Article Why the future might not be where you think it is

[C C]

https://theconversation.com/why-the-futu...-is-216861

EXCERPTS: . . . In some other cultures, however, the location of the past and the future are inverted. The Aymara, a South American Indigenous group of people living in the Andes, conceptualise the future as behind them and the past in front of them.

[...] Analysis of how people write, speak and gesture about time suggests that the Aymara are not alone. Speakers of Darij, an Arabic dialect spoken in Morocco, also appear to imagine the past as in front and the future behind. As do some Vietnamese speakers.

The future doesn’t always have to be behind or in front of us. There is evidence that some Mandarin speakers represent the future as down and the past as up. These differences suggest that there is no universal location for the past, present and future. Instead, people construct these representations based on their upbringing and surroundings.

Culture doesn’t just influence where we see the position of the future. It also influences how we see ourselves getting there.

[...] The Māori consider the past and present as known and seen concepts because they have already happened. The past is conceptualised as in front of a person, where their eyes can see them.

The future, however, is considered unknown because it has not happened yet. It is thought of as behind you because it is still unseen. Māori perceive themselves as walking backwards rather than forwards into the future because their actions in the future are guided by lessons from the past. By facing the past, they can carry those lessons forwards in time.

[...] Scientists are not sure why different people represent the past, present and future differently... (MORE - missing details)

[Syne]

The past being in front of you makes sense. Since you can "see" the past, we're basically walking backwards into the future.

The future as down, towards a gravity well, also makes sense. We have no choice but to fall into the future.

[Zinjanthropos]

If we’re in a simulation of past events then do we have a future or is our future dependent on the simulator having one?

Edit: IOW if we are not real then does our future really exist?

[Magical Realist]

I envision the past and the future like driving in my car. The future is what's coming and is seen thru the windshield. The past is what is no longer and is glimpsed thru the rearview mirror.

[stryder]

If we’re in a simulation of past events then do we have a future or is our future dependent on the simulator having one?

Edit: IOW if we are not real then does our future really exist?

I think the concept of simulation detracts from its actual meaning. Think of it like building a loop in a timeline, the loop occurs somewhere in the middle, there is still a past before it and a future ahead. It's just if you observe from within the loop, the past, present and future all converge while in the loop. (The creating of the past is in front, and the future is in the rear etc)

The problem is that even though I believe it would be possible if mankind pulled it's resources together to focus on doing such things, we are easily distracted and often hoodwinked due to political and ideological pressures to ignore what would likely make sense in the longerun.