If a Portal appeared in front of you, would you step through it?

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The discussion revolves around the hypothetical scenario of encountering a mysterious portal that appears suddenly in daily life. Participants express a mix of curiosity and caution regarding whether they would jump through the portal, weighing the potential for extraordinary experiences against the risks of the unknown. Many contributors suggest testing the portal's safety by using objects or technology before making a decision. Some express a youthful eagerness to explore, while others cite responsibilities and the potential dangers of the universe as reasons to refrain from jumping in. Humor is prevalent throughout the conversation, with playful references to sci-fi culture and personal anecdotes, including the idea of using pets to test the portal. Ultimately, the thread captures a blend of adventurous spirit and practical skepticism about the implications of such a life-altering choice.
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Imagine someday when you're going about your daily life, a Portal suddenly appears in front of you.. HOW SHOCKING! I mean, who knows how it happened - maybe an Alien civilization 1.5 billion years more advanced than us, accidently created this portal in a wrong time/space/dimension, and you're probably the first and last human being ever to witness this miraculous event.

Now, you can't see beyond the portal because it's fuzzy, it's about 10 feet round but slowly shrinking.. so you don't have much time to decide. My question is: Would You Jump Through it? Would you leave behind your life, love ones, and basically EVERYTHING you know to experience this once in an eternity wonder that might take you to the far flung future or ancient past, or it might reveal ALL the mysteries of the universe, or land you in a strange universe.

Would you risk it all on a moments notice? Or would you be content to stay on earth, live out your life and hope that one day another will pop up.. and let other people study it first, which is probably NEVER.

I'd like to hear all your responses and I'll tell you mine [although I'm sure you would have guess what I'd do!]
 
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This is why I always carry a homing pigeon (preferably one that speaks good English) in my wallet.
 
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Gokul43201 said:
This is why I always carry a homing pigeon in my wallet.

hehe, you're not the only one! I actually call myself a Slider :biggrin: Hi Slider, you too! :-p

Yes, and the English Dictionary is important too, 'cause mainly all the Aliens speak it.. I also have in my possession THHGTTG (the Hitch Hikers guide to the Galaxy) :biggrin:
 
I've never been into traveling.
 
Can we assume there's some way we could know it was a Portal (reasonably safe to enter), rather than e.g. an intergalactic garbage disposal unit?
 
I would throw rocks and sticks at it, and maybe do a odd dance.
 
I looked over some search results at irs.gov. Alas, I can find no deductions for portal related travel.

So, no.
 
I have actually thought about this since it was a scenario in a few sci-fi/fantasy books I've read.

If the portal was noticeably "shrinking" so it would be safe to assume it was a one way trip. No.

On the other hand, a stable portal would just be too enticing not to at least test it by sticking roaches into it and seeing if they could be pulled back alive. Using a camera on a wand or even one of those camera robots, possibly equipped with a quantum cascade laser to test the atmosphere would be good.
 
Evo,don't rule out the funky dancing part either .
 
  • #10
hypatia said:
Evo,don't rule out the funky dancing part either .
Oh, that's a given! :biggrin:
 
  • #11
OAQfirst said:
I looked over some search results at irs.gov. Alas, I can find no deductions for portal related travel.

So, no.

Alas, not only could I find no deductions for portal related travel, it turns out that over half of the other deductions I though I could claim don't actually exist in this universe. My argument that they may exist in a parallel universe seems to have the flotation properties of a stone.

I would have no choice but to step through in search of a parallel universe that will allow my many deductions.
 
  • #12
I definitely would not jump in today.

However, when I was in my early 20's > LOL it's very possible I would have shouted "seee yaa" and/or told one of my friends "follow me" as I jumped in head first.

Today, I'd try to find a camera to document and try doing something similar to what Evo described.
 
  • #13
Being an American, I would of course start firing my machine gun into the portal immediately after seeing the first tentacle appear.
 
  • #14
Jonathan Scott said:
Can we assume there's some way we could know it was a Portal (reasonably safe to enter), rather than e.g. an intergalactic garbage disposal unit?

Nope, you can NOT know where the portal leads to! that's the point of it all... and remember - it's shrinking by the second! so, would you take the risk and jump through it? :approve:
 
  • #15
I'd jump through it for sure, it's a once in million lifetime opportunity, and yes I am young! :) I'm hoping by the time I reach the other side, trillions of Aliens will be there to greet me with waving flags.. and enlighten me on the mysteries of the universe YAY! I'll be the first human to ever make contact, and then of course they will take me home later on. :))
 
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  • #16
Zdenka said:
I'll be the first human to ever make contact, and then of course they will take me home later on. :))
Don't count on the "take me home" bit. I'm still waiting for Tweety and Nibbles to return. I even tied my good camera to Tweety's neck before throwing her through. Now I wish I'd at least saved the tripod for myself.
 
  • #17
Zdenka said:
I'd jump through it for sure, it's a once in million lifetime opportunity, and yes I am young! :) I'm hoping by the time I reach the other side, trillions of Aliens will be there to greet me with waving flags.. and enlighten me on the mysteries of the universe YAY! I'll be the first human to ever make contact, and then of course they will take me home later on. :))

It's a cookbook !
 
  • #18
Zdenka said:
YAY! I'll be the first human to ever make contact, and then of course they will take me home later on. :))

What kind of contact?
 
  • #19
I think the only logical first step to take in such a situation is to slowly sneak back two steps, very quietly step to the side, and then push the guy in front of you into the portal.
 
  • #20
I once helped to put on a space summer camp for Cub Scouts. It's a long story, but in the end we had these kids pumped for the appearance of an alien spacecraft , which I was glad to provide using a weather balloon [a big one!] disguised as a mother ship, flashing lights, etc. As the mother ship rose [controlled by fish lines that Tsu and I held in secret], I looked up to see a wall of almost 100 kids running madly across the field to see the ship. They were out of control! It was hilarious.

It took a better part of a half hour to find the three kids that ran the other direction. We all concluded that this was a good example of Darwinism at work.
 
  • #21
At least you have the choice of whether to go through the portal or not and that's better than being abducted by aliens.Even I can tell me that.
 
  • #22
Err, I imagine you'd probably die immediately of asphixiation, within a few minutes of freezing or overheating, within a few days of dehydration, or within a month of starvation.

The universe is generally not a very hospitable place for humans!
 
  • #23
maze said:
Err, I imagine you'd probably die immediately of asphixiation, within a few minutes of freezing or overheating, within a few days of dehydration, or within a month of starvation.

The universe is generally not a very hospitable place for humans!
According to a Smithsonian Institute report from 1997, 17% of portal destinations are sufficiently hospitable for most human endeavors, while another ~45% were rated adequate.

Or was that the customer satisfaction survey results for Motel 8?
 
  • #24
Unless I tripped and fell into it when its sudden appearance startled me, nope, no way, no how! For those of you who want to jump through, can you please sign over all your Earthly possessions to me in the event you do not return? :biggrin:
 
  • #25
I just stepped through a portal and saw Moonbear! :eek:
 
  • #26
Welcome back, MoonB. I didn't see your return yesterday, so I'm a bit late.
 
  • #27
Thanks for the welcome back. Y'know, this place is like a bad addiction. You leave for a while, get over all the withdrawal symptoms, move on with your life, then pop in for just "one hit" and the addiction kicks in all over again.
 
  • #28
Why isn't anyone acting serious?!
 
  • #29
Moonbear said:
Thanks for the welcome back. Y'know, this place is like a bad addiction. You leave for a while, get over all the withdrawal symptoms, move on with your life, then pop in for just "one hit" and the addiction kicks in all over again.

What was it LisaB once said? "The addict always thinks he can have just a little bit"...?

:biggrin:
 
  • #30
Zdenka said:
Why isn't anyone acting serious?!
We tried! Maybe we're not so good at acting?
 
  • #31
Math Is Hard said:
What was it LisaB once said? "The addict always thinks he can have just a little bit"...?

:biggrin:

Definately sounds like something I'd say...!

...don't remember saying it though :smile:...
 
  • #32
Moonbear said:
Thanks for the welcome back. Y'know, this place is like a bad addiction. You leave for a while, get over all the withdrawal symptoms, move on with your life, then pop in for just "one hit" and the addiction kicks in all over again.
Moderation, that's the key.

Notice my post count. And I'm among the oldest members still around! (August '03!).

and Zdenka, this is not the "serious forum."
 
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  • #33
Evo said:
I have actually thought about this since it was a scenario in a few sci-fi/fantasy books I've read.

If the portal was noticeably "shrinking" so it would be safe to assume it was a one way trip. No.

On the other hand, a stable portal would just be too enticing not to at least test it by sticking roaches into it and seeing if they could be pulled back alive. Using a camera on a wand or even one of those camera robots, possibly equipped with a quantum cascade laser to test the atmosphere would be good.

I look at it in much the same light as you, Evo however, if I were still married to my loser ex-wife and a portal suddenly opened, I'm fairly certain I'd promptly jump in head first! :biggrin:
 
  • #34
Ivan Seeking said:
I once helped to put on a space summer camp for Cub Scouts. It's a long story, but in the end we had these kids pumped for the appearance of an alien spacecraft , which I was glad to provide using a weather balloon [a big one!] disguised as a mother ship, flashing lights, etc. As the mother ship rose [controlled by fish lines that Tsu and I held in secret], I looked up to see a wall of almost 100 kids running madly across the field to see the ship. They were out of control! It was hilarious.

It took a better part of a half hour to find the three kids that ran the other direction. We all concluded that this was a good example of Darwinism at work.

Words can't describe how awesome and hilarious that is. I can't imagine a bunch of kids running around. :smile:
 
  • #35
Zdenka said:
Imagine someday when you're going about your daily life, a Portal suddenly appears in front of you.. ... My question is: Would You Jump Through it?

That's how I ended up on this *!%$*& planet in the first place!
 
  • #36
When I was a kid, I built a "UFO" out of a thin plastic laundry bag, soda straws for a frame, and heated by birthday-cake candles. I launched it from my backyard after sunset on a cold winter day, then when it gained enough altitude to get up into the sunlight, it simply gleamed. I ran around the neighborhood pounding on doors to get other kids to come out and see the "UFO". Eventually, I told them the truth, but it was fun for a while.
 
  • #37
turbo-1 said:
When I was a kid, I built a "UFO" out of a thin plastic laundry bag, soda straws for a frame, and heated by birthday-cake candles. I launched it from my backyard after sunset on a cold winter day, then when it gained enough altitude to get up into the sunlight, it simply gleamed. I ran around the neighborhood pounding on doors to get other kids to come out and see the "UFO". Eventually, I told them the truth, but it was fun for a while.

I used an eight-foot diameter weather balloon. IIRC. it took an entire H tank of helium. From there I just dressed it up with black plastic, and lights. It was all part the story of the great war between the Vorgons and the Be-gones, that had evolved over the week.

The next day while we were starting the clean-up, we had ~thirty people talking like Mickey Mouse.

Interestingly, during the week of the camp, NASA made the first announcement that ancient life may have been discovered in a martian meteorite. As I made the announcement, the looks on the faces of the kids and the parents was priceless. Everyone thought it must be some kind of joke! :biggrin:
 
  • #38
Without a doubt, I would. They say curiosity kills the cat but it can also reap rewards. I would do it for Science. Oh yeah, and myself considering the money I could make from TV appearances and all.
 
  • #39
Cyrus said:
Words can't describe how awesome and hilarious that is. I can't imagine a bunch of kids running around. :smile:

It was certainly one of memorable moments in life. We had a few minor injuries - skinned knees and elbows - and we had three scared kids hiding in the bushes, in the dark, in the forest, but in the end it was a huge hit and everyone loved it. It couldn't have been a more dramatic moment - a great finale to a great week.

In case the point was not clear in regards to the op: I think the three that ran the other direction were the smart ones - most likely to reproduce.
 
  • #40
Ivan Seeking said:
It was certainly one of memorable moments in life. We had a few minor injuries - skinned knees and elbows - and we had three scared kids hiding in the bushes, in the dark, in the forest, but in the end it was a huge hit and everyone loved it. It couldn't have been a more dramatic moment - a great finale to a great week.

In case the point was not clear in regards to the op: I think the three that ran the other direction were the smart ones - most likely to reproduce.

AHAHAHAH, see, you could never get away with anything like that these days. Kids need to be tramatized. It's good for them. :devil:
 
  • #41
Cyrus said:
AHAHAHAH, see, you could never get away with anything like that these days. Kids need to be tramatized. It's good for them. :devil:

Even then... it was an unexpected reaction. As the childwall moved towards me with parents and coordinators yelling to no avail - barely audible above the screams of the kids - I could see the scoutmaster looking pie-eyed and holding his head in his hands. On my side of things, I think my heart nearly stopped as I saw the first kid tumble.
 
  • #42
Ivan Seeking said:
Even then... it was an unexpected reaction. As the childwall moved towards me with parents and coordinators yelling to no avail - barely audible above the screams of the kids - I could see the scoutmaster looking pie-eyed and holding his head in his hands. On my side of things, I think my heart nearly stopped as I saw the first kid tumble.

If only you had filmed that, you would be cashing in on Americas Funniest Home Videos.
 
  • #43
Cyrus said:
If only you had filmed that, you would be cashing in on Americas Funniest Home Videos.

Heh, no kidding! In fact I don't know that someone didn't film it. We probably had about 150 adults with cameras and videos. I never thought to ask. :cry:

No doubt though that I had the best perspective of anyone.

I had also rebuilt a life-sized, remote-controlled robot that interacted with the kids all week. I operated it from behind the stage. I was so busy and it was so hectic that I hever even got a photograph of it.

I once drove through town with the robot tied up in the back of my truck, standing upright, and screaming for help.
 
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  • #44
Addressing the OP: If I was single, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Knowing nothing about a portal, I couldn't possible do it today because I have a wife and responsibilities.
 
  • #45
Might make sense to send in some dogs on leashes... and see what they bring back or whether the leashes instantaneously combust.
 
  • #46
Unknot said:
Might make sense to send in some dogs on leashes... and see what they bring back or whether the leashes instantaneously combust.
Not dogs! I love dogs! Throw some cats through, maybe... :rolleyes:
 
  • #47
turbo-1 said:
Not dogs! I love dogs! Throw some cats through, maybe... :rolleyes:
You don't have to throw cats through it! Just put them down in front of it and give them a few minutes.

If I go through, packing list so far:
three Days rations
swimwear
sunblock
Rubik's Cube
American Express Travelers Cheques
iPod Touch
two rolls toilet paper
6 boxes of Durex Sensi-Thin
Irish coin collection
passport
emergency sewing thread & needle
black licorice (hate the stuff, but might sell/barter well enough)
couple boxes of Mexican jumping beans
first season of Lost on DVD
Life-size cutout of Gillian Anderson
 
  • #48
OAQfirst said:
If I go through, packing list so far:
three Days rations
swimwear
sunblock
Rubik's Cube
American Express Travelers Cheques
iPod Touch
two rolls toilet paper
6 boxes of Durex Sensi-Thin
Irish coin collection
passport
emergency sewing thread & needle
black licorice (hate the stuff, but might sell/barter well enough)
couple boxes of Mexican jumping beans
first season of Lost on DVD
Life-size cutout of Gillian Anderson
:smile:
 
  • #49
Huzzah! Moonbear is back! :biggrin:

I'll confess to being an impulsive jumper by nature. The funky dancing also sounds like a great idea too though. I'm not getting enough funky dancing nowadays.

Evo really has the most logical approach however, and I'll keep that in my back pocket should such an opportunity REALLY present itself.
 
  • #50
Lots of interesting responses, folks! I'm jumping in without money, because if an Alien civilization is advanced enough to open a wormhole, then they won't need money as they only do things to better themselves. :))
 

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