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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[–] WALLACE@feddit.uk 2 points 1 month 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 1 month ago

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

[–] venusaur@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

All the way back

[–] Alcyonaria@piefed.world 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Given a fresh restart, carpenter or blacksmith 1300s probably. Id loathe the lack of food though

[–] lemmie689@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 1 month ago

No sugar tonight in my coffee
No sugar tonight in my tea
No sugar to stand beside me
No sugar to run with me

Da-un-do-dow dow da-un-do-dow
Da-un-do-dow dow un-dow-dow
Da-un-do-dow dow da-un-do-dow
Da-un-do-dow dow

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month 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 1 month 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 month 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.

[–] hungryphrog@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 month ago

Weaving, pottery, gardening, spinning. Yea it'd take a while to adjust to the culture and way of life but I could probably go all the way to Sumer if I wanted and language & diseases weren't a problem.

[–] abbiistabbii@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 3 weeks ago

So on one side, I have a history degree, so I could probably navigate the world quite well up until about 1500 or 1600. I know that sounds relatively recent, but I would know a lot about my local area.

On the other side, I'm a trans woman, and history in my country is not too kind to gender variants, though that is not a monolith, a lot of people have been burnt alive or hung for gender variancy where I am back then.

[–] RisingSwell@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 month ago

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

[–] ApathyTree@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 month 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!

[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month 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 1 month 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.

[–] xylogx@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

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

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

[–] Soktopraegaeawayok@lemmy.world 0 points 1 month 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.

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

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

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