If you could change a single historical event...

Mentalist

We may not be exactly perfect but there have been improvements.

Czcibor

Under assumption that I have a GURPS ability: "rooted in probability" and even if major time paradox happen I still exist?

I'd try to remove assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria with hope of eliminating WW1, communism, and willingness for Germans to look for revenge in WW2. (but I can't exclude a possibility that a different total war can be fought in XXth century)

Presumably the outcome (price/backslash/whatever) would be maintaining monarchies for a few decades more, slower decolonization and developing nuclear weapons first not by the US, but by German Empire. Paradoxically it would be possible that I would not be living in an independent country now.

EDIT: Matrix - do you think that we would not develop a different universalistic religion? (or give a chance to already existing one, to become the dominating one like to ex. Zoroastrianism)

WyWonder

Hmm. My answer is kind of similar to CZCibor. Only that I would say to eliminate all major wars that ever took place. While this sounds impossible to the kind of world we live in. it is kind of the utopia kind of wishful thinking. But, you did ask what in history I would want to get rid of.

Instead of wars for example to Early America I could only wish the early settlers made peace with the Indians. The Indians did not care for money they did not have. The land and the freedom were there.

But if Indians did use arrows and tomahawks does mean they had to war against even other tribes at times. That also would have been eliminated.

From the Persian Empire to the Babylonian empire to Alexander the Great to the Roman Empire to the Ottoman Empire to all and every war even until now of Syria could be mended by a peace treaty.

I don’t like war even if good or bad on either side. Rather take captives and place them in prison at least to live. I am against Death penalty. I choose Life in prison. When someone is meant to die they will. No weapons needed to take ones life. Everyone deserves to live even them behind bars. Let Death takes it own course. Not to intervene in speeding it up in any way. Life to me is of great value more than the weight of Gold and Silver. . Life is greater than anything one has discovered outside of life. You will for example notice a freeway if people would drive in the speed limit would share the lanes. Life can be just like that if we count everyone than just ourselves. For after all we don’t live in this world alone. .

Adyssa

I would delete the 80s. Bad haircuts, bad clothes, bad music, we have nothing to lose!

zoobyshoe

You must mean the 70's. The 80's were great!

Drakkith

Let's just delete all the decades!

Mentalist

I will play along. I would delete the 00's.

Ivan Seeking

Well, yeah, if you were a 70's wannabe.

Evo

I loved 80's music.

zoobyshoe

Me too. There are kids who weren't even there who have 80's music parties. The 80's fabric colors and patterns are also making a comeback, I've noticed.

http://img0.etsystatic.com/000/0/580....284955524.jpg

Evo

My girl's love 80's music.

Drakkith

My buddy had his 9 year old son come home one day and say "Hey dad! Listen to this awesome new song!". His son plays him the song and it's a song from like Led Zepplin I think. My buddy was like "Son, that song is older than I am!"

Jobrag

Godfather III, All three Star Wars prequells.

Dembadon

I don't like messing with things I can't predict the outcome of. I don't think it'd be a good idea.

Lisa!

Does the extinction of the dinosaurs count as a historical event?

martix

Sure it does :P

Dino pets for everyone!

And I have no idea what religion would develop.
I seem to remember the Islam world was a center of learning in those early ages.

Though on the other hand you could say we are programmed to be religious(being all pattern-seeking, why-asking machines).

Czcibor

I would more blame collapse of Western Roman Empire, than Christianity. After all in the mean time there was quite civilized Byzantium while in barbaric Europe, monks were few literate people who copied some old books.

I would say, that there is such need in humans, and Christianity keeps incumbent effect.

I have doubts about appearance of Islam as we know it, Mohamed was somewhat inspired by Christianity, he accepted Jesus (Isa) as one of prophets.

If have to guess - there was a good chance to build a monotheistic religion, maybe a different one a while later

Even Judaism would look different, partially Talmud was written in some kind opposition towards Christianity.