Illustration of an empty party set up for time travellers, with balloons, champagne and no guests.

RSVP: No One, Ever

45-second read

In 2009, Stephen Hawking threw a party. He had balloons, champagne, the whole sad lot. Nobody showed up.

Hawking held a reception for time travellers at Cambridge. The catch, of course, was that he only announced the party after it had already happened. The idea was simple enough, if you're the smartest man in Cambridge: if time travel to the past ever became possible, someone in the future could see the invitation, travel back to 2009, and attend the party.

If I was a time traveller, there’s probably other more pressing matters I would want to prioritise. I’m sorry but I’m not attending a party in Cambridge with people I don’t know. And, if you have access to technology, why would you burn your one trip going to Cambridge? Even the producers of the Harry Potter movies didn’t bother (even though the place feels like Hogwarts), so not sure I would.

People want answers. They want to know when The Winds of Winter is going to be published, or when Grand Theft Auto VI is going to be released. Now that’s good use of time travel.

There’s also the fear of being the only one there. There’s enough anxiety realizing you’re the first guest, but the only one?!?!?

One thing is overlooked. The invitation is still open. So if someone in the future does, I’ll have to amend this.

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