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From: metz@troll.DEC
Newsgroups: net.movies
Subject: Time Travel
Message-ID: <95@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 22-Aug-85 18:40:14 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.95
Posted: Thu Aug 22 18:40:14 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 24-Aug-85 18:18:11 EDT
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Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
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In order to make any sense of time travel, as in "back to the Future" or
H. G. Wells' "The Time Machine", it must be realized  that each event which 
creates a change in the time line itself will cause anoth time line to be
created and a new series of events to transpire. This could lead to an 
infinite number of time lines for a series of acts caused by a time
traveler. If it is assumed that time is a positive flowing river, a move
back in time would place the traveler in position to retrace a given path.
Since the future from the point at which he/she intrudes could not be 
changed or else the traveler himself would be changed, it must be true and
necessary for a new time line to be formed and the travelers path be in
a new direction. The original time path must stay intact or the future
where the traveler was would not be if he changed it in any way. This
will lead to an infinite number of time lines as each event takes place.
To discuss the events in a time travel movie as if they should be logical
is in itself illogical and only is a manifestation of our human egos. It
is not possible for us to perceive what is taking place around us for we
do not have the necessary senses to react to stimuli beyond our limited
range.
So when you go to a movie, enjoy what it is and do not try to rationalize
what is basically irrational.