Filed under: random | Tags: environment, relationships, sci-fi, teleportation, transit
(or: the #1 way to improve my love life)
I am in a long distance relationship – my boyfriend lives in Boston. We don’t see each other often, so many a night is spent wishing we could be closer or had some magical means of transportation. Since we are both geeks, this usually means transporters or powers of teleportation.
But being the diligent, socially-conscious people that we are, we got sidetracked into thinking about the ramifications of teleportation ability. Obviously the need to be able to teleport anything you are wearing or carrying is essential, if at least so you do not violate public decency laws. But I also became concerned that if my boyfriend gained the ability to teleport he would not get enough exercise – he would start using it for small trips that he normally walks for, such as to the grocery store. So I decided that the teleport ability should only be usable for above a certain distance – one that is further than easy access by walking and/or public transportation.
Ideally, only he and I would have this ability – its value would be too degraded otherwise. However, it it was more widespread, it should be rationed in such a way as to be friendly to the environment. The main restriction would be that it would only be available to those who did not drive or would be willing to give up driving. Same goes for people with private jets or helicopters. (And if I was mean, people who make fun of people in long distance relationships)
I mean, there probably should also be regulation for people who are criminals, or maybe just that if someone is doing something malicious, they become unable to teleport. “Lightness of soul” sort of stuff.
Of course then you run into the problem of making sure you don’t teleport into a wall or anything. It would be easy for places that you already know (like your boyfriend’s bedroom, as was the original idea, ahem), but for places you don’t know? Maybe Google could have a Google maps for transporter locations, and included a picture of what the room looks like. Either that or they would all have to be completely uniform.
I think it’s an awesome idea, but the airplane, automobile, and rail lobby would never allow it.
But do you think the government would give me a research grant for it? I mean, it’s for the good of the environment! And my sex life.
