Freethought & Rationalism Archive

ju'iblex · 01-26-2003, 01:30 AM

i would hate to live forever <especially so if the aging process was still going>. Humanity essentially thrives on something or someone elses suffering* and i can barely tolerate it as is, let alone 天父-forbid when humanity colonises another planet.

*obviously, this is only my honest opinion

<edited because i really wanted to use unicode>

Theli · 01-26-2003, 01:36 AM

I would have no problems with living forever as long as my memories were wiped clean every now and then. So I won't run out on new experiences.

seesaw · 01-26-2003, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Theli
I would have no problems with living forever as long as my memories were wiped clean every now and then. So I won't run out on new experiences.

LOL yeah that would be nice.

Scottyman · 01-26-2003, 07:15 AM

There is plenty of research ongoing into the field of mental transference or what some call "whole mind uploading" which is basically the transference of your concience into a supercomputer. Some are saying it's not too far off, perhaps 50 or so years away. I would opt for this without question. I think living in a flesh and bone body for many thousands of years would be an ordeal but to live for an eternity as pure thought in a virtual universe, now that would be salvation. You could always take a vacation inside someones body if you wanted to have the experience of a flesh and bone existence again!

01-26-2003, 07:43 AM

I'm in my sixties and enjoying the manifold disadvantages of aging. Moreover, I am observing in close-up what happens to even older parents (aged about 90), and it isn't pretty. So I can certainly see that death before total decrepitude is a good thing.

But more subtle than the consideration of the ills the flesh is heir to is the question of one's mental attitude.

When I was young, the world was an exciting place with almost infinite possibilities. I felt full of hope and energy. Now, however, I see things in a more cynical way. Human nature doesn't change, and the world is run by greedy moneygrubbers and vainglorious politicians. They didn't start out that way as individuals, but that's what life did to them.

Each new generation comes along wanting to change the world and blaming its elders for the state it's in already. There are a few genuine improvements, but one sees so much repetition of past mistakes that it's a bit discouraging.

I don't think I could put up with all this for ever.

Ipecac · 01-26-2003, 10:18 AM

Many people think that aging and death are a natural part of life. It seems that this is not necessarily so.

http://www.discover.com/june_02/featturtle.html

Imagine retain the vigor of youth for centuries. Perhaps people would actually get wiser.

Taffer · 01-26-2003, 10:46 AM

What would you do during that eternity? I'd probably go crazy from boredom in a couple thousand years. I don't think I'd enjoy endless insanity . . .

Arvel Joffi · 01-26-2003, 11:16 AM

Probably not an eternity, but a couple of thousand years would be amazing.

vixstile · 01-26-2003, 11:19 AM

I would only want to live forever if I could go through a continual evolution, eventually reaching the level of benevolent god(or malevolent, as would probably be my case. Bwahahahaaa!)

Novowels · 01-26-2003, 12:12 PM

Actually, people don't evolve, generations do.

So if we lived forever, we wouldn't evolve.

Seems like a waste to me.

Oh and ju'iblex: These are the best years of our lives!

Isn't that fucking depressing?

01-26-2003, 10:18 AM	#16
Ipecac Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 135	Aging may not be necessary Many people think that aging and death are a natural part of life. It seems that this is not necessarily so. http://www.discover.com/june_02/featturtle.html Imagine retain the vigor of youth for centuries. Perhaps people would actually get wiser.

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01-26-2003, 01:30 AM	#11
ju'iblex Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sydney Australia and beyond the realms of Gehenna Posts: 6,035	i would hate to live forever <especially so if the aging process was still going>. Humanity essentially thrives on something or someone elses suffering* and i can barely tolerate it as is, let alone 天父-forbid when humanity colonises another planet. *obviously, this is only my honest opinion <edited because i really wanted to use unicode>

01-26-2003, 01:36 AM	#12
Theli Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,567	I would have no problems with living forever as long as my memories were wiped clean every now and then. So I won't run out on new experiences.

01-26-2003, 07:15 AM	#14
Scottyman Regular Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 138	There is plenty of research ongoing into the field of mental transference or what some call "whole mind uploading" which is basically the transference of your concience into a supercomputer. Some are saying it's not too far off, perhaps 50 or so years away. I would opt for this without question. I think living in a flesh and bone body for many thousands of years would be an ordeal but to live for an eternity as pure thought in a virtual universe, now that would be salvation. You could always take a vacation inside someones body if you wanted to have the experience of a flesh and bone existence again!

01-26-2003, 07:43 AM	#15
DMB Guest Posts: n/a	I'm in my sixties and enjoying the manifold disadvantages of aging. Moreover, I am observing in close-up what happens to even older parents (aged about 90), and it isn't pretty. So I can certainly see that death before total decrepitude is a good thing. But more subtle than the consideration of the ills the flesh is heir to is the question of one's mental attitude. When I was young, the world was an exciting place with almost infinite possibilities. I felt full of hope and energy. Now, however, I see things in a more cynical way. Human nature doesn't change, and the world is run by greedy moneygrubbers and vainglorious politicians. They didn't start out that way as individuals, but that's what life did to them. Each new generation comes along wanting to change the world and blaming its elders for the state it's in already. There are a few genuine improvements, but one sees so much repetition of past mistakes that it's a bit discouraging. I don't think I could put up with all this for ever.

01-26-2003, 10:46 AM	#17
Taffer Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bern, Switzerland Posts: 348	What would you do during that eternity? I'd probably go crazy from boredom in a couple thousand years. I don't think I'd enjoy endless insanity . . .

01-26-2003, 11:16 AM	#18
Arvel Joffi Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 3,359	Probably not an eternity, but a couple of thousand years would be amazing.

01-26-2003, 11:19 AM	#19
vixstile Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: California Posts: 2,029	I would only want to live forever if I could go through a continual evolution, eventually reaching the level of benevolent god(or malevolent, as would probably be my case. Bwahahahaaa!)

01-26-2003, 12:12 PM	#20
Novowels Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,658	Actually, people don't evolve, generations do. So if we lived forever, we wouldn't evolve. Seems like a waste to me. Oh and ju'iblex: These are the best years of our lives! Isn't that fucking depressing?

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