created by supergodmasterforce on 02/09/2020 at 12:38 UTC
134 upvotes, 33 top-level comments (showing 25)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Titor
I have long been interested in the posts, phenomenon and identity of John Titor ever since I discovered his posts around 15 years ago.
Titor is an alleged Time Traveller from the year 2036. He claims to have travelled back in time to 1975 in order to obtain an IBM 5100[1] as this could be used to solve the Year 2038[2] problem.
1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_5100
2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_2038_problem
Before returning to 2036, Titor stopped in 2000 for personal reasons and to wait for a suitable window to travel back to 2036. In early 2001 he made a series of posts using the handle "Time_Traveler_0" on the [Art Bell] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Bell[3]), Time Travel Institute, and Anomalies.net Forums relating to the future of the human race, his mission and time travel in general.
3: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Bell
The subjects and meaning of these posts has long been debated as has their authenticity and their true authorship. The most widely accepted theory is that the posts and the character of "John Titor" were created by Entertainment Lawyer, Larry Haber and his Computer Scientist brother, Morey. Artist Joseph Matheny[4], creator of one of the first online and internet based ARG's Ong's Hat[5] also claims to have been a consultant for the true creators and that it was ..."a story that was created as a literary experiment by people who were observing what I was doing with Ong's Hat".
4: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Matheny
5: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ong%27s_Hat
Included in the forum posts were various descriptions on how time travel works and since it's discovery, how it would effect the past/future and the "worldline" of the planet. Titor claims that the Everett–Wheeler model of quantum physics or Many-worlds interpretation[6] is accurate meaning, there are an infinite number of universes with an infinite number of possibilities. The consequences of time travel means that if one were to travel back in time, it wouldn't necessarily mean you were in the past you remember. It wouldn't be vastly different but your presence there would be enough to disrupt that "worldline" by a certain amount eg. a door you remember to be red might be green or a different team might have won the Superbowl that year. Titor claimed that his presence and actions in 1975 and 2000/2001 was enough to disrupt the worldline by 1%-2% which would mean the 2036 he travelled back to wouldn't be the same 2036 he left.
6: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Many-worlds_interpretation
His main predictions can be summed up as follows:
There are also a number of comments made by Titor relating and alluding to such things as the 2003 Iraq War ("Are you really surprised to find out that Iraq has nukes now or is that just BS to whip everyone up into accepting the next war?"), the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster ("Care to share with me how you solved the overheating problem on your space plane?")
Common sense would dictate that this indeed was an elaborate hoax. The evidence points to a number of persons being responsible for the posts for no specific reason or purely for entertainment value. Whether this was an attempt at an ARG or money making scheme may never be known either as to this day no single person, with the exception of Joseph Matheny, has come forward with proof or evidence that they were the originator/creator of John Titor.
However, other than the identity or identities of Titor, there are some aspects of this mystery that are worth investigating further.
For example, the reason that Titor required the IBM 5100 is legitimate and although there are conflicting reports as to whether it was known or unknown that this PC in particular could provide a solution is debatable. Oliver Williams, a Titor Archivist, claims that an IBM Engineer approached him to say that at the time (early 2000's) there would only be a handful of people who knew this and it wasn't knowledge that was widespread in the larger I.T. community. Bob Dubke, a former IBM Engineer who worked on the 5100, almost confirms this and has been quoted as saying that it could be used to help solve the Year 2038 problem but only internally as IBM were concerned this info would fall into a competitors hands.
There is also the matter of Pamela Moore. Pamela interacted with Titor through the various forums he posted and was in close contact with the 2036 John as well as his Mother (Kay) and the John Titor from our time. There are reports and interviews from Pamela as recent as 2017 about Titor and her communication with him and the family and all accounts point to Pamela and Titor being very close during his time here. Rumours of Pamela being in possession of a video which claimed to show the Time Travel apparatus/vehicle being activated when Titor returned to 2036 have never been verified nor has the video ever been posted online.
With regards to his predictions and comments about his presence here being enough to disrupt the time lines, I'm hoping it's just a coincidence that some have come partially true (albeit many years after he originally said they would) as we are currently in the middle of a pandemic potentially caused by unsafe food practices (similar to how CJD started), the Olympics have been cancelled and there is a lot of unrest in the United States linked to civil rights and the election of Trump.
https://computermystery.wordpress.com/2017/01/24/ibm-5100-computer/
https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/john-titor-time-traveler-predictions-story
https://michaelsauve.com/2017/01/04/the-john-titor-legend-an-update-from-pamela/
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/john-titor-pamela-moore-future-18849487
Comment by fenderiobassio at 02/09/2020 at 12:53 UTC
166 upvotes, 1 direct replies
In 2029 he borrowed $1 million from me. I'm still waiting John
Comment by KittikatB at 02/09/2020 at 13:44 UTC
135 upvotes, 5 direct replies
The things he was right about weren't particularly surprising though. Wars, civil unrest in the US, pandemic... anyone could predict that and have a reasonably high chance of being right or close to right. And, like with many other people who predict the future, if you throw out enough predictions you're eventually going to get a few right and that's what people will remember. They'll forget that you were wrong far more often than you were right. That's basically the business model for "psychics".
Comment by dankpoots at 02/09/2020 at 16:31 UTC
63 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Not only was this transparently not real, I even take umbrage with calling it an "elaborate hoax." There isn't anything elaborate about it. It was just someone trolling on the internet. And the predictions a) weren't accurate enough to cause any sort of speculation post facto, and b) were just vague enough (pandemics, fascism) that *anyone* passing familiar with the USA could see them coming a mile away.
Comment by NotSHolmes at 02/09/2020 at 14:14 UTC
87 upvotes, 3 direct replies
Why should he be given the benefit of the doubt with regards to his predictions? If he really has been to the year 2036 (which the lying attention-seeker, whoever it may be, definitely **hasn't**) then his predictions should be spot on - yet all of his predictions are outlandish and have only the minutest semblance to reality. How can you be so wrong in every single one of your 9 (main) predictions when the events they supposedly refer to are already history (in 2036)?!
I don't get why he is or should be given anymore notice than all the other hoaxers when his claims turn out to be just as imbecilic as theirs.
Apologies if my comment comes across as confrontational but it irritates me to no end that these people get way with making such absurd claims and, rather than being disregarded (as they should be), are given coverage and the attention they so desperately seek.
Comment by TheOwlAndOak at 02/09/2020 at 15:03 UTC
19 upvotes, 1 direct replies
If anyone really is interested in this guy and likes to play video games, the game Steins;Gate, a Japanese sort of Visual Novel (which can be played in English) available for PS4 and PS Vita and PC and Switch and I think Xbox too. There’s also some sequels as well and they’re all pretty interesting games. Not a lot of gameplay, but a good story that makes you think.
Comment by donwallo at 02/09/2020 at 18:05 UTC
23 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Those predictions are terrible though.
If his predictions had been uncannily accurate...well it would still be a hoax, but at least it would be a fun hoax.
Comment by McBigs at 03/09/2020 at 10:10 UTC
16 upvotes, 1 direct replies
No offense, OP, but I fail to see how this is an unresolved mystery.
Comment by Sigg3net at 02/09/2020 at 15:23 UTC
22 upvotes, 1 direct replies
They located the guy. Can't remember the name.
Of course it's fake. It was a joke that turned into an elaborate story.
Comment by AuNanoMan at 03/09/2020 at 06:34 UTC
7 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I always enjoy reading about John Titor, but it’s an obvious hoax. I remember reading about this like 8-10 years ago and seeing his predictions and thinking “okay some of these could fit.” Them I found myself doing the same and realized I was using more recent examples. And that’s where it really hits, all of his predictions are just vague enough that you can apply them to whatever. But the ones about civil war, the US splitting, and WW3 make it clear this is no one from the future. Even if you try and read into it and interpret those thing metaphorically, why would John Titor write them that way? It’s ridiculous to think he would suddenly start writing in poetic device for his predictions but not at all when describing his world, his purpose for traveling, and the many worlds interpretation. Like all good hoaxes, it falls apart under any modest level of scrutiny.
Comment by LeaguePillowFighter at 02/09/2020 at 13:31 UTC*
10 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I have a lot of problems with believing this, mostly because I feel that people would be popping back and forth like they were on vacation.
Aside from that, he was wrong about a lot of his predictions, but I like the idea of being able to blame one person for the mess we are currently in.
Comment by Tsui_Brooklyn at 02/09/2020 at 17:22 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I thought SteinsGate made up some BS but it’s actually based on a real thing lol
Comment by Ornery_Top at 03/09/2020 at 05:36 UTC
4 upvotes, 0 direct replies
He also had, equipped, a classic sassy time hoaxer excuse to be wrong a lot, as I recall - something like 'but remember we ARE on different timelines, people, so thats why my predictions could be off lol'
Comment by tzelli at 03/09/2020 at 18:18 UTC
10 upvotes, 1 direct replies
"Common sense would dictate that this indeed was an elaborate hoax." Shoulda stopped there.
Comment by [deleted] at 02/09/2020 at 18:55 UTC
11 upvotes, 1 direct replies
just like Nostradamus, predictions can be fuzzy and general enough that they might replicate some sort of reality.
Iraq didn't, and never did, have nukes. They did have chemical weapons, which as we know was used on the Kurds. So this claim is outright wrong. Nukes and gas attacks are not easily confused by future peoples. Its not like we claim the use of mustard gas in WWI to be nuclear weapons now.
And frankly, the US has flirted with fascism before Trump, and will do so after. Presidents like Jackson and FDR tore up constitutional rights whenever it suited their needs
pandemics are cyclical and not surprising
Comment by happyaccidents042 at 03/09/2020 at 04:51 UTC
4 upvotes, 0 direct replies
This was one of the first early internet rabbit holes I went on. It was nice to revisit all the information now that I'm older
Comment by tacitus59 at 03/09/2020 at 11:34 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
History is full of weird shit - and I could have easily made similar predictions and been slightly right some of the time - but totally wrong most of the time. Jean Dixon was another lying flash in the pan. And covid is nothing like cjd ... not in the slightest ... not in the animal types involved, not in the type of illness, and not in the symptoms.
Actually, about 75% of me buys into "Everett–Wheeler model" with the additional weird totally non-scientific twists.
Comment by [deleted] at 03/09/2020 at 13:36 UTC
4 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Titor is definitely a fun but obvious hoax.
many of the trends he predicted had been hinted at for years---a pandemic of a novel disease has been inevitable for a long time, civil unrest in the US has been likely for a couple decades and some have been warning about the global re-rise of fascism for 20 years or so, at least as long as I've been following it.
Comment by Upamechano at 04/09/2020 at 09:01 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Personally I enjoyed this post. We need more non-murder mysteries on here, thanks OP
Comment by Grace_Omega at 02/09/2020 at 19:23 UTC
11 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Some of the semi-accurate predictions are eerie, but not surprising. Epidimiologists have been warning the world about the threat of a major pandemic for decades (and remember there was a less severe one in 2009), making this a "prediction" that has a more or less 100% chance of coming true.
And as for the political stuff, the idea of the US fracturing is as old as the union itself. Many of the political and social trends we're grappling with now were already firmly established by the time Titor was posting; anyone making up predictions about a future civil war or schism would be able to guess the rough shape it would take.
Comment by nixibi3373 at 02/09/2020 at 19:24 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
You don't need an old computer to solve the 2038 problem. It's a limitation of the architecture and software. It was known from the time it was created.
Comment by thekelv at 03/09/2020 at 00:21 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Seems like he was pretty wrong on most fronts. At least we got a decent anime out of it
Comment by pageantfool at 02/09/2020 at 17:05 UTC
7 upvotes, 0 direct replies
El psy kongroo.
Comment by Amatalie at 07/09/2020 at 19:10 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Stopped off in 2020...
Nope of all the years to stop off in, I doubt a time traveller would pick 2020, even if it was personal reasons.
Comment by Thenadamgoes at 08/09/2020 at 07:56 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I remember reading this as it was happening in 2001. I was in college and into time travel stories.
This one never sat well with me. The many worlds theory in particular. For starters it’s an easy out if your predictions are wildly inaccurate, as they are. And second, if you are constantly changing the timeline and and changing worlds... then what’s the point in going back to get something to help your world? You’re going to return to a different world that might not even need what you retrieved. And the world that DOES need... is now abandoned.
There were other things too. He had a picture of his time travel device (I think it was in the back of his truck). He had it on and pointed a laser pointer at it and the beam curved... cause it’s a singularity bending light. But it would bend all the light... not just the laser.
And then of course when September rolled around and he completely failed to mention one of the most significant and lasting events in American history I knew it was all bullshit.
It’s honestly not even that interesting as a writing exercise.
Comment by [deleted] at 13/01/2021 at 21:38 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Well, this is looking scary now.