Tom Sawyer

This is the coolest thing I've seen in a while:

Longevity gene discovered

HaysooChreesto!

I'll second that. I want massive funding for stem-cell research, cloning, and genetic engineering. This is truly my biggest gripe with Xtians who are in a position of power.

I'm only 33 right now. If a real effort were made starting now, I would live to benefit from it. It's not just a longer life at stake either. The potential to cure myriad diseases and paralyzation is at stake as well. But we wouldnt want to piss off you know who now, would we. After all, He's skipping back to Earth right now and he's gonna save us all (well not us ). What does humanity need with a longer, healthier, and more satisfying existence that Big Daddy J can't give us?
Sorry, I'm ranting. I'll stop.

Grad Student Humanist

Yep. Why should their backward moral beliefs and silly religious dogma stand in the way of a greatly improved quality of life for the rest of us?

If they don't want to participate or benefit, fine. Just get the hell out of the way. Instead they lobby for laws to ban it.

How much do you want to bet that the day science comes up with a treatment to drastically extend the human lifespan the fundies line up with everyone else to get their hands on it?

HaysooChreesto!

I've had this argument with my hypochondriac sister I don't know how many times. It's usually brief and ends with her saying "I just don't think it's right".
Nobody in their right minds can actually argue against the development of these kinds of things. Unless you count the clowns who make those highly bizarre "mad scientist" statements and predictions; like that damn Jonas Salk-what a nut that guy was. Or Louis Pasteur; there's one crazy mofo who should have been locked up long before his scientific fuckery had a chance to take hold.

Like you, I've told people countless times that if they don't want the medical treatments that can come about from these advances they don't have to have them. I guess they wouldn't consider a severe spinal chord injury a big deal 'cause that's what God'd want... But like you said, I too would wager a hefty sum that they'd be burning the rubber off the tires from their wheelchairs to find the "mad scientists" that could cure them.

Nataraja

I'll be first in line. I'm going to accumulate massive wealth and portion out funding to every promising two-bit research operation out there and cross my fingers hoping for the very best. The doctors will have to charge exhorbitant sums of money, though, so they can retire in comfort.

Shake

Oh c'mon! You just know they'll be right there in line waiting for treatment with all of us heathens.