Time Travel Survey Report

 Subject: Review of Statistics and possible conclusions.

 Background: The data in this survey was inspired from the podcast: Time Travel is Easy, Time Travel is Hard.  On the blog site a survey was placed asking respondents to answer twelve questions on the premise that they were being recruited to travel back to 51 B.C. for a period of two years.  The information gathered was to test psychological and motivation for survival in this period. 

Due to low survey numbers the results in this report are open to wide interpretation.  The readers of this post are encouraged to give their opinion in the comments box provided (shape of a thought balloon at the top of the post).

Question 1.

Are you willing to risk your life by traveling to 51 B.C.?

Yes: 25 votes

No:  15 votes

Total: 40

Analysis:  We have no shortage of volunteers for this mission.  There are many brave people out there who would gladly face the unknown.  After all, exploring is in man’s nature, and what greater adventure other than exploring new worlds is this opportunity?  Wait…in a way this IS EXPLORING A NEW WORLD.  I am guessing most people are willing to say yes, for a variety of motives.  This we did not explore in the survey.   Question.  Would our numbers have changed if time travel was a certainty like the certainty of using a car?        

Question 2.

What kind of weapon are you skilled with?

Short sword and shield:  2 votes.

Long sword:                         5 votes

Dagger:                                   8 votes

Spear:                                      1 vote

Bow and Arrow:                 7 votes

Sling:                                      2 votes

Hand to Hand:                    9 votes.

 Total: 34

 Analysis: This question is flawed.  I should have had a box that asked, “NO WEAPON SKILLs.’  I wonder if the answers are more “What I would like to use”  than actual skill.  Yet, Hand to Hand and the Bow and Arrow are two skills still in vogue today.  Many people use archery as a sport, hobby, (including hunting), and the over all popularity of Karate, Judo and other forms are self-defense can be seen in almost every city.  Hand to hand is required training in most military and police occupations.  I have no reason to doubt the results.  The numbers gathered on the use of Short sword and shield and long sword I am not so sure of, unless there are a few members of the Anachronistic Society taking this survey.  These are folk skilled in such weaponry, and can be see at exhibitions bashing each other over the head, which takes considerable skill and fortitude and to me is keeping history alive through weaponry.   The numbers on the dagger surprised me, but this too I can understand for it is easily concealable, and knife collecting is still a pastime. But the sling is the most surprising to me.  There are people that have practiced with a sling?  Those of you that checked this box please tell me about it?  Is there an Olympic Division in this sport?  

 Question 3. 

 Do you faint at the sight of blood?

 Yes: 1 vote.

No:  37 votes

Total 38

Analysis: I judge the validity of the results to this question to be high. 

Question 4.

What skills do you have that would make money in a pre-electronic age?

Baker:             4 votes

Bricklayer:   6 votes

Surgeon:       3 votes

Soothsayer:   10 votes  

Analysis:  This question may be slightly flawed in that I should have opened it up to other inputs.  However, many people are quite capable of baking bread and doing bricklaying.  Bricklaying had the second highest score and I am assuming that there are many people that have tried their hand, or they have manual skills that are quite capable of handling such a task.  Surgeon surprised me at a score of 3.  I have to think we have either had 3 doctors who read my blog, or 3 people that fully realize that any medical knowledge from the modern era would be a vast improvement of what they knew then.  A nurse practitioner could set up a very nice practice in 51 B.C. or even a guy with a book titled: The American Red Cross First Aid and Safety Book.    And as for Soothsayer coming in with a score of 10 tells me that I have some very smart people taking the survey.  In truth, being from the future YOU ARE A SOOTHSAYER.  This is a very easy job, and would be the most effective if your clients included Caesar, Pompey, Antony, or Octavian.  Soothsaying was big at that time, but a warning.  Your knowledge of the future would be limited to large events, and people that made the history books of the time, but you have NO knowledge of let’s say…Sismosis of Tarsus (this is no one special, I just made the name up) who is visiting Rome.  He is lost to history, and your predictions would have as much credence as any other horoscope reading today.  Wait…that isn’t so bad considering many of them make a very good living at it.

Question 5.

What ancient language do you speak?

Latin:                  7 votes

Greek:                 4 votes

Persian:              1 vote

No ancient Language:    20 votes

 Total votes: 31

 Analysis:  I judge the validity of the results to this question to be high.  The score of 20 on No ancient Language increases my confidence of the results.   People are basically honest.  Latin at the second highest score of 7 is not surprising as it is used in the sciences, classical historians, and the Catholic Church.   And even Ancient Greek is studied today, and I know of a person that took classes where they translated the Illiad from the original Greek to English.  Latin would be a good first choice, with Greek as a good follow up for it was considered a mark of a good education.  Persian?  Maybe I should have added the following choices: Aramaic? Balkan?  Anatolian? Indo-Iranian?   The question is how many people would have understood these languages in Rome, but I am happy to note that we had a reader who studies it.    

 Question 6

 Do you wear corrective lenses?

 Yes:                     12 votes

No:                       21 votes

Contact lens:   3 votes

 Total 36

 Analysis:   I judge the validity of the results to this question to be high, but the reader may question why this question was asked at all.  What difference does it make?  Well, if you are going back into time, corrective lenses are something that would make you stand out, and that is something you don’t want to have happen.  Glasses were invented just a few hundred years ago, and at one time were considered to be high technology.  If you decide to take the trip back to 51 B.C. your vision better be pretty good.   You want to see the dangers coming at you so you can decide if its time fight or run!

 Question 7.

 You meet Julius Caesar.  In conversation he says that his ancestor is the Goddess Venus.  You do the following.

 Laugh in his face: 1 vote

Ask to sacrifice in his name at the closest temple: 23 votes

 Analysis:  I have a hard time believing that the person who answered “Laugh in his face” took the survey seriously.  If you want a death wish, go ahead…laugh in his face.  Caesar killed thousands in the pursuit of power, what do you think he would do to you if you insulted his ancestry AND his dignatus? Saying that he is the ancestor of Venus, is NOT A JOKE.  He actually believed it, or was determined for others to believe it for it added to his prestige. I am again gratified at the intelligence of the survey takers in that the majority recognized the context of the conversation and answered “Ask to sacrifice” as important to their survival.  Good job.

 Question 8.

 Have you ever been in a fight where your life was at stake?

 Yes: 9 votes

No:  29 votes

 38 Total.

 Analysis:  I judge the validity of the results to this question to be high.  Now, why should I ask this question at all?  Send a time traveler back you better have someone used to the possibility of danger.  Law enforcement began at home.  Weapons were kept for hunting and protection.  In the times we live in now, it is VERY possible that the 9 who answered YES may have indeed fought for their lives in any number of circumstances.  It all depended if they live in a very rough neighborhood (the surbura and certain parts of LA could be compared very easily) or are now members of the armed forces that are now “fighting for their lives” in actually battle.  If my survey was truly accurate and scientific we would need additional information on those that answered yes.

 Question 9.

 You have been given an invitation to a gladiatorial game.  Accepting this invitation no doubt you will watch men being slaughtered in combat, or men killed and eaten by wild animals.  This person offering the ticket could make your life very pleasant if you accept.  What do you do?

 Say no. It would be horrible:              2 votes

Pretend to watch, but keep my eyes down:   7 votes

Make an excuse at the last minute:         4 votes

Are you kidding?  It would be great!:      23 votes    

 Analysis:  This one worried me.  More said they would be happy to attend a gladiatorial game.  Ouch.  On the other hand if you were one of the individuals that said ‘yes’ to taking in the gladiatorial game with gusto you would have been put at the top of the selection list.  In this situation ‘fitting in’ is the most important thing.  But I warn you, to those of you that think you would not be affected by witnessing the games, read the writings of Saint Augustine.  He tells the tale of his friend Alphius.  The law student was dragged to the game when he boasted that he would turn his eyes away from the carnage, but when his determination was tested by his ‘friends’ he became totally trapped by it.  Afterwards, he attended the game on his own, and took others to view it.  He began to love it.  Those of you that said that you would “Pretend to watch” which was 7 of you, remember that is what Alphius tried to do and FAILED. 

 Question 10.

 It is 51 B.C.  You have been given the choice of throwing in your lot with Julius Caesar, Pompey, or Marc Antony.  Which faction do you join?

 Caesar:   23 votes

Pompey:  2 votes

Antony:  8 votes     

 Analysis:  This was a test for the respondent to grade their awareness of history, and situational awareness.  Most of those surveyed passed the test.  Respondents answered 23 for Caesar and 8 for Antony.  Caesar was dominate during this time period, and the 8 that picked Antony is not a bad answer either since he was Caesar’s right hand man.  Those who picked Pompey might have a problem.  Your armies will be defeated, and you will be on the run.   Of course, if you knew that Pompey eventually gets defeated and you were trying to change history, then that is another post for another blog.

 Question 11.

 A friend of your believes in the God Mithras.  He wants you to join him/her in a ritual where each of you will shower in the blood of a slaughtered bull to wash away your sins and bring forth vast powers in your spirit.  You need this person’s friendship to survive the next two years in relative comfort.  What do you do?

 Turn them down politely: 3 votes

Tell him/her that you belong to a special sect of Apollo that forbids you from taking part: 3 votes

Look at him/her like they are crazy and walk away: 3 votes

Take the show in the bulls blood and like it: 27 votes<

 Analysis: When in Rome, do what the Roman’s do. Those that answered “take the shower” are more likely to survive.  The majority of respondents understood what was at stake.  In ancient Rome FRIENDS are the most important thing one can have.  I predict if you are flexible enough to bath in bull’s blood, you are flexible enough to do anything to survive.       

 Question 12.

 How much money would it take for you to consider taking the trip to 51 B.C.?

 Do it for nothing: 6

 One person said, “In it for the adventure.”

 One Hundred dollars:    1

Five hundred dollars:     1

One thousand dollars:   1

Five thousand dollars:   1

One Hundred Thousand:   1

One million:                           1

Three million:                       1

Five million:                         5 

10 million:                             1

 Assorted sums in Yen and Euro

 One person said, “Twenty Thousand gold coins.” (Note* I like how this person thinks.)

 Analysis:  Those that said they would do it for the adventure tells me the allure of the past is strong.  Imagine coming back and writing your book.  What would you call it? 

 Suggested Title: Real Time in Ancient Rome. 

 It would be on the best seller list for years.

 Many of you indicated that a payment was necessary.  I can understand this.   There should be an award for risking your life.  Why not?  

 End of Survey.

 COMMENTS ARE ENCOURAGED.