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> That's not my point. My point is why do you want to live forever? From an emotional point of view, I do not want my parents to die. They're in 70s, but I th

> That's not my point. My point is why do you want to live forever? From an emotional point of view, I do not want my parents to die. They're in 70s, but I think that the time they have left is too short. I'd like them to live to see their 80s, their 100s, their 200s. I would like them to be there in 20 years when the last of my children graduate university. I would like them to see their grandchildren get married, and celebrate the birth of their great grand children. I do not want to see my friends die. I have been with them since we were 4 years old, and I'd like to celebrate life with them for more than the 30 years have left according to actuarial charts. I do not want my mentors to die. They're already in retirement homes, but they have so much more to experience, but many won't see their life's work come to fruition. I would like everyone I know to live to see their 300th birthday, and I would like to be there with them. Is that forever? No. Forever may be too long, but 70 years upon this earth is too short by far. If living to see 500 healthy years is within the grasp of our technology, we should seize upon it. I do not think this view is egotistical, or selfish. A world where no one dies except by accident or deliberate choice would be a much better world than what we have today. Too often 'live forever' posts focus on the greats of history, theorising what would happen if they lived longer... but I challenge you to think of it in a more personal respect. Do you want your friends and family to die when they do not want to?

vilmosi 9y ago
You're kind of missing the point. If people lived 500 years it still wouldn't be enought. We're biologically programmed to want more. Knowing there's a time limit, you would want to extend it. Knowing there's no time limit, everything would stop having any meaning. Why would you get married and have kids if you could have it 100 years later?
- dismantlethesun 9y ago
  > You're kind of missing the point. I had thought the point was answering "why would you want to live forever?" so I gave it my best shot. :) > Why would you get married and have kids if you could have it 100 years later? Because you get the enjoyment of marriage and an expanded family now. Frankly, speaking, I cannot believe people would be willing to delay satisfaction for 100s of years, merely because they are immortal. But what if you're right? Well then... If in fact living past 200 causes everything to be meaningless, we'll likely just find out people waste away from old age depression, and the point of the debate is moot. If immortals stop caring about life because it is long lasting, we'll just find the first members of the immortal generation do worse than their mortal peers in all respects. The question of "how much life is too much life" is something I would rather find out through primary research on people who are 500 or more years old, instead of debating in the hypothetical. Practically though, I doubt immortality is within the grasp of this current generation. Research into 'immortality' is just using forever as an ideal---not as an expectation of what will really be delivered upon. Extending life by a few more decades is a valid goal for our generation.
  - vilmosi 9y ago
    >>> Because you get the enjoyment of marriage and an expanded family now You already raised 4 generations of humans by now or you can still do the same thing because you're not even half way your life. Why would you want to do it now when your "teenage" years last 50 years and your "twenties" 100. You can experience everything, just for longer. >>> If immortals stop caring about life because it is long lasting, we'll just find the first members of the immortal generation do worse than their mortal peers in all respects. 500 year life expectancy vs immortality is another discussion. >>> Practically though, I doubt immortality is within the grasp of this current generation. Yeah, I know. It's all hypothetical for us
    - dismantlethesun 9y ago
      I personally don't see any issue with waiting till you are 50 to raise children, today... even when the life expectancy is 75. Life is to be celebrated no matter what age someone is when they become parents. If biology were no constraint, I can imagine some people would have children once every hundred years, and spend the next century shepherding them into good position in their growing dynasty. That said, with vastly increased life spans, the whole notion of reproduction and marriage would take on new meaning, and I doubt many of the ideas we ascribe to today will be of much concern in the future. > Yeah, I know. It's all hypothetical for us Yes, which is why I don't see much of a reason to be so pessimistic. Those whom want to live forever---hypothetically will. Those who do not, as they are bored or tired, will choose not to continue onwards. I can imagine a future of mostly happy immortals.

vilmosi 9y ago

You're kind of missing the point. If people lived 500 years it still wouldn't be enought. We're biologically programmed to want more. Knowing there's a time limit, you would want to extend it. Knowing there's no time limit, everything would stop having any meaning. Why would you get married and have kids if you could have it 100 years later?

dismantlethesun 9y ago
> You're kind of missing the point. I had thought the point was answering "why would you want to live forever?" so I gave it my best shot. :) > Why would you get married and have kids if you could have it 100 years later? Because you get the enjoyment of marriage and an expanded family now. Frankly, speaking, I cannot believe people would be willing to delay satisfaction for 100s of years, merely because they are immortal. But what if you're right? Well then... If in fact living past 200 causes everything to be meaningless, we'll likely just find out people waste away from old age depression, and the point of the debate is moot. If immortals stop caring about life because it is long lasting, we'll just find the first members of the immortal generation do worse than their mortal peers in all respects. The question of "how much life is too much life" is something I would rather find out through primary research on people who are 500 or more years old, instead of debating in the hypothetical. Practically though, I doubt immortality is within the grasp of this current generation. Research into 'immortality' is just using forever as an ideal---not as an expectation of what will really be delivered upon. Extending life by a few more decades is a valid goal for our generation.
- vilmosi 9y ago
  >>> Because you get the enjoyment of marriage and an expanded family now You already raised 4 generations of humans by now or you can still do the same thing because you're not even half way your life. Why would you want to do it now when your "teenage" years last 50 years and your "twenties" 100. You can experience everything, just for longer. >>> If immortals stop caring about life because it is long lasting, we'll just find the first members of the immortal generation do worse than their mortal peers in all respects. 500 year life expectancy vs immortality is another discussion. >>> Practically though, I doubt immortality is within the grasp of this current generation. Yeah, I know. It's all hypothetical for us
  - dismantlethesun 9y ago
    I personally don't see any issue with waiting till you are 50 to raise children, today... even when the life expectancy is 75. Life is to be celebrated no matter what age someone is when they become parents. If biology were no constraint, I can imagine some people would have children once every hundred years, and spend the next century shepherding them into good position in their growing dynasty. That said, with vastly increased life spans, the whole notion of reproduction and marriage would take on new meaning, and I doubt many of the ideas we ascribe to today will be of much concern in the future. > Yeah, I know. It's all hypothetical for us Yes, which is why I don't see much of a reason to be so pessimistic. Those whom want to live forever---hypothetically will. Those who do not, as they are bored or tired, will choose not to continue onwards. I can imagine a future of mostly happy immortals.