4 ms·

But would you give up all your access to anything modern, for the rest of your life, in order to have the power and influence that Rockefeller had? Primitive m

But would you give up all your access to anything modern, for the rest of your life, in order to have the power and influence that Rockefeller had? Primitive medical treatment, limited communications to others that aren't in your vicinity, no modern entertainment? Example: Last year I went to my doctor, who informed me (based on a readout from a machine that analyzed a blood sample) that I needed to exercise more, lose weight, and change my diet in certain aspects in order to live a bit longer (I had high cholesterol). And this year at my annual checkup I found out my changes worked, and cholesterol is way down. This is something that wouldn't be knowable back in Rockefeller's time.

woodruffw 4y ago
Yes, in a heartbeat. Besides, the man lived to 97, and by 1916 the majority of excess deaths happened by early childhood. (Also, why do we talk about 1916 like they didn't have instantaneous communication? They'd been telegraphing across the country for nearly 60 years by that point! It certainly isn't text messaging, but I think I'd survive.)
gloryjulio 4y ago
Lucky for u to be still able to afford the doctor. Also lots of ppl don't have shelter security. Many are just one incident or bad luck away from being homeless.
dismantlethesun 4y ago
> But would you give up all your access to anything modern, for the rest of your life, in order to have the power and influence that Rockefeller had? [...] no modern entertainment? So let me get this straight, you would trade the power to shape the modern industrial world for the power to amongst other things, watch cat videos on demand? Imagine, the power to end segregation fifty years earlier than before, the power to bring women's rights to the forefront decades earlier, the power to stand up for the oppressed, the sick, and the poor and actually have the elites in government and industry listen to you? To give that up so one can have cellphones and video chat? It's possible that you do regard creature comforts to be of primary importance, but I'd ask you to reconsider. Rockefeller lived in the 1900s, not the Bronze Age. It's not such a downgrade from the current era that one should discount all that you can do with the power of being the richest person in the world. Don't you have any social causes you support?
- Pigalowda 4y ago
  So you’re saying this scenario is like time travel? To be rich as Rockefeller in his time but still have your current brain?
  - dismantlethesun 4y ago
    Basically, otherwise what's the point? You'll just be a different person in a different time.
hackeraccount 4y ago
Try getting around without a real toothbrush. Or toilet paper. That's probably 80% of Rockefeller's life.

woodruffw 4y ago

Yes, in a heartbeat. Besides, the man lived to 97, and by 1916 the majority of excess deaths happened by early childhood. (Also, why do we talk about 1916 like they didn't have instantaneous communication? They'd been telegraphing across the country for nearly 60 years by that point! It certainly isn't text messaging, but I think I'd survive.)

gloryjulio 4y ago

Lucky for u to be still able to afford the doctor. Also lots of ppl don't have shelter security. Many are just one incident or bad luck away from being homeless.

dismantlethesun 4y ago

> But would you give up all your access to anything modern, for the rest of your life, in order to have the power and influence that Rockefeller had? [...] no modern entertainment? So let me get this straight, you would trade the power to shape the modern industrial world for the power to amongst other things, watch cat videos on demand? Imagine, the power to end segregation fifty years earlier than before, the power to bring women's rights to the forefront decades earlier, the power to stand up for the oppressed, the sick, and the poor and actually have the elites in government and industry listen to you? To give that up so one can have cellphones and video chat? It's possible that you do regard creature comforts to be of primary importance, but I'd ask you to reconsider. Rockefeller lived in the 1900s, not the Bronze Age. It's not such a downgrade from the current era that one should discount all that you can do with the power of being the richest person in the world. Don't you have any social causes you support?

Pigalowda 4y ago
So you’re saying this scenario is like time travel? To be rich as Rockefeller in his time but still have your current brain?
- dismantlethesun 4y ago
  Basically, otherwise what's the point? You'll just be a different person in a different time.

hackeraccount 4y ago

Try getting around without a real toothbrush. Or toilet paper. That's probably 80% of Rockefeller's life.