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Old 03-31-2014, 08:14 AM
 
Location: In exile
534 posts, read 901,360 times
Reputation: 1401

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the taste of dunkin donut coffee would delight him, though He would accuse the baked goods there as being of Satan.

 
Old 03-31-2014, 08:21 AM
 
Location: Sinking in the Great Salt Lake
13,139 posts, read 22,742,546 times
Reputation: 14116
Quote:
Originally Posted by STB93 View Post
If a man from Boston in the year 1714 were to wake up in Boston in 2014 what do you think would surprise him the most about life today?
He'd probably be shocked that people had so much but still seemed so miserable.
 
Old 03-31-2014, 09:36 AM
 
757 posts, read 1,090,941 times
Reputation: 990
1.) How many old people are around
2.) How poorly dressed people are
3.) How timid and weak most people are
4.) Technology (aviation, medicine, engineering, space exploration, computers, TV, electricity)
5.) The use of soap and daily washing
6.) That many still have teeth after the age of 20
7.) Where did all the slaves go?
8.) The advancement of the gun
9.) More access to food and all the pre-made, fast food options
10.) How much things cost
11.) All of our rules and laws
12.) Why women are so mouthy and dress so provocatively
13.) How large our cities have become
14.) How fat Americans are
15.) Few pre-arranged marriages
16.) Why do so many men look like women?
17.) What's with all this education? Many people (including the poor and women can read and write)

What he wouldn't be surprised at would be how corrupt politicians are.
 
Old 03-31-2014, 10:46 AM
 
2,334 posts, read 2,636,620 times
Reputation: 3931
Quote:
Originally Posted by STB93 View Post
If a man from Boston in the year 1714 were to wake up in Boston in 2014 what do you think would surprise him the most about life today?

How much the outside world has changed but how little human nature has changed. I think they would be surprised that we are still all alike in our basic needs and emotions, and that we still have compassion, anger, kindness, criminals, drunks, addicts, and all the other human qualities that haven't changed.

I say that only because as a child, I remember thinking (due to Star Trek and similar movies, TV shows) that in 100 years, we'd all be living with robots in mini-spaceships, wearing the same protective clothing, speaking in clipped monotone half-sentences, and either not have any families or live apart from them due to our very highly technical work.
 
Old 03-31-2014, 11:46 AM
 
Location: Terramaria
1,791 posts, read 1,925,783 times
Reputation: 2665
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tobiashen View Post
How much the outside world has changed but how little human nature has changed. I think they would be surprised that we are still all alike in our basic needs and emotions, and that we still have compassion, anger, kindness, criminals, drunks, addicts, and all the other human qualities that haven't changed.

I say that only because as a child, I remember thinking (due to Star Trek and similar movies, TV shows) that in 100 years, we'd all be living with robots in mini-spaceships, wearing the same protective clothing, speaking in clipped monotone half-sentences, and either not have any families or live apart from them due to our very highly technical work.
It's called Textspeak.

One thing nobody has brought up: The music. 1714 was Johan Sebastian Bach's prime, and numerous other Baroque composers were the contemporary music of the day. While that man may still enjoy newer forms of classical music (a bit fast-paced) and perhaps Bing Crosby/Frank Sinatra-type music, any electronic music or even jazz and rock would be alien to him, despite the fact that those two music genres are now no longer considered "for youth' in 2014. And when he finds out that I have a 75-year old movie to screen, he'd still be fluttered that such achievement can be made.

Also, he'd be strangled by how many laws have been passed and that strict penalties are still being made.

He'd wonder why coins aren't made of precious medal and that you need a bag of coins just to get lunch.

And soon a big crowd of people will gather in the Common listening to all of his amazing stories, and perhaps could introduce a new cult religion that restores some of the lost ideals in time, based upon his noticeable dressing when a tourist spots him and many more follow.
 
Old 03-31-2014, 12:24 PM
 
Location: Florida
4,103 posts, read 5,402,861 times
Reputation: 10105
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chango View Post
He'd probably be shocked that people had so much but still seemed so miserable.
I think this is much deeper than you realized.

It makes you wonder what you'd experience if YOU traveled 300 years into the future.
 
Old 03-31-2014, 12:41 PM
 
Location: Denver, Colorado U.S.A.
14,164 posts, read 27,139,584 times
Reputation: 10428
Quote:
Originally Posted by danielj72 View Post
He would think the technology was the work of the devil, and he would think most people were practicing witchcraft. He may go right into some kind of shock or unconsciousness from the shock of seeing it all.
That's exactly what I was thinking! They'd think it was all "devil magic" lol!

Can you imagine how long it would take to explain all our our technology to someone from 300 years ago?

And if he didn't pass out, he'd notice how people don't stink, have great teeth, and look much younger than he would expect.
 
Old 03-31-2014, 12:51 PM
 
Location: San Antonio-Westover Hills
6,884 posts, read 20,352,675 times
Reputation: 5175
Quote:
Originally Posted by STB93 View Post
If a man from Boston in the year 1714 were to wake up in Boston in 2014 what do you think would surprise him the most about life today?

That we can heat up food in a box in 2 minutes or less.

That poop disappears down a hole and is magically transformed into drinking water eventually.

Cell phones.

Faucets.
 
Old 03-31-2014, 02:23 PM
 
1,298 posts, read 947,121 times
Reputation: 2386
That the colonies are not only independent of the British empire, but have surpassed it in power.

That humans are believed to have descended from apes (assuming he even knows what an ape is).

Someone of that time has no concept of technology nor a naturalistic understanding of their environment. So he would have no foundational means by which to easily mentally grasp technology & science. He would need a complete reeducation about how to think and percieve. He would see magic and God everywhere.
 
Old 03-31-2014, 02:32 PM
 
Location: State of Washington (2016)
4,481 posts, read 3,618,184 times
Reputation: 18781
He would be shocked;
That children and teenagers are so disrespectful to their parents and other adults; the vulgar language people use in public,
A president of color
interracial marriages
sports
rock and roll, hip hop, rap
fast food restaurants
iPods
openly gay people
snow and leaf blowers
bikinis
so many different types of people living in the same neighborhoods
factory farming
doggy daycares
sagging pants
he'd love air conditioning
women in high powered careers
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