Alternate versions of yourself

[Mr. G]

Here's a spinoff question from my last poll. Since some of you belive that ATL's really exist. How many of you beleive that versions of yourself live (or had lived) in some of thoese ATL's?
As for my own view, I like to think it's possiable.

[tom]

The questions are practically identical.
If anyone disagees, please explain.

[Xen]

I have seen my twin, my first reaction was thinking I was looking in a mirror. I remember thinking "I didnt wear that shirt today did I?" About that time what I thought was my reflection turned his head and walked down an aisle in the store we were in. I just stood there dumbfounded for a few seconds, he had the same look on his face when he first saw me too.

[Grey Wolf]

The questions are practically identical.
If anyone disagees, please explain.

Well no, I think the difference is that in many ATLs one parents do not meet, or they have children at different times etc so that there is a greater probability of ATLs existing than of you being in any of them....except if the number of ATLs is infinite whereat those with you in are infinite too, its just a smaller infinity than the big one...

Grey Wolf

[Tyr]

You are your experiences and all that so there could be similar people though no other me.

[tom]

Leej:
This answer is a matter of definition, I do not think that was what was meant...

[Straha]

they might not be the same genetically but they'd have mostly the same personality.

[tom]

If they are different genetically. then they are just siblings.

[Stalin]

Well, how would you define yourself first off? Do you mean timelines where I have the same genes/appearance as I do now? Timelines where I have the same personality? Timelines where I have more or less the same opinions? There are so many variables to consider when it comes to what makes a person.

[DuQuense]

Most of us have personal PODs, Dad took that other job, family moved when we were in High school. We took that other job moved or, Enlisted 4 yr or, 30 yr career, asked that other girl to the Prom. ect. Rite up to that POD, I was ME, after I was ME & HIM. l :cool: :) :D If the TL are close enuff it explains why the Car keys you put on the dresser, are on the table. ;)

[Straha]

heres an ATL based on your premise.... be warned this is an exerisise of the butterlfy effect

POD:my dad gets the offer from SU in 1985 instead of 1987

really short term effects
-he's able to get a better pay offer than OTL
-when they get the house they manage to get the property expanded so that areas that IOTL are owned by neighbors
-Im' born a year earlier and have far better luck in the gene pool(no need for glasses,good hearing,blonde hair(hell it was very likely in my family and my mom was an abberation on her side for beign a brunette),gene for a higher metablosim
-as a butterfly effect a few people who IOTL were born in 1987 that I know end up being born earleir and their families move to my neighborhood
-some of my friends who IOTL live on the other side of town's families end up being moved to this

medium term effects(1987-1992)
-I meet my first crows of friends with some minor changes like people that i met more recently beign met earlier
-instead of gettign a 2 door madza car myp arents get a 4 door madza instead
-the age 21 law of buying alcohol is repealed

medium-long 1992-1997
-Bill Clinton focuses his efforts on marijuana decriminalization rather than national healthcare
-welfare abolsihed to a greater degree than OTL
-tristar goes with their original idea of their godzailla movie with godzilla VS the gryphon istead of OTL's garbage
-toho releases the post 1989 godzilla movies in america during this time period

long term 1998-2000
-I get civilization II and its expansions when it comes out
-I discover alternate history earlier
-I discover the alternatehistory.com forum early enough for me to
-the alternate histroy yahoo group and SHWI begin to slowly lose members to this forum when its established
-I get digital cable
-we get the roadrunner ISP earleir than OTL
-Alpha Centauir,starcraft
-instead of pokemon red and blue we get pokemen red and green

really longterm effects(2000-2004)
9/11 doesn't happen because of the butterfly effect causing OBL and Al Queada's supreme command to get hit with a cruise missile in
the economy merely slumps in 2000-2001 and recovers
-Emo/punk displace rap almost completely
-the alternate histroy yahoo group and SHWI become ghost towns with all the productive members on this forum.
-the law that was passed that mandates a 6 month waiting period for 16 year oldsto upgrade from a permit to a license IOTL doesn't get passed.
-I've had 3-4 GFs by now
-the color of the used car my parents got for my sis/me to drive is dark teal

this is just a start I"ll do a full TL someday...

[NapoleonXIV]

I have seen my twin, my first reaction was thinking I was looking in a mirror. I remember thinking "I didnt wear that shirt today did I?" About that time what I thought was my reflection turned his head and walked down an aisle in the store we were in. I just stood there dumbfounded for a few seconds, he had the same look on his face when he first saw me too.

:eek: :eek: Scary, according to German legend your double is your doppelganger, and its a good thing you didn't follow or confront him. That's according to the legend. If you actually had you'd probably notice you didn't look alike at all up close.

If there's a physical duplicate of this universe then I and you are duplicated within it but there the similarity ends. The duplicate of a self aware being, even if all memories are duplicated too, is not the same. It may be indistinguishable to us, but it would not be to the self-aware being

[David S Poepoe]

Answering this takes a matter of faith and a great degree of probability and coincidence I think. I consider that it is likely that a multitude of ATLs spring up with every choice and decision that we make or is forced upon us by outside forces. The PODs around us are constant and in flux, both influencing and being influenced by us. For every right (or wrong) decision I have made when at such a 'crossroad' there are a multitude of other possibilities that were either entirely or partially successful, each to a different degree from the other.

I think in our positions as 'Alternate Historians' we can, if we adequately remove ourselves from the present postulate ATL times for ourselves if we look back upon our lives and identify those PODs, which stand out to ourselves at least, are crucial. For example, if one applies their cold 'Vulcan like' logic, one knows two women, Woman A and Woman B. (The actual sex of the example and subject may differ upon the individual) The individual marries Woman B and after several years have gone by just in passing a conversation of relationships come up. The wife (Woman B) asks the individual if he could ever have been happier had he married someone else.

Sidestepping the point of self-presevation and remaining entirely logical about things, shouldn't the Alternate Historian mention that given the variables know and not known, and given what he knows about both himself and Woman A (the most likely cause of the speculation to begin with) he would (or should) answer YES. No one would say that they will willing renounce their success for proverty, so it can be assumed that one will most likely keep a willing constant move upward.

Okay, perhaps - and most likely - that doesn't make any sense. I think, given our birth, environment, upbringing, etc. that - considering the Present to be a fixed point, that we create the variables which our ATL selves within a predictable range of differences/similarities. With 0 (zero) representing our Present Self our ATL selfs will most likely fall between -5 to +5 (for example) of our Present Self. Undoubtedly if one suffers from an inherited genetic disorder the variable would be even smaller - another example.

One can have a situation where an ATL self is a Hells' Angel, however I feel that it is reasonably possible to estimate a likely outcome and there will be, mostly caused by the influence of outside forces, exceptions.

Perhaps even that doesn't make much sense. In the end right now I would certainly like to believe that there is an Alternate Time Line where an Alternate Self is having a better life. That he has found the happiness that always seems to elude this Present Self.

[Prunesquallor]

If alternate time lines due exist then I assume there'll be an almost infinite number of them which means I must exist in many, many, places.

[Grey Wolf]

"my dad gets the offer from SU "

Straha, I am guessing that doesn't mean from the Soviet Union ?

Grey Wolf

[Mr. G]

Nice to see this poll get some interesting responses. Here's some more of my thoughts on the matter.
How do I define my alternate self? (Or selves)
I define my alternate selves as someone who shares my genetic structure (or one very close to it) and has the same biological parents and the same (or close to) Birth date.

Due to different environments some of my alternate selves, probably have different personalities. I can think of several personal POD's that would have led to different men, than the man I am today.

[Dan Guy]

I plan to write a story of my alternate life in which I'm named Jeff Parke.
Instead of living in chily ass Ottawa Im still living in Toronto where I was born. ;)

[Straha]

"my dad gets the offer from SU "

Straha, I am guessing that doesn't mean from the Soviet Union ?

Grey Wolf

syracuse university why'd you think soviet union??

[robertp6165]

Here's a spinoff question from my last poll. Since some of you belive that ATL's really exist. How many of you beleive that versions of yourself live (or had lived) in some of thoese ATL's?
As for my own view, I like to think it's possiable.

It depends on how you define it. If you are talking about a person with an exact genetic match, having your physical appearance and mental capabilities, then the probability is very likely.

But I think that what makes a person is not simply his genetic makeup. It is the sum total of that plus his experiences based on the world he lives in. If we define it that way, then it would be virtually impossible for another "me" to exist, because no other alternate timeline will be exactly the same as this one, thus the experiences of this other "me" are going to be different, producing a different person.

[Glen]

This is a good one....

[The Mists Of Time]

I tend to live in my own little world or maybe I should say my own ittle worlds, plural. Yes in some of them the major independent US automakers survived and in the Summer of 2006 I'm driving a brand new 2007 Packard and have a 2006 Studebaker.

I'm one of those people for whom the real world sometimes gets to be too much, and when that happens I can escape into my own little world or worlds.

The idea and theories of alternate universes, multiple universes, and alternate timelines with those timelines diverging and merging has always fascinated me. I'm fascinated by the idea of all those alternate timelines co-existing together as one and consciously living in all of them at the same time, so I'm sure there are alternate versions of me perhaps co-existing as a single me all at the same time.

[Straha]

Give me some of whatever you're smoking

[The Mists Of Time]

I'm not smoking or drinking anything. Maybe some of it comes from never growing up and still having a child's imagination.

I told my mother one time when I was a kid that I was never going to grow up, I was just going to stay a little kid all my life. She still reminds me of it sometimes and she adds, "I didn't know you were serious."

[Count Dearborn]

Here is a mind screw for you, how about an atl where you have a different gender? I wonder what a female Doctor What would really be like, or a kilnboy, how about Contessa Dearborn?:eek: :D

[HelloLegend]

In the alternate gender timeline, I would be thin, because I was thin as a 5 year old, and my mom encouraged to "eat" to be strong, while when my sister was that age, Mom controlled her eating so she wouldn't become fat.

[Sgt Detritus]

Here's a spinoff question from my last poll. Since some of you belive that ATL's really exist. How many of you beleive that versions of yourself live (or had lived) in some of thoese ATL's?
As for my own view, I like to think it's possiable.

Just so long as my alternates are nothing like the alternate that appeared in an episode of The Twilight Zone entitled Mirror Image

[Straha]

Here is a mind screw for you, how about an atl where you have a different gender? I wonder what a female Doctor What would really be like, or a kilnboy, how about Contessa Dearborn?:eek: :D

I would still be a troll

[Tielhard]

Alternative Tielhards? TINA!

[Wozza]

Alternative Tielhards? TINA!

Tina?

Turner?

[Tielhard]

A quote from your lady love and you fail to recognise it Woz?

[Wozza]

A quote from your lady love and you fail to recognise it Woz?

You insist on confusing me every time you post.

quote from where?

All I can think of is Fred Flintstone and "Wilma!"

[Nicole]

Well, any way you define alternate versions I would guess that there would be an alternate Imajin in quite a few timelines... For one thing, since under current theory literally anything could cause a TL split, there are the countless TLs where one atom in some far-off galaxy is in a different place, so we have an Imajin who is in every single way identical to the one writing this post. The same goes for earth divergences that haven't had effects on this area yet.

I would consider someone with the same genetics but different life experiences an alternate Imajin as well... So that gives you a range extending roughly from 1990 to today where there's a good chance of me appearing, unless I'm killed or something.

Past that, though, I wouldn't really consider someone with different genetics but otherwise similar (same birthday, for example) an alternate Imajin, but more on the level of a sibling... that's the category some theoretical "Imajinette" would fall into.

[Wozza]

The alternate Wozza is a bit of a hard right boozaphile who makes really random comments on this site.

[NapoleonXIV]

I tend to live in my own little world or maybe I should say my own ittle worlds, plural. Yes in some of them the major independent US automakers survived and in the Summer of 2006 I'm driving a brand new 2007 Packard and have a 2006 Studebaker.

I'm one of those people for whom the real world sometimes gets to be too much, and when that happens I can escape into my own little world or worlds.

The idea and theories of alternate universes, multiple universes, and alternate timelines with those timelines diverging and merging has always fascinated me. I'm fascinated by the idea of all those alternate timelines co-existing together as one and consciously living in all of them at the same time, so I'm sure there are alternate versions of me perhaps co-existing as a single me all at the same time.

Have you ever thought of just doing that? If ever the market is open in America for a new vision of the car its now. As we speak there are afterdealer addon companies that are basically just putting in more batteries to the Prius, allowing it to get close to 250 mpg if used as a commuter car entirely. .

Another is the diesel-electric hybrid, reputed to get 100mpg all the time.

And a market 4x that of the American is opening up in China.

Yet it's quite possible we will never be able to exploit it, for the Chinese govt will prolly require rightfully that cars sold there have a degree of efficiency and environmentalness that Americans still do not approach.

Prius says it might start putting in extra batteries itself. In five years.

With gasoline @$3.50 a gallon GM continues to produce and market Hummers and Minivans as its main product. They've just laid off 30,000 workers. It's 1973 all over again and American car manufacturers have truly learned nothing in 35 years/

Now, as never before, is the time for a new Henry Ford or Soichiro Honda to step forward with a new vision for the future.

[Gladi]

Bright day
Abything major before say 1960 will wipe me out, anything before say 1984 that makes tv or newspaper in Bratislava can wipe me off.

[Brandonazz]

There are soooo many different ways that one could be changed that I could be making this exact post in alternate universes an infinite number of times more, one second earlier or later...

*my brain hurts* :D

[Nekromans]

TL 2006-8-17 has me not posting this.

[HelloLegend]

I'm pretty similiar in many worlds...

What if I found this website 2 years ago, 4 years ago.
On average of 25 post a day since i started, wow.

[Tielhard]

TINA = There is no alternative. Attributed to Thatch..

[Goldstein]

Of course, in some ATLs we don't exist, or we are dead (because of the invassion of the Evil Andorran Empire, or because of a widespread of the Rage virus, or we slipped in the bathtub last week). For example, if the germanic invassion of the roman empire had started one day before, none of us would exist because of thousands of alternate rapes. But probably there are alternate versions of all the alternate realities where we exist only for a matter of probability. In other TLs, the only difference is the actions of one individual (What if the best girlfriend you could have had was in your high school but you didn't see her?) Et Caetera, Et Caetera...

[Straha]

Any alternate version of me probably have different appearences/genetics but I don't think someoen with my personality is so easilly butterfleid. Sure he may have green eyes or black hair but he'd still have my personality.

[Glen]

Any alternate version of me probably have different appearences/genetics but I don't think someoen with my personality is so easilly butterfleid. Sure he may have green eyes or black hair but he'd still have my personality.

Huh? Don't get how you're defining 'alternate version' of yourself?:confused:

[Tyr]

Of course they do. By the very nature of the multiverse there are many TLs with a version of me. Many of them with the same me. Many of them created by the actions of me.

[AMBOMB]

According to many worlds interpretation, everything that can happen does. If that's true, we all exist in other realities.

[Ivan Druzhkov]

I probably do exist it a bunch of other timelines, but since I was born in the mid-1980s, I'm probably only limited to TLs with recent PODs. Furthermore, considering where my family came from (Britain and the Ukraine), almost any pre-1950s PODs are guaranteed to wipe me out of existence. My dad's family emigrated/fled from the Ukraine in the 1940s, and they were not well-off to begin with. Without WW2, there's a good chance they'd still be there today, and I would not be.

Ironically, it seems that Josef Stalin is partly responsible for my existence. I'm sure he'd be pleased to know that. Or not care. Either one of the two.