Browsing Historical

Would you rather...

go back in time and correct the single biggest mistake of your life

go WAY back in time and come up with the Pythagorean Theorem before Pythagoras so you can have an equation named after you

For both options, you will immediately be sent back to the present after your actions. No double dipping.

The Selfish Time Traveler

Feb 23, 2012

VintageFantasy Historical

Community arguments

go back in time and correct the single biggest mistake of your life

Having a famous math theorem named after you is a hollow legacy if generations of students associate your name with dreaded homework.
Fixing a genuine personal regret has real emotional value; the Pythagorean Theorem was likely known before Pythagoras, making the historical credit dubious.

go WAY back in time and come up with the Pythagorean Theorem before Pythagoras so you can have an equation named after you

Past mistakes shape who you are — correcting the biggest one risks unraveling the experiences that formed your identity and led you to where you are now.
Being credited with a foundational theorem that underpins engineering, navigation, and architecture is a form of immortality no personal life correction can match.

Last generated Jun 29, 2026.

Comments

Would you rather...

go back in time and correct the single biggest mistake of your life

go WAY back in time and come up with the Pythagorean Theorem before Pythagoras so you can have an equation named after you

be on the titanic

be Hitler's friend