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comment by mingus

There's a certain arrogance in wanting to live forever. Give up your space, let the next wave happen. :-)





thenewgreen  ·  2572 days ago  ·  link  ·  

The off switch is easy. The "stay on" switch is very, very difficult.

mingus  ·  2572 days ago  ·  link  ·  
This comment has been deleted.
mingus  ·  2572 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Sure.

(well-tread) Sci-fi forecasting: the next iteration of "staying on" will move beyond biological bodies. Hmm...would people who choose not to digitize themselves and remain "on" indefinitely be akin to those with debilitating illnesses choosing assisted suicide?

I'm not knocking the research. Just pondering "limit->infinity" longevity (in a probably non-novel way).

OftenBen  ·  2572 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Ok. I'll give up my beta blockers if you give up antibiotics.

mingus  ·  2572 days ago  ·  link  ·  

i'm not sure the implications of this, but i can't remember the last time i've taken antibiotics. and considering the prospect of SUPERBACTERIA, i'll probably avoid when able.

OftenBen  ·  2571 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    and considering the prospect of SUPERBACTERIA, i'll probably avoid when able.

This statements displays a fundamental misunderstanding/lack of knowledge on the topic of antibiotic resistant bacteria. If you like, I can help you to understand this problem better.

mingus  ·  2571 days ago  ·  link  ·  

ya, sure. a lil knowledge never hurt anyone.

goobster  ·  2572 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Sure. But their tech is not about living forever. Their tech is about healing yourself when you get a curable disease later in life, using your younger stem cells.

You still age. It isn't anti-aging cream. It is simply an insurance plan against common illnesses that we encounter in later life, due to the decrease in stem cell production.

There's nothing in this presentation about extending life. It's about extending the quality of life.

mingus  ·  2572 days ago  ·  link  ·  

quality of life = continuation of life? or, are we to feel full of vigor up until the moment of death? (although, i suppose that is already the case for some unlucky people). otherwise, there's bound to be a gradual decline. is this technology going to lengthen that gradation (vigor->decline->decline->disease->stemCells->vigor->decline->etc->death), or effectively accelerate it (vigor->death).

or, if we cure the common illnesses that we encounter later in life, then what is it that'll kill us? i guess our quest to cure "common illnesses that we encounter later in life" has enabled our current longevity, but how much more can we eek out?

(not to mention the sociological implications of paying for longevity, which i suppose is something that's been a factor since wealth)

sorry, i'm mostly thinking out-loud here. i'm sure smarter people have thought out responses to these questions related to life-extension already.

goobster  ·  2571 days ago  ·  link  ·  

People die for many reasons. Debilitating genetic diseases are just one of them, and if we can relieve that pain, and let someone go peacefully in their sleep after years of good health, I think that's a win.

Life vs Death is not the question. Quality of life is.