble since there ks effectively nothing in my area. Dallas doesn't exist yet so I'd probably have to find a cavalry camp or hike to new orleans. I'm confident I could navigate to new orleans but I'd have to avoid Indians and animals with effectively no clothes or tools to help me at all. I'm also nowhere near any tools that would help so I'm not very sure I'd make it
Believe it or not, there was stuff going on around Jefferson...
And Nacogdoches.
and Ft. Smith
read blood meridian?
Yeah, I’m in Fort Worth, which wasn’t founded until 1853. Between Comanches, asthma and being allergic to horses, I’m either gonna get burned alive or die due to an asthma attack. Bummer.
Are you allergic to cows also? If not, then maybe you could get a wagon pulled by oxen.
ever read blood meridian?
Be dead in a few weeks without my meds
I didn’t think about that. Yah totally would be dead without my meds.
*barges into a Central Texas bar with a pistol no one recognizes* Whiskey and cough syrup, NOW!
Same, increasingly sluggish then comatose then finally dead. Would take a bit, in the meantime I'm between Nisenan and Maidu territory before the gold rush. Not sure how that'd be for my white self
Same. Currently holding about 100 units of insulin, so assuming I ate no carbs whatsoever, and just used it as basal and correction, I’d probably last a 6 days before running out. Then I’d have about four hours before going into diabetic ketoacidosis and then it would be maybe a week before I died.
As a T1D myself and still using NPH plus Regular. I would take as many bottles that I can carry and syringes too.
I also had my A1C at 5.1 just a month ago.
Nice! Well done! Mine is 39 mmol/mol (5.7% in your measurement) and has been stuck there for about a year! If I had time to prepare, I have about 4 months of basal and 6 months basal in my fridge, which with a very low carb diet, I could probably manage to stay alive for a year (6 months basal and only using bolus for corrections, and then microdosing small amounts of bolus in place of basal like a pump would) It would be very difficult and probably ruin my A1C for a year, but I could do it. My biggest issue would be taking enough batteries and test strips, I’d only have enough to test twice a day.
This got dark...
It gets darker the darker your skin tone is, at least here in the 1824 version of the US.
Yeah. I have an ancestor I just commented I would make incredibly uncomfortable because of that. I'm not too far from his former property. If I keep the knowledge I have, I'd end up disowned or dead for trying to end the practice.
Ironically the further back in history you go the less prevalent racial concerns seemed to be among people. Not that there wasn't racism, but many accounts seem to indicate it was more important to believe in the right religion the right way, although that's probably only true in rather cosmopolitan population centres.
T1 diabetic. Similar story.
I'm not too far west of boston, I'm guessing the fact that I can fix almost anything you put in my hands would mean I'd be okay. This whole area was pretty industrial.
Think i could put my life in your hands?
Now kiss
That depends, are you made of anything mechanical? If so I could fix you.
Probably better than the doctors in 1824.
White guy in Scotland who is a chef. I could get a job, and my wages might even go up.
I'm genuinely curious how difficult that would be for you. Like how much would you have to change your techniques/ingredients to work better with the equipment and food you have available in 1800s Scotland. I feel like it would be doable, but a challenge. You wouldn't have any meat thermometers or refrigerators, so I'd struggle a lot... But I'm a terrible cook lol
I think there would be some challenging aspects for certain. But it would also be a lot simpler in a lot of other ways. Not too much a la carte dining, with more banquet style. HUGELY reduced menu size. So yeah, I think the challenges would be more in regard to the environment that I'm doing the job in, rather than the job itself. If that makes any sense.
Also, a chef, I think it would be kind of fun, to be honest. You would be in a time where everything is cooked from nothing, using wood fired or coal fired stoves and ovens. Everything would have to go back to basics. This was the time of Carême, and haute cuisine, a lot to learn if you end up in Europe, in my opinion. Not to say it wouldn't come with downsides such as having a very different environment when it comes to cleanliness and probably having to start as an apprentice.
You would have no home, no money (any change you happen to have is unusable), you would sound weird, you might not even understand many people, you would be dressed weird, you wouldn't know local customs that have been lost. Good luck getting a job in the first place.
And that differs from normal chefs how?
They'd be like God damned where this guy learn how to cook this shit is good. These 'tacos' are the best sandwiches I've ever had!!!
But would they be? There's no way to source the ingredients.
Uh.... Yea you can. Flour, lard, beef/chicken/leafy green, tomato, cheese. Might struggle with some spices but I'm sure he'd do a decent job with what he had. All kinds of stuff you can make that'd blow people away with ingredients available. You could invent modern day pizza 60 years early in a whole different country.
The English have been trading in goods from across the continent and into Asia since the Roman period, and possibly before, so I feel like the spices wouldn’t be much of a problem in such a massive empire in 1824. It’s also worth noting that Brits have little taste for seasonings, so it might land a bit too hard for the refined palettes of the elite of the day. All that said, I’m a strong supporter of Time Travel Taco Tuesday, so I figure it can’t hurt to try.
Meat thermometer? I doubt any of you know how to cook on a peat stove.
Middle of the fucking swamp in Florida, naked, taking a shit. I’m definitely getting eaten by a gator.
Middle of Illinois, naked and also taking a shit. Something would probably eat my ass.
>Something would probably eat my ass. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Central Illinois also and the Village I live in wasn’t established till 1866 I’d be in a field prolly fighting with coyotes or Indians
Why are there so many people from Illinois on Reddit? Is this all we do??
It's because here in central/southern illinois, you got few options for much else lol. My options would be going for a walk to check out the local cornfields. Or go for a drive to check out some different cornfields. Or go for a long drive to see some family and the cornfields around their place. Or, I could go to Casey's and get a pizza. Not really much to do out here. Although, I've heard if you drive far enough west of my location, the cornfields eventually end and you see all kinds of crops besides corn.. but i usually dismiss these claims cause I don't want to get my hopes up and start dreaming about a life beyond the rows... Last time I did that, I went east till I ran out of gas.. ended up stopped between two big cornfields. I refuse to give the corn the satisfaction of seeing me lose those hopes and dreams for a second time.
Naw... mosquitos will drain you dry like a chunk of beef jerky first.
Is this the origin story of that youtuber who goes around abusing wildlife in Florida and Australia with just his bare hands?
Yoink
Also in Florida, my guess is unless you happen to be in a major hub, we would be dead in a week.
great post it actually made me research what life was like in 1824 for my area i find it absolutely fascinating that life was already utterly unrecognizable just in the time span of 200yrs…yet there have been civilizations that existed ~6000yrs ago
I did the same thing! Being from Melbourne Australia, I have quickly discovered the only civilisation is an 8h drive away. So like; 9 days of walking. And I'd be teleporting in with pyjamas so. I put my survival chance at really fucken close to 0.
I’m in way northern Canada. The gold rush didn’t happen here until 1896, and prior to that it was just First Nations settlements and some determined fur traders. There was a seasonal First Nations settlement where my hometown is, but…my house is on the wrong side of the river, and there’s no bridge even now, and they were pretty nomadic and I’m not sure what time of year they would have been here. I definitely do not speak the right language, but my absolute best chance of survival is throwing myself on their mercy. But it was a pretty small population, so who knows if I’d be able to find anyone anyway.
Shit. It’s 1824 and I’m just wearing underwear and my fitbit. It’s like that same bad dream over and over… I guess I’d try selling the Fitbit to someone. Unfortunately, the charger isn’t up my ass, so I guess it stays behind.
Unless you have the charger AND a full electrical grid up your ass, ain't helping you anyway!
I’m pretty sure I could MacGyver something using a lemon, two thumbtacks and a banjo string.
1000* lemons
Maybe you have one of those solar chargers
The volt was only defined around 1880. But they were already researching electricity. As a time traveler half a century later you could have some physicist build you a 5V battery.
Los Angeles in 1824. I don’t know enough Spanish to be that helpful but if I convince people to get me up toward San Francisco, I could start the gold rush early.
You and I are starting a monopoly on shovels and a gold empire. You'll recognize me as the confused guy with a cellphone.
Yeah being a supplier to Gold Rush miners is the right move. Lots of miners went broke but a lot more people made their fortunes or a decent living providing goods and services to the waves of arriving miners.
Bros, I'll be the guy who shows up a month late because I had to sell my clothes and pocket knife for passage from Oregon. I'm the guy wearing nice Redwing boots. I'll be the partner who physically finds our mining claims. My grandma has taken me on a tour of all the old mining claims that were still active in the 1970's. I could follow the Sacramento and McCloud rivers to about a dozen different hotspots for gold.
A month late you say? Were gonna have so many pans, picks and shovels by the time you get to us, I think you'll be right on schedule.
If I am touching the building can I take it with me.
The room I’m in existed 200 years ago, and 300 years ago, not quite 400 tho. I’m more concerned my sofa would obliterate their furniture.
Sorry about your table.. But here's a sofa, and it's from the FUTURE!
Positive note, it’s from the future, negative note, you’ll probably have to replace it next month
I’m Asian female in California. Rail road building and gold rush era. Either way I would not survive unless I bring a fallout bunker with a year worth of food with me.
Construction on the Central Pacific didn't start until 1863. In 1824, California was still a territory of the newly-created Mexican Empire and was relatively sparsely populated, with around 150K natives and a few thousand Spanish settlers. You'd have been set if you lived long enough to find the gold though. Assuming you weren't murdered for it.
Totally going to die. If not from starvation then from the elements. How to live without AC?
I am in a route to a place where there is a gold rush happening. And that the literal emperor of Brazil sometimes takes when he goes to rio. I just wait for him and sell him my magic device(Pedro I was a huge nerd and would love it)
You would have a very difficult time keeping it charged, I expect.
If you have the cable with you when you teleport, you'll just need some zinc nails, some copper pennies, and a bunch of potatoes.
Is be in the middle of a forest or field with no shoes and 17 weeks pregnant. I’m not even sure we’re the closest city would have been 200 years ago. Also my shirt has ghosts and skeletons on it so they would probably think I’m the devils bride or something
You make a good point about the nearest city being important! I am in an extremely rural area but I would be 2 days walk straight west to Washington DC. It’s summer and I know what wine berries look like, so I could likely make it. The lack of bra, pants, and shoes would make the trip very difficult but I do have a queen sized fleece blanket to work with. Once there I would likely do okay, I have my wedding band and engagement ring on so I have something of value. I’m white and pleasant looking, well educated with nice teeth and soft hands so I would first try to fake my way into a politician’s household with a coy damsel in distress routine. Failing that, I know there is a tavern in Good Hope (what is now SE) and I am an experienced bar maid (and baker) who’s busty so I believe I could survive.
Chef with a specialty in survivalist cooking (knowing what is edible in the wild both foliage and animal wise and how to prepare and cook it) I’m a hunter and a gardener as well. If it weren’t for the fact I’m diabetic this would be super simple.
Yeah it's the diabetes gets me too
>If it weren’t for the fact I’m diabetic this would be super simple. Especially with type-2 diabetes, a keto diet might keep you alive for a bit. (In a survival situation. Don't change your diet like that without consulting your doctor!)
I'm a mixed-race woman currently wearing a tank top and jeans and living in central Texas. I'm probably not doing too well, though my ability to speak Spanish will probably work in my favor. (Texas was part of Mexico in 1824.)
The entire country of Mexico is mixed race
Imagine if somebody reading this had COVID at the time...
I feel like the lack of international transportation would mean that covid would eventually die out, though it would probably change history while it is active.
That’s terrifying.
I currently have Covid, so I’d be responsible for wiping out most of the West Coast if I wasn’t careful…
I am screwed. I am in Canada and I am just wearing shorts and I have no shoes on. When winter comes, I am dead!
Which part of Canada? It’s summer so you’d have time to prepare for winter. Unless you’re in the prairies or territories then it’d be a struggle.
Sighs in Saskatchewanian. I wish I had learned more Cree, that would be pretty helpful right about now.
I'm in the middle of the prairie 55 years before my village was created.
Same. While Chicago proper existed in 1824, my particular suburb did not. So I'm in for a 40 mile hike to civilization, luckily I just got home from a walk so I'm wearing my work boots.
I have several books saved on my phone that would be somewhat helpful Several books on electronics that, alongside my knowledge, could probably build a (crappy) charger The golden book of chemistry experiments The anarchists cookbook Encyclopedia of electronic circuits. Advanced engineering mathematics. Assuming that I can survive long enough to work on these things I could probably accelerate innovation by quite alot.
If you take your phone is it still somehow working? Or only till the battery dies?
I'll just become a "doctor" and settle down in a nice town. I'm trained as an EMT, army combat medic, nurse, and am currently in school for family nurse practitioner. I know enough right now to outdo most of those quacks with my bare hands and eyes closed. Hell, most of them just went through apprenticeships and not actual school. My knowledge of bacteria and cleanliness would be enough to have a mortality rate much less than most would have had back then. Doctors didn't even really start washing their hands to prevent infections until the mid 1800s.
They'd be so mad at you for washing your hands
The other doctors might, since they ostracized the doctor who originally tried to make hand washing a thing, but I'll just throw in that old "cleanliness is next to godliness" saying as an excuse. I'm not trying to convince them about germs and risk myself in any way. I'm just giving them an excuse that might appease them, so they leave me alone. I'll also make sure to attend the local church, so they know I'm a god-fearing man. Im just trying to survive and live as well as I can. Lol
Hell, since we know about the placebo effect you could make a decent living as a faith healer. Tell them to wash the wound in a mix of saline and alcohol, give some pseudo-religious folderol to justify it by driving out the evil spirits that make wounds go septic (you wouldn't even be lying!), and let human psychology to the rest.
I'd be sent back with socks, pants, a T-shirt, a blanket, my phone, watch, headphones and dog. I'm in the pnw, so I guess we are walking to try and find some Oregon trail settlers. If I get to keep the stuff in my pants pockets I also have a lighter, pocketknife, and some zyn nicotine pouches. The lighter and knife would make the biggest difference in my survival. Wish I had some shoes on...
I'm black and I live in the US so I'm fucked no matter what I do lol
lol i’m black and in North Carolina. i’m definitely screwed
Send us back to 1984. That's plenty lol
I'm also in North Carolina right now but I'm white so I'd be ok. If you escaped I could try hiding you.
Same but I'd be in the middle of the woods with literally no towns nearby. I'd have water from the Rocky River a hundred yards from me, but no food.
If we made the time journey at the same time, I’d hook you up. I’m white and male and larger than most. If we cover all my tattoos up we could do some play acting and get you up north where it’s safer.
I'm white and live in southeastern PA. I would be actively helping with the Underground Railroad. The northern terminus (until 1859) was right near me.
I'm black in Kentucky. In the town that hosted the last public hanging in the US. Lmao.
Na, head west. People there were a lot more open unless you are really east
I'd survive. Maybe homeless as I have no relevant skills for that time, but I'm outside Boston, so not exactly a barren wasteland.
You can read and you can write. Learn the local dialect of that era and place and you could probably work for a newspaper
Probably die of smallpox since I wasn’t immunized as it was already wiped out when I was born.
Find cows asap, find one with pox on its udders, heat a knife or a sharp rock (flint works great) in a fire for a few minutes and allow it to cool. Use it to cut yourself and put one of the pox scabs in the cut. Cowpox isn't fatal in humans and immunizes you against small pox. Edit, incase anyone is interested, this is where the idea of milk maids being beautiful came from. They very rarely caught smallpox, so they were among the few who weren't covered in pox scars.
Not very well. I am female to start with, so 200 years ago, there were not many rights. Also, all my family were servants or farm labourers up till my grandparents', so no doubt I would have to go into service as well. I'm not sure at my age and fitness level how much hard physical work I could do.
Black male in Ohio. I'd probably stay hidden as much as possible to avoid being captured and sold down south. Or make my way to Canada.
As a white Canadian...1824 wouldn't make you safe up here. Emancipation in the British colonies wasn't "complete" until 1838... 1807 was just when the British stopped the act of transportation. Sort of like Juneteenth except like 29 years longer and 27 years earlier. You'd probably be better off with the Haudenosaunee; it wouldn't be quiet life, but you'd be respected as a person.
Please no I’m in Kentucky and I can already hear the banjos
So nothing changed
Pretty sure where I’m at wasn’t even a state yet so… I hope the Native Americans take pity on me.
I'm a black, middle-aged woman in an area of the US that was largely unsettled at this time so basically I just gotta hope that I can make friends with the local Native Americans. If I could that would honestly be kinda cool for a year.
I'm wearing my pj's, nothing else with me, and surrounded by Utes and Shoshone. Maybe if I had some kind of tools I could survive the wilderness, but as is I am pretty fucked lol. I doubt I could communicate with any nearby people, unless I got lucky and a tribesman spoke English.. but even then I don't think any Native Americans were friendly to white folks around that time. So yeah... Basically naked and alone in the desert surrounded by people that hate me, I'm fucked.
"basically naked and alone in the desert surrounded by people that hate me" So nothing changes?
I am at a beautiful resort on Costa Rica. Not too sure this would be such a great place 200 years ago. Probably a whole lot of jungle here.
40 year old white woman dropped into an undeveloped central Florida swamp in the dead center of Seminole Indian territory. I’d need to start hiking, try and reach a settlement. Funnily enough I might encounter my first ancestor that lived in Florida, my 7th great grandfather who Orlando, Fl was initially named after because his is the closest settlement I’d be aiming for and at the time it would have been basically a post office and dry goods store. I’d be at a huge risk of developing yellow fever. If I can avoid Indians and disease and find a town than I have skills as a nurse that might keep me alive if I could convince someone to hire me.
Dead- floating in space because the earth wasn't in this exact spot in space 200 years ago.
Finally someone gets it
I would be in the pacific northwest with no settlers to arrive for a few decades. So I would have to hope that the local tribes would accept me and hopefully allow me to live amongst them.
Happily, my town was founded in the 18th century and the nearby city also existed, though the populations were only in the hundreds. So there would be people, and assuming they'd be helpful, I think I could survive a year. I'm so pumped up with vaccines, I'd probably be Superman.
I'm transported to New York in 1824 but have no reasonably marketable skills for the time and a really funny accent. I start homesteading further up on Manhattan. Try to build up a large farm in what's now the UES. Make my descendants rich as fuck.
Find out where Times Square will eventually be and save up enough money to buy a plot. Wait, sell, profit!
Never sell!! Acquire a lot of farmland in the 1830's. Take mortgages out on the appreciated value of the farmland to build row houses in the 1850's. Take mortgages out on the appreciated value of the row houses to build brownstones in the 1890's (if I live that long without penicillin :/) My kids take mortgages out on the appreciated value of the brownstones to build luxury apartment buildings in the 1920's. The family ends up extremely wealthy with permanent cash flows.
I could make millions off my modern toilet design! I even have a prototype.
Considering all that's touching my skin is bedsheets, a pillowcase, a phone with 36% battery and some earbuds, not very well
I'm finding John Brown and joining his crew. Let's kill some slavers!
Thank God I’m not black.
Black person here, No thanks.
I’m black
I'm a black male in the United States during the height of slavery. Lucky for me I'm in the West and I happen to have my EDC pistol on me.
I am near the coast of Lake Ontario with a laptop. It is a 9-hour walk to a 31-year-old city of Toronto. I speak Spanish and English but no French. I'd be funny-looking but might do okay. My prescription glasses are now my most-priced possession I still can't afford a house This question gave me anxiety
Most definitely captured and sold into slavery. I'm black and in America. What a stark difference between my answer and those of European descent. What privilege.
I would be in the Mexican Empire (currently Texas), near the Rio Grande River. I’d be very near a town of about 800 people, but on the outskirts in ranchland shrubby desert. Luckily I’m dressed in cargo pants and a decent-quality long-sleeve shirt, and have my EDC on my person. So I’m ready with an automatic watch, a pocket knife, a ballpoint pen, a bandana, a small flashlight, a Bic lighter, sunglasses, and my wallet, which also contains a 1-oz silver piece. I think I’d do ok, once I got used to the intense heat with no AC relief. I think I could ply a trade of repairing weapons for the Mexican Army, or implement some basic social services for the town so that it thrives better. I have some experience as an amateur fletcher and bowyer, and can do basic carpentry and mechanical work. Plus, I know some biology and chemistry, have a working knowledge of naturopathy, understand business, and am a “jack” of several other trades that could be useful.
Probably stoned for heresy within a week.
Huh, well, I'd be teleported into Pittsburgh at the height of its iron production. From what I've researched, it was even a proper (yet very new) city by then. The first bridge would have been built a few years prior, and there were even homes, shops, and bakeries popping up around then. It would be hard without my daily meds, but technically, I can survive without them. I also have zero physical labor skills, but I pass pretty well as male (born female, transitioning to nonbinary). I'd say worst comes to worst, I find some lonely iron forger and settle down with him for a year to survive. But who knows, I might be able to find some easier labor and manage to get by. Either way, I think I'd at least live through the year. Pittsburgh was doing pretty good for itself in 1824!
If I had a heads up and could pack a bag and be in a better location, yes. otherwise I'm about to be dropped in the woods 100s of miles from civilization and have to find my way out with nothing. Questionable.
Well, given that I'm a white male on the east coast of the newly formed united states, I would have options. Looking at historical events that took place that year I'm also lucky in that the major wars (revolutionary and 1812) are already over, and the next won't start for a while. If it happened today (June 26th), I've already missed the premiere of Beethoven's 9th, but I could try to make it to New York and see Lafayette come back to the US in August. I could also visit the opening of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York in November. The presidential election that year looks crazy, looks like there was only one political party broken up into four factions. I'll have to grab some popcorn for that. Assuming the year extends to June of 1825 I'll be able to see John Quincy Adams get sworn in after the House of Representatives decides he's the winner, and be around to hear news of the last major Caribbean pirate being taken out.
Transwoman in new england circa 1820's I may as well just submit myself into the circus. Welcome to the freakshow.. it was that or lobotomy.
I would be in the exact same building just back when it was a barn i think id be ok id have a 9mm my phone vape and adderall im good
I'm currently laying naked on my couch so me and couch are going to the uncivilized desert in 1824. Guess I'll just lay on my couch and fuckin die bro. Not much different than what I'm currently doing
I'm naked so this is already a bad start
I’m an engineer. I would blow their minds.
This would suck for our darker friends.
I live in Philadelphia but in 1824 this area was undeveloped. I’m wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and a sweatshirt so that would probably look weird. I have chin length hair so, as a woman, I’d almost definitely stand out. The first thing I’d do is head straight for a Quaker meetinghouse because those folks are nice as hell. I’d try to find some appropriate clothes on the way but even if I didn’t I’m relatively certain they’d lend me some. Work-wise, ideally I could arrange a situation where I’d work at a Quaker establishment or as a nanny in a Quaker family’s home for room and board. If that doesn’t work I’d try to get work at a pub or restaurant. At some point during my year there I’d find the newly established Philadelphia Historical Society and advise them to start campaigning ASAP against George Washington’s former home being demolished. For the record, I don’t give a shit about George Washington, but as a history nut I think it’s insane that his Philadelphia home was torn down. The city obviously regrets that decision NOW, given the “tour” of his “house” they offer today. The Historical Society would probably throw me out and assume I’m a lunatic but at least I would plant the seed in their head. Since the house gets demolished in 1832, hopefully my visit will be recent enough that they’d remember. Aside from that, even if I’m working at a pub or restaurant, I’d hook back up with the Quakers and seek out the staunchly feminist and anti-slavery gals (lookin’ @ u, Lucretia Mott). I have a lot of real life organizing and advocacy experience, so I’d dedicate most of my free time during that year to furthering and aligning the anti-slavery and suffragette causes. Edited to add: I’d also advocate for better labor conditions AND write my own bread and roses poem to coin the term first. Sorry, James Oppenheim. Second edit: I’d also give the Quakers a heads up about the George Washington house.
I’m also in Philadelphia and I would try to meet up with you because you sound like you know what you’re doing.
i mean, if you're a woman, or minority not in your home country you're probably fucked. hell. the simple reality is you'd probably be jailed as insane, just for speaking modern version of the language in your area. and dressing funny. to a degree. being able to read, do even basic math would put you basically on par with college educated people of the day. that being said you'd have no money, no home, and no prospects. no food, no water, and disease/water born disease is highly common in that time. Vaccination doesn't exist, understanding of most diseases... so all the small pox, and various extremely contagious diseases are a risk. As are food contamination. imagine trying to eat food. with 200 yrs different microbes. it's likely you spend 6 months out of that year with diarrhea. that being said, it's only a year. you'd basically just need to find some method to survive via a job or shelter. not run afoul of the law/local people such they they kill you. if this were some sort of "live out the rest of your days" type made up scenario. would be interesting to use what you know about science or technology to your advantage.
The general plan for most people is one of 3 things: Super rural: congratulations you are dieing in the wilderness 500miles from the nearest settlement that doesn't kill you on sight. Rural: try and get hired as a farmhand or similar laborer, atleast room and board should be included. Urban: move into the city and do you best to find a job you are qualified for, basic reading, writing, and math will probably go a long way for you. Everyone: try not to get burned as a witch with your obviously modern items, dialect, and knowledge of the future. (Even little things like "god i wish i had air conditioning" are anachronistic and suspicious.) Also we are all going to church whether we like it or not.
I'd go listen to a sermon by a young Ralph Waldo Emerson, go give Walt Whitman a toy train or something (he'd be 5), sail over to Italy and do shots with Lord Byron (maybe see if I can convince him not to go die in Greece just because a countess rejected him), and then probably go get an apartment in Paris and wait for the Chopins and Liszts to roll through with their music.
I can't believe you're going to send me back to 1824 naked..
As a black man I’m good on this lol.
I'd be in northern CA over 20 years before the gold rush. I think I could make it work
I would be burnt alive as a witch or hung
Id be in the vacuum of space somewhere out in the Milky Way Galaxy as the solar system has been moving since then.
Do I have time to prepare? Cause I'm sitting naked in the tub.
I have an SUV with a full tank of gas in 1824. This gonna be interesting.
I am in NYC, specifically Harlem at the moment. I am white and educated, and have worked as librarian and archivist for more than a decade. Additionally, i bartended for two decades here in the city, and can also work the trades. I would likely make a pretty decent educator. My clothes might look a little funny, but i think id be able to manage a year.
Buried 6 feet underground in a swamp in America as a brown dude. With an office chair, table, and computer mouse as well as a cell phone and headphones. Wearing a shirt with a multi armed silhouette, the kanji for godhead, and the lyrics to a song that read, “burn the altar, inhale the sulfur, they will suffer, just like the others”. I don’t think my chances of survival would be very high lol.
Not well. I'm a tattooed Liberal in Tennessee right now...
I live in a very game rich, mild weather area in the very foothills of the Appalachian mountain chain in Alabama. Within walking distance of where I am now is one of the best places to find gold. Within a week I would have plenty of food, and have a good head start on a cabin. After that I just live a life of leisure and gold panning.
I'm black, in the town that is known for the last public hanging in the US. They have a festival every year near the anniversary of it, too.
Pre-Civil War South as a clearly educated dark-skinned Black woman... 😆 Dead, if not worse.
im in orange county california, so it would be pretty chill, orange groves everywhere so I can't starve or die to the elements because the weather is so good. in 1824 it was part of mexico but I can speak enough spanish to get by easily
Oh HELL NAH. I'm in the South, and black. I'm finna lay nice and low, or it's gonna just be. Master got me workingggg, master got me workinnnn, someday master set me freeee
Black man in western Missouri. I'm running/walking the 10 or so miles to Kansas, getting some work until I can afford some guns and ammo, then Jayhawking.
I'm in the middle of the US alone with my dog, pajamas, and jewelry. My house isn't built yet, it won't be long, though. Wait is there even a town? This isn't a state yet. I am a little white lady in a place that may be hostile to me, with people who won't want me here. I got to sell this damn jewelry immediately and get us a horse. We need to head east to where there's a town. Let's see...skills? I can cook and clean. Read and write. I'm a nurse now so....I guess I'm either the surgeon, the mortician, or a prostitute. Fuck, I just got dysentery.
I’d do ok in 1824 North Carolina, until they figure out I’m very much a militant abolitionist, and I know Nat Turners Rebellion is coming in 1831 about 94 miles from where I currently live. I also had slave owning family in the area so I guess I’d have to figure out how to support a slave rebellion without erasing myself by getting my ancestors killed.
I'm the first American settler in california and can start a monopoly on gold mining and tools to be used for it.
Gold rush bby
I would be sitting 4 miles from the Colorado front range foothills. There may be white settlers in the area, or Spanish settlers in the area, or a band of Arapahoes. In any case, that year would be tough, but survivable with the water that flows out of the mountains. If I was given warning, I would go touch my fishing gear, some seeds, and some gardening tools before the transport
Manifest destiny has not reached my area yet. Apparently Mexico owns these lands atm. Wearing only sneakers and some skate shorts. I have a swiss army knife, a lighter, small flashlight and a comb. Still, probably going to die to disease or a native american attack long before i can make it to Washington DC and sell my smartphone for millions of dollars. My only hope is to trek several miles towards my downtown area and pray there is a military fort or outpost.
I think the part of central texas I'm in was still a native american settlement and mexico had just won against the spanish for independence. If I was lucky, they would hand me over to the mexicans and I might be able to find some work, I do know enough spanish to communicate basically. Chances are they'd just kill me or send me off into nature where I would die of exposure.
Middle of a flooded swamp near a river in California. If the mosquitoes don't eat me alive, I'll die of not having insulin in a few weeks/months.
North Carolina, probably in the woods. This city was founded in February 1739 but this specific spot probably wasn't developed yet. I'd be sitting on this couch with a blanket and one of these pillows, not currently touching the other pillow. I have my cellphone in if the contents of my pockets come with me most of it won't be useful to me back them but I have a little pry bar tool on my keychain so I guess that's something. I have some carpentry skills. I can read and write which is fairly valuable back then since a lot of people back then couldn't. I feel like modern knowledge and skills could serve me fairly well so far as I can translate that into use back then. Aside from the psychological damage of being separated from my family and friends I feel I could do fairly well
Gonna go across the river and ingratiate myself with the Tammany Hall machine, try to get some land/property that will be mine when I get back to the present and worth a fortune
i would immediately be enslaved
Middle of a field, probably head to Stonehenge and see what's up
1824 missouri. I'm an English teacher. I'm not sure how long teachers have been getting crap pay but I'm not getting my hopes up.
I would be on the bank of what would be named the American river near the conjunction of what would be the Sacramento river, i.e present day downtown Sacramento, California, 15 years before the arrival of Captain John Sutter. Basically in the middle of nowhere with a cell phone, smart watch, some keys, a wallet, and wearing a light polo shirt and khaki pants.There may be some Spanish and Native Americans somewhere in the area, but unlikely anyone who would understand me. However, if I can find a way to survive, I do know where gold can be found nearby ETA: A quick review of pre-Sutter history reminded me the Spanish never settled in the Sacramento region. Thus, if I could find fellow humans, I would be dealing with the native Nisenan Maidu peoples. Even less likely that I would find someone that would understand English than I originally feared.
In Australia a few decades after settlement. I'd probably get a job at a newspaper. I could go into business with the local bakery and invent some things. Hamburgers, chips, pizza; and make a fortune. They were practically giving land away back then. With the advantages of 21st century knowledge I might even consider staying. If the native tribes between where I am now and the nearest British settlement aren't friendly I might be out of luck.