If your teenage self got in a time machine to visit you now/in the future, how would he/she react to meeting you?

If I could see me then what would I think of me now?

and as a stoned adult

If I could see me now what would I think of me then?

Aw fuck, Ned, now I have to think up a new answer ...

My past self would probably be amazed at how much smarter I've gotten in certain respects, and how much dumber I've gotten in others.

(Sebastien, that was just odd.)

i wouldn't trust my teenage self around the wife though!

hey, estela...how come you never post on the mongrels thread? i mean - you are one, right?

-Would definitely call me a sellout for working at a large company; it was easy to "keep it real" when i didn't have any bills.

-Would most likely ask me to buy some beer.

-Would be completely blown away by the fact that I now live in Japan.

-Might also be surprised that I still wear some of the same T-shirts (although only on weekends now).

can we turn this into a mongrels thread too?

And woo estela! Go girl :D

'for a fact' like this time machine dooby is really going to happen.

"Thanks."

"Girlfriend yet?"

"..."

"You're a dorky fucking letdown."

"Technically, that's your fault. Anyway, you need to do me about a 1000 different favours."

"None of them involve sleeping or comics, right?"

"Well, actually, you gotta take better care of the comics. Also, ffs, do more at school. When you leave, you'll be hit later with massive self-loathing for not doing anything or travelling anywhere while you had the chance. Also, join the gym - please - and when Snickers spread comes out, fucking moderate yourself - the photo in the yearbook you'll take is so damn cringeworthy. Also, stay away from the sciences at GCSE and dump History for French or something at A-Levels. Keep in touch with the schoolbuds you came here with - they will really suprise you one day. Keep on to the good ones you have - and the ones that make you laugh - and ignore the rest - they ain't worth it. Just be more sociable and more involved - it'll make your summers more interesting. And worry not about the girls - sooner or later, they do take notice. But for God's sake, don't ever be ashamed of or malicious about the ones you do know. The chat comes with practice. Force Mum and Dad to be more helpful with the GCSEs, A-Levels and uni - work harder so you can stand on firmer ground when the time comes. Don't back down to anybody in the wrong - EVER. Be very careful when {our brother} starts showing signs of trouble cause he'll get worse, not bettter, and you'll need to make everyone take notice. If you ever go out with mates who buy spraycans, LEAVE THEM TO IT. Also, write this down."

"...We're so fucked."

I'm not sure really what I imagined 26 to be like when I was a teenager. I assumed I'd be working, I had no idea doing what. I assumed I'd be having a lot more fun, that's certainly true. I thought I'd maybe be thinking about getting married.... hahahaha!!!

"yeah all the games that came out since 1993 really aren't that much better, and it's for free, it runs on my powerbook"

"you have a shiny powerbook from 10 years in the future and you use it to play Star Control 2"

"I'm engaged to this Ivy League hottie though!"

"You have all this awesome musical equipment, and this amazing computer, and you use it to play Star Control 2"

"....."

"....."

"Want to go a few rounds at Super Melee?"

"okay"

But his socks would roxd upon seeing my ps2 and xbox stuff, and I'd say "you lucky person, you get to play gta3, vice city, and san andreas all over again"

I'd offer him the following bits of advice:

1) Keep working out: it's going to be harder to stay in shape as you get into your thirties.

2 a) Sex and relationships happen when you're not chasing after them. Don't get stuck in the trap of pining after a girl who Clearly Just Doesn't Like You That Way at the expense of the someone who might really want to get with you. Keep your radar on, but don't make it obvious. You could be having a lot more fun than you are.

2 b) You're a good-looking guy, but your club kid attire may be sending out queer vibes to girls that you're interested in. You're treading a fine line between hip proto-metrosexual and foppish dandy. At some point you'll want to make it more obvious which side of the fence you're on.

3) Swallow your pride and get some singing lessons. You've got great potential, but your pitch and phrasing are a bit suspect, and it's going to take longer to grow out of that on your own.

4) For fuck's sake, cut back on the hair gel, and DON'T BRUSH YOUR HAIR AFTER IT'S BEEN GELLED STIFF. Why not? Do I need to spell this out for you?

5) You qualify for some half-decent scholarships. Why don't get off your ass and fill out the paperwork for 'em?

6) I can introduce you to a number of people who can tell you what an utterly dubious mixed blessing it is to be a Canuck celebrity. Trust me, you don't want it.

7) Despite what Mom has pounded into you since day one, drugs and alcohol are not the devil incarnate. For God's sake, live a little. If anyone needs to get a little out of his head, it's you.

OTOH, I would hope that after the initial reaction of sadness, my teenaged self would come to recognize that I have many good qualities and haven't made a terrible of my earlier dreams and promise.

My teenaged self wanted a life of heroic proportions. While I have not achieved anything like heroic stature in outward terms, I think there would be enough elements of heroism evident that I wouldn't be a disappointment to my younger self.

And then he would be disappointed that I'm still not an amazing drummer/not famous/don't listen to much metal.

Same thing with relationships: I bet he'd be bummed that I've only had one six-month-long relationship in the last four years, and he'd be anxious about my future in that department, but I'd say that I'm not really worried about whether or not I ever get married and have kids -- even I don't, that's fine, too.

He'd be happy that I was still writing, although he might wonder why I stopped writing more "creative" stuff like poetry and plays. And he'd think it was pretty cool and unbelievable that I was in a band that got to play at venues like the Metro.

Exactly.

...no, I guess I don't really mean that. Just some days.

1. Why am I a librarian?
2. Why aren't I married?
3. Why am I still studying?
4. Where's my C64?

Positive statements:

1. I have a lot of CD's!
2. I have a lot of books and comics
3. A guitar! Keyboards!
4. The internet, what's that???

Overall, I think they may be a little disappointed, but then I never promised anything to myself, and would remind myself of how morbid and stupid I was back then.