This will not affect your original timeline.

And lets take take this hypothetical a step further:

Sceanrio 2:
Say, in the alt-timeline, present-you arrive in the year when past alt-you were 10 years old, your original parents/guardians/caretakers dies for some reason on this timeline, would you care enough about your alternate-self help them? Like take on the role of a parent/guardian in place of their now-dead parents? (Basically, its a roundabout way of asking: How much can you tolerate yourself?)

My answer:

I think I could probably remember enough of myself to understand my alt-self enough to become friends. But if their timeline got fucked up, and their parents die, I’m not sure I can actually deal with this kid who, is me, but not me, like… I would probably get so annoyed at this kid, but also, I’d think about myself when I was 10, when I was this kid, and then feel pity. Idk if I could ever abandon an alt-self, because I’ve already feel abandoned (not literally, but like as in terms of the emotional side of parental love that I never gotten), I wouldn’t wanna see someone who is practically me, also go though the same abandonment.

Idk… Time travel is so weird.

    • 鳳凰院 凶真 (Hououin Kyouma)@sh.itjust.worksOP
      2·
      9 days ago

      Aha lolol I felt this.

      But then again I’m not sure if my younger self would ever understand what’s happening or end up having even more PTSD, then I try to explain alt-timelines and my alt-self just goes into existential crisis at age 11 and obsessed about time travel. (Because I know I end up obsessing with the idea of time travel, even without an alternate-me intervening)

  • neidu3@sh.itjust.worksMEnglish
    5·
    9 days ago

    My 20y.o self cringed at my 15 y.o. self.
    At 30 I cringed at how I was at 20.
    Now at early 40s I cringe at the thought of 30 y.o. me.

    In conclusion: I’m probably still cringeworthy to my future self. But at least my younger self can feel comfort in knowing that it gets better.

  • IWW4@lemmy.zip
    5·
    9 days ago

    Your question really isn’t matching up with your scenario.

    Would I care for my ten year old self if my worthless parents and abusive POS brother were removed hell yes.

    Does that have anything to do with how much I liked myself? NO.

    Now with that said, I look back at myself and I was a really good dude always.

    Now did i do all the clumsy stupid stuff that teenagers do? Yes of course. Did I treat anyone like shit or make my world a worse place NO.

  • HerpinDerpNerd@lemmy.world
    3·
    9 days ago

    I dont like my younger self. Fault of my upbringing, but still.

    And 2nd scenario, also no. No matter if its alt me or not, i dont have the patience and mental headspace to raise a kid responsibly.

  • CerebralHawks@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    2·
    9 days ago

    Nah, I don’t think I’d choose to take on a 10-year-old with undiagnosed autism and ADHD, especially with the added pressure that he’s me.

    I think this question favours younger readers, and possibly more female readers (more young women are maternal than young men are paternal).

    Also, at 46, I don’t think I’d make a good friend to any 10 year old. I’ve been a good uncle to a few of them over the years, but that is not the same thing.

    I hope I do not seem to be missing the point. I think I get it, but I’m saying that the logistics of it even if it’s not me, but a kid who is like how I was, that would be challenging enough. But knowing it’s me? That raises the stakes, and I don’t see a good outcome.