LogFAQs > #925998593

masterbarf posted...

I'd murder Marilyn Manson.

AssultTank posted...

I wouldn't. Bad as it sounds, I wouldn't change history. Too much potential for catastrophe.

That's really dumb. By your logic nobody should ever do anything good, even saving the lives of kids because something bad could happen in the future that wouldn't have otherwise.

The logic is you can't predict the effects. And generally, that's why WWII is such a popular spot for the butterfly effect, because it's far enough back that modern life would be markedly different, but not so far back to be totally unrecognizable. Let's say you prevent the Holocaust and other Nazi war crimes for instance; the biggest noteworthy change I can think of is that no one will codify a soldier's right and obligation to ignore unlawful orders. Now imagine how Vietnam, the Gulf Wars, and the occupation of Iraq would have gone if "I was only following orders" was still a legally credible defense.

Modern society is shaped by history. Changing history therefore changes society, possibly in unexpected ways. Rolling back to Columbine, let's say you prevent the massacre. One of the shooters was caught making pipe bombs before he decided to just use a gun. What's to say he didn't perfect pipe bombs and collapse half the school increasing the death toll even higher than it already was.
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