Time traveler continues his visit from 1985

Last week in this column: Brad encountered a younger version of himself (one who said "awesome" and "sweet" a lot) in his workplace garage and, after they recognized each other, the pair discussed new technology, his marriage and how relationships have changed since 1985. We now resume, since time-travel encounters with a younger version of yourself are too much for one column.

I was in my Toyota Prius, driving around an early 20s version of myself and explaining how the world has changed. And remained the same.

"So you're telling me the Giants win three World Series?" the younger me asked, wide-eyed.

"Yeah. Three in five years. But it came after some heartbreaking seasons."

"As long as they win, I don't care. Like the Los Angeles Raiders: Just win, baby!"

I nodded, not wanting to explain what happened to the Raiders.

"So this social media thing you mentioned. What is it?" he asked.

I tried to explain, telling him it was a way for people to keep in touch and share news with immediacy. News was often shared via social media.

"So people can now find out immediately who is drafted by an NBA team ?" he asked.

"Yeah. I guess that's one way."

"Hmm. That's why I took a newspaper job: So I could see stuff come over the wire. That's the most awesome part of the job."

That didn't surprise me. I remembered the wonder of following the 1984 NBA draft by reading Associated Press bulletins at the newspaper office while I was a part-time sports writer.

"So is there a downside to the social media? Anything people don't like?"

I explained over-sharing, online bullying and privacy breaches. But I told him most people still participate.

"I don't see what the big deal is about privacy breaches. Who cares if they know where you bank? You still have to go in the bank and get money," younger me said. "And if I had a password, it would be Caribbean. It would be like that M*A*S*H* episode, where someone said 'Care-uh-BEE-un,' and the other person said, "I thought it was 'Care-RIB-ee-un." That was sweet. . . .  I'd do social media if I could follow the NBA draft."

I also told him about YouTube.

"Seriously? You can watch music videos on a phone? That's crazy. Bad news for MTV, right?"

I couldn't even begin to explain it.

When I showed him how texting worked, he immediately wanted to send a text.

"Mister Gower cabled you need cash. STOP," he started, mimicking the telegram at the end of "It's a Wonderful Life." I laughed and told him he'd still be using that gag 35 years in the future. Because it's still funny.

"So we have all this technology, people take pictures and listen to music on their phones, couples now demand that their wedding party pay to be part of the wedding, right?" he asked. "There's one main thing I want to know, though."

Did he want to know whether Mrs. Brad and I had kids? Whether he ever covered professional sports? In what town he would live? Whether diabetes cost him any limbs? (That got dark quickly!)

It was none of those.

"Did the USFL make it?" he asked, referencing the upstart league that challenged the NFL.

"Nope. It faded away pretty quickly."

He smiled and nodded.

"Well, that's good. That probably wrapped up the 15 minutes of fame for that obnoxious guy who owns the New Jersey Generals. That Trump guy."

I couldn't bear to tell him.

Reach Brad Stanhope at bradstanhope@hotmail.com.