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Ron preserved or hid Regina's time machine. This means that it could be reactivated, perhaps by Ron's young chess apprentice.
Would that be wise?
How could it be used in an ethical way?

If Ron and his new apprentice could improve the machine, so that it could look deeper into the future, an ethical use would be looking for crimes that could be prevented, for example checking tomorrow's news.

NetMassimo wrote: ↑18 Nov 2020, 09:16 If Ron and his new apprentice could improve the machine, so that it could look deeper into the future, an ethical use would be looking for crimes that could be prevented, for example checking tomorrow's news.

That would be a great idea! The main problem would be just related to the good order of things. So far, such steps seem to have be forbidden because of the unexpected distortions. But... nothing is impossible, especially in fiction, i.e., science-fiction.
Thank you for the comment!

A good part of a sequel's plot might be the development of a solution to overcome the distortion problem. I wonder if the author has some ideas for a sequel.

aacodreanu wrote: ↑17 Nov 2020, 05:11 Ron preserved or hid Regina's time machine. This means that it could be reactivated, perhaps by Ron's young chess apprentice.
Would that be wise?
How could it be used in an ethical way?

Didn't he destroy it? Anyway, yes, I've been thinking about his chess apprentice. Maybe they would be in the next book, if there would be a sequel. But like I said he already destroyed it, because he couldn't continue the project anymore. Also, I can't think of a good thing that will come out of looking into the future.

I like the idea of preventing crime rather than using the machine to make money off of the stock market.

I don't think it would be wise. The implications and possibility of that power being abused is too high. It really becomes a question of whether the ethical uses of it - being able to stop large-scale crimes before they happen, being able to plan for natural disasters that may come out of nowhere, etc - outweigh the potential for abuse.

I like the idea of it being used to prevent crime; seems nobler at least than using it to predict stock and get rich. But I also agree with Ashley that it would probably be abused for bad things if word got out. Though they did make sure it couldn't be used as a weapon, right?

There could be some ethical uses for time travel, maybe introducing technology sooner in order to help humanity maybe? The distortion effect could remain as a plot device, either to add new issues or to be solved for there to be a sequel?

Definitely he has to restart the project amd use it wisely. It would be nice if he could use it to prevent avoidable accidents

NetMassimo wrote: ↑18 Nov 2020, 09:16 If Ron and his new apprentice could improve the machine, so that it could look deeper into the future, an ethical use would be looking for crimes that could be prevented, for example checking tomorrow's news.

That is a great way of using the time machine ethically. No more the world will have crimes and it will be a better place. Definitely they have to develop it and improve it further

lavkathleen wrote: ↑23 Nov 2020, 05:51

aacodreanu wrote: ↑17 Nov 2020, 05:11 Ron preserved or hid Regina's time machine. This means that it could be reactivated, perhaps by Ron's young chess apprentice.
Would that be wise?
How could it be used in an ethical way?

Didn't he destroy it? Anyway, yes, I've been thinking about his chess apprentice. Maybe they would be in the next book, if there would be a sequel. But like I said he already destroyed it, because he couldn't continue the project anymore. Also, I can't think of a good thing that will come out of looking into the future.

Anything is possible if a sequel comes. It is a time machine. How can we know if it can affect the time by itself. Maybe it is not destroyed at all. Maybe in some other reality it is fully functioning.

I don't know whether this is ethical, but I would love to use it to get to know the tomorrow's lottery winning numbers

diana lowery wrote: ↑27 Nov 2020, 09:38 I like the idea of preventing crime rather than using the machine to make money off of the stock market.

You can do both. If you do good to the world, I don't think it is bad to do a bit of good for yourself as well. So, I would like to use it to see the stock market changes as well as the lottery numbers. So I would like to see Ron rebuilding the machine

ashleymarie310 wrote: ↑27 Nov 2020, 18:48 I don't think it would be wise. The implications and possibility of that power being abused is too high. It really becomes a question of whether the ethical uses of it - being able to stop large-scale crimes before they happen, being able to plan for natural disasters that may come out of nowhere, etc - outweigh the potential for abuse.

Any good thing can be turned into bad. But having thinking of the bad aspects, it is foolish to completely avoid something. So I believe that Ron have to develop it and continue the project. And the machine will be used to do good.

Who knows. Maybe a sequel will come with a story that another party trying to get hold of this machine for their bad motives. And Ron may have to fight with them with the use of the machine

Iris Marsh wrote: ↑28 Nov 2020, 05:51 I like the idea of it being used to prevent crime; seems nobler at least than using it to predict stock and get rich. But I also agree with Ashley that it would probably be abused for bad things if word got out. Though they did make sure it couldn't be used as a weapon, right?

A time machine is a perfect weapon. Though you can only see the future, it is more than enough to use it as a weapon. Yet, if it is in good hands it will be put to better use such as to get to know natural disasters and prevent crimes