Depending on how long ago, yes we have. I don't think we've changed that much since, say, 1908. But 1208? Hells yes.

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Some notes on 1908, off the top of my head:

Automobiles were not yet common.

Roads were mostly not paved.

There were no traffic lights.

Long distance communication was still done either by post or telegraph.

Men commonly wore suits to social occasions, coveralls for dirty work, and knickers (woolen pants that buttoned just below the knee) for sport. Women mostly wore long, straight-cut dresses. Guys wore hats, especially inexpensive straw hats.

Bathing suits covered most of the body and were made of wool.

The Wright brothers were still experimenting with basic flight mechanics.

Nikola Tesla had only recently lit up the State Fair, and he and Edison were still in a heated battle over whether electricity should be distributed in AC or DC. Electrical distribution wasn't common yet, and many areas still woke and slept by the sun.

So, "terrified"? Probably not, unless the person landed on the side of a freeway. But it certainly would be disorienting.

Oh, and this is to say nothing of changes in world politics since 1908.

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I didn't say it wouldn't be disorienting.

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Why 1208?

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Just a random date, really.

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I mean, I don't know history very well; what changed between 1208 and 1908 that would have prepared folk in the latter year for 2008?

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Well, the invention of electricity for example. Or, hey, that diminishing role of the church in every day life and the increase of secular institutions like science and stuff. Or the lack of, y'know, kings over large parts of the world. Or the fact that we have more than three continents now.

And that's just talking about someone from Europe or the Middle East. I imagine it would even weirder for someone from thirteenth century Africa or North America.

Um.

I'm sorry, the question is like asking what changed between the Bronze and Middle Ages, except even more so.

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...point.

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I would have said "trope" rather than "meme".

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I'm not so sure. A trope is just something which is used in stories a lot - this is something I've heard repeated uncritically in other contexts, too.

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Ah, I see. I've only seen it as a story device. That is probably why you used meme!

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Indeed!

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