this post was submitted on 16 Nov 2025
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Basically the title, you need to use the skills you have now and be a productive member of society.

I don't mean go back and show the wheel or try invent germ theory etc.

For example I'm a mechanic i think I could go back to the late 1800s and still fix and repair engines and steam engines.

Maybe even take that knowledge further back and work on the first industrial machines in the late 1700s but that's about it.

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[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Not very. Once you get past my birth the technology is so different most everything I know outside the basics like reading, writing, and math are useless. I don't know how to program with punch cards in assembly. I might do alright in a chem or biology lab for awhiles. Pipetting would be a bitch though. EDITED - just have to say outside of skills I really would hate living before indoor plumbing was common so regardless I would not be very happy before ww1 and even then I would have to live in a city where it was the norm.

[–] venusaur@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

All the way back

[–] buzz86us@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

1921.. Did people mess up their Model Ts?

[–] Doomsider@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] buzz86us@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

I clean cars for a living

[–] RisingSwell@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 days ago

About as far back as shops went. I work retail, I could work retail in any year I presume

[–] WALLACE@feddit.uk 2 points 2 days ago

I'm an electrical design engineer but I have a degree in mechanical engineering, so I reckon I'd fit in during the industrial revolution or even the agricultural revolution

[–] Witchfire@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

My day job won't go far, but my fire expertise and leatherworking skills will take me pretty far

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

If language isn't an issue I could probably work as an engineer in ancient Egypt or a math teacher in ancient Greece

Umm, but what if I'm a science teacher? Like, my specialty is history and presentation of science experimentation. The primary limitation is whether I am allowed to bring the tools of my trade (books), which would help me survive in England or Iceland as far back as 900 AD.

[–] YeahIgotskills2@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

Yikes. I've moved from IT tech support to MGMT. I don't really write with a pen, and largely rely on emails/teams. I think if we went back any further than the late 80s I'd be totally screwed.

[–] WellroundedKi@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

As a kind of generalist (risk analysis-mitigation, engineering and NGOs), I think I could go back some centuries in time as an advisor or leading teams to improve their quality of life.

[–] xylogx@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Give me some stone knives and bear skins and I could construct a mnemonic memory circuit. ;-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F226oWBHvvI

[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I'd have to re-remember a lot of stuff I've forgotten, but late 70s, early 80s.

Unless you count "typing" as a marketable skill, then I could probably go back to 1872?

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[–] Boneses@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 days ago

I'm a locksmith so any time since the invention of the pin tumbler lock 150ish years ago I will be fine. I don't prefer it but I can hand file keys without any electric key cutting machines. Before that the bit and barrel locks that were used I know enough to get by though admittedly I don't know enough history to say roughly how long ago those were invented.

[–] ApathyTree@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago

Considering the Aztecs developed hydroponic technology without other advanced technology, I could probably go back to the beginning of humanity with my knowledge, even if I only get to bring one skillset and not the whole of my knowledge. And boy would things change from there!

[–] Soktopraegaeawayok@lemmy.world 0 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I dont know how my skills might translate. But my ex would find work immediately. I mean, being a whore was a living back then. She could suck and fuck cavemen and probably eat well enough. She would probably try to get double teamed by Neanderthals, because filling 1 hole wasnt enough for her.

[–] Canopyflyer@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

Yikes!

Hope you're in a better place now.

[–] MeThisGuy@feddit.nl 1 points 1 day ago

being a whore is the oldest profession, she'd be fine. dunno if she likes it caveman rough though

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