3 ms·

Reminds me of “suicide booths” in Sheckley’s “Immortality Inc”. How long until we “grant” euthanasia approval for any reason at all, including no reason? I can

by ein0p 2y ago

Reminds me of “suicide booths” in Sheckley’s “Immortality Inc”. How long until we “grant” euthanasia approval for any reason at all, including no reason? I can imagine there’d be a ton of people willing to accrue enormous debts or commit crimes if they could then painlessly off themselves instead of facing the consequences.

iamthirsty 2y ago
> if they could then painlessly off themselves instead of facing the consequences. I think 'off-ing' one's self is a pretty large consequence in itself. You can painlessly do it today, by overdosing on opiates or many other drugs. I've been revived a few times, and I can tell you you don't even notice dying.
- ein0p 2y ago
  Opiates aren’t easily available to most, and illegal. I’m talking about totally legal and totally painless method here, as in the novel. There’d be a lot of takers if friction is reduced. Heck, I bet every person’s life has low points where continuing seems pointless. I had a few moments like that myself when I was younger and expect to have more of them as I get older. I’m only really still alive because dying is a high friction process.
  - iamthirsty 2y ago
    > There’d be a lot of takers if friction is reduced. A legal process that involves the state and possible years of monitoring, age limits, etc is much more friction than the very quick ways one can do it on their own without the state's involvement.
tetris11 2y ago
People should be allowed to quietly go out of this world with dignity. What worries me is the image of an understaffed public hospital, with a single nurse walking from bed to bed softly asking the patients if they want permanent release.
- ein0p 2y ago
  Sure, but where does that leave children of a (temporarily) down on her luck mother, or indeed parents of a depressed child? We’re extending medical autonomy to 13 year olds at this point.
- add-sub-mul-div 2y ago
  You can invent slippery slopes from thin air that will make you worry about anything you want, but is that a good way to go through life?

by ein0p 2y ago

iamthirsty 2y ago

> if they could then painlessly off themselves instead of facing the consequences. I think 'off-ing' one's self is a pretty large consequence in itself. You can painlessly do it today, by overdosing on opiates or many other drugs. I've been revived a few times, and I can tell you you don't even notice dying.

ein0p 2y ago
Opiates aren’t easily available to most, and illegal. I’m talking about totally legal and totally painless method here, as in the novel. There’d be a lot of takers if friction is reduced. Heck, I bet every person’s life has low points where continuing seems pointless. I had a few moments like that myself when I was younger and expect to have more of them as I get older. I’m only really still alive because dying is a high friction process.
- iamthirsty 2y ago
  > There’d be a lot of takers if friction is reduced. A legal process that involves the state and possible years of monitoring, age limits, etc is much more friction than the very quick ways one can do it on their own without the state's involvement.

tetris11 2y ago

People should be allowed to quietly go out of this world with dignity. What worries me is the image of an understaffed public hospital, with a single nurse walking from bed to bed softly asking the patients if they want permanent release.

ein0p 2y ago
Sure, but where does that leave children of a (temporarily) down on her luck mother, or indeed parents of a depressed child? We’re extending medical autonomy to 13 year olds at this point.
add-sub-mul-div 2y ago
You can invent slippery slopes from thin air that will make you worry about anything you want, but is that a good way to go through life?