If you could see back to any year in history, which year would you choose? You can skip around in time and space within your chosen year, but not affect anything.

I have always wanted to go back and visit a pub in ancient Sumeria or somewhere, just to listen in and see how much people haven't changed over the eras. People complaining about their boss, making rude jokes, singing off key...I'm sure it's all there.

One of the earliest known jokes archeologists have found starts off, "A dog walks into a bar..." No one today understands the punchline, but I'm fascinated that style of joke has been around since the dawn of human civilization.

That is super cool about the joke. I think it's either a translation error, or "dog" might have been a slur used for for a blind person, and "bar" might have also had a double meaning? It's strange because it almost makes sense but not quite.

1571: Akbar conquers the kingdom of Gujarat, which becomes a significant economic and cultural center.

Fascinated by mughal history and Akbar in particular.

That sounds so cool, until I realize that I wouldn't understand anyone around me. It'd still be amazing to see everything, but it'd be even better if I could have some subtitles as well. To be fair, I'd have much the same issue, if I were to go back to London of that year.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dead_Past

Just sayin'.

Yeah. I feel like last year is the best full year to have near perfect surveillance of any point or moment. Most actionable data would be found then.

Would like to see the battle of alesia (52 BC) or battle of Cannae (216 BC) for pure epicness. (Not gore, just want to see the tactics in real life). Perhaps Waterloo? (1815)

If it's more a historical figure. Would like to see the last 6 months of Jesus life and the first 6 months of the church just to see what in the hell actually happened..

Oh yeah, being able to see what actually happened in the years when the Bible stories were supposedly happening would be really interesting.

Woodstock

Tet Offensive.

Assassinations of RFK and MLK

Riots.

Nixon elected.

USSR invades Czechoslovakia

Apollo flights.

This year. Having near omniscience about recent events would have so many useful applications.

My stock predictions would be crazy accurate if I could observe what decision makers were planning but had not yet implemented or were still in the process of implementing.

Depending on the timing of when this ability takes affect, I might be able to also place wagers on events, like awards shows, that have already been decided but not yet announced.

My ability to solve crimes by observing how they were committed and what happened to the evidence would propel me to Sherlock Holmesian level of noteriety.

I am also sure plenty of influencial people would be willing to do favors for me in exchange for my silence on some of their various recent activities.

Those aren't even the imaginative ideas.

This year. Having near omniscience about recent events would have so many useful applications.

Depending on the timing of when this ability takes affect, I might be able to also place wagers on events, like awards shows, that have already been decided but not yet announced.

OP's rules were "You can skip around in time and space within your chosen year, but not affect anything." So you couldn't go back in time to place wagers to collect today. Your changes in the past would not affect the present.
- Maybe I want clear enough, so allow me to expand.
  
  Some events, like the cited example of award shows, have their outcomes decided on before they are announced. If I gain this ability after that the decision is made but before the outcome is announced, then I could place a wager on it now without impacting anything in the past. This is where the "depending on the timing" qualifier comes into play and why I said "already decided but not yet announced".
You would go out and memorize every crime detail and business decision? Spending this gift on a mix of corporate meetings and bearing witness to all the horrible immoral things people do to each other.

What you gain except easy acces to wealth and popularity? Things we know that do not cause happiness.
- Wealth absolutely causes happiness
- The ability would be see back to any year. I could just look back at any specific event within the year. I wouldn't need to memorize anything if I can just observe it.
  
  I already consider myself a fairly happy individual. I would be pursuing financial independence, not happiness. Besides, why would I assume that the acquisition of knowledge would have an impact on my emotional state.

I wouldn't enjoy it, but I think I'd have to go back to the trenches in WW1. Just to experience the horrific conditions that so many people experienced. Hearing the history, it just seems so incomprehensible.

Also observing both sides and everything around it would be interesting.

Edit: either what I said, or Hannibal with his elephants in the mountains.

Probably last year. It's the year thats most relevant to today. I'd like to see what Putin has for breakfast and what Biden does to relax. Also easy social security fraud

This is outrageously practical. I'm honestly impressed

Do i still have human needs while i am skipping back and forth within that year?

If not imma just go back really far when the planet was still beautiful and just wander in nature for eternity.

I didn't specify, and although I'd imagined that it was more like a video you were watching in VR and you still needed to eat and sleep and whatever, I really love your concept and now prefer the immortal invulnerable version.

How long do i get to remain there? I may simply not come back. lol

1903

I would love to understand Einstein. I want to have lengthy talks with him while he is thinking/working on all these purely theoretical experiments. I can't understand all his math now, today, but maybe I could if I hear it fresh from the source and discuss it with him.

You can't affect anything, so you can listen to him, I guess you can talk 'to him', but he won't hear you.
- you can talk 'to him', but he won't hear you.
  
  Now that's boring.
  
  Then I take Las Vegas instead.