Why do the same people who feel awe in presence of 1000 year old redwood trees, often feel revulsion at the idea that it might be nice for humans to live that long too?
Trees don't consume as many resources as modern humans. Moreover, when they do compete for resources, they generally do so without consequences that are as far-reaching as when we do so.
They simply can't stand the idea of man transforming nature (including himself) according to his own will rather than being controlled by it or other people.
Because 1000 year old trees are beautiful, and 1000 year old people are probably ugly and wrinkly and still listening to ghastly music that was already passe 800 years ago.
That's what I was thinking, too. If they could slow the aging process, too, then fine. But I've seen what one HUNDRED year old people look like, and at that rate a one THOUSAND year old person would be a puddle of goo.
If people could be persuaded that you would be at least as healthy, firm, and supple as they were at 18, do you think that it would change their opinion?
My answer was mostly facetious (with a grain of truth in it). But I think that most people are freaked out because it's unnatural, as someone else said, so I don't know if they'd be persuaded by the youth/health angle.
For me personally, I would be incredibly tempted to live that long if I knew my body wasn't going to totally deteriorate. I mean, you could live ten lives (or more) in that time, changing careers, learning new things, stopping work for a few decades, whatever. Wow.
the section in gulliver's travels on humans who couldn't die but kept aging and grew more and more ingrained in their pettiness struck me as far too real to ever want to live that long.
There has to be better way to get rid of dictators than to let everyone die.
Everyone in my immediate family, for starters. Most of the people on my friends list. (I can't think of anyone that I wouldn't want to live for 1000 years.)
I also think that people behave badly in part because there's no cost past their 80+ year lifespan. If, on the other hand, you have to live 1000 years with the consequences of your actions, I can't help but think would make you more circumspect.
It depends on the marriage, it depends on the work. Given compound interest, even someone making minimum wage could earn enough to become financially independent in a 100 years or so. Then they could spend their time doing things they like. And if you're unhappy with your spouse, why would you stay with her? Find somebody else.
Would I want 1000 years to be the same average, mediocre human who works in the office and mostly surfs the net all day? I don't think so. Or are you saying that having such longevity would motivate people to do more than their usual norm? I would disagree also, it seems that people are more encouraged to change their life when they know it will be over soon. Personally, I think immortality or a very long life prospect is antithetical to a remarkable life.
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archerships
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Date: 2005-12-07 11:39 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2005-12-08 12:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-08 12:08 am (UTC)Trees will never riot because of oil prices.
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Date: 2005-12-08 12:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-08 01:55 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2005-12-08 01:06 am (UTC)I suspect that's some of it, anyway.
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Date: 2005-12-08 01:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-08 01:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-08 02:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-08 03:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-08 02:41 am (UTC)If people could be persuaded that you would be at least as healthy, firm, and supple as they were at 18, do you think that it would change their opinion?
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Date: 2005-12-08 03:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-08 07:47 pm (UTC)For me personally, I would be incredibly tempted to live that long if I knew my body wasn't going to totally deteriorate. I mean, you could live ten lives (or more) in that time, changing careers, learning new things, stopping work for a few decades, whatever. Wow.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-08 06:35 am (UTC)Because...
Date: 2005-12-08 01:45 am (UTC)Re: Because...
Date: 2005-12-08 02:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-08 01:58 am (UTC)bush for an age?
Date: 2005-12-08 06:36 am (UTC)Re: bush for an age?
Date: 2005-12-08 08:48 am (UTC)Everyone in my immediate family, for starters. Most of the people on my friends list. (I can't think of anyone that I wouldn't want to live for 1000 years.)
I also think that people behave badly in part because there's no cost past their 80+ year lifespan. If, on the other hand, you have to live 1000 years with the consequences of your actions, I can't help but think would make you more circumspect.
Re: Obvious
Date: 2005-12-08 07:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-08 08:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-08 10:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-08 02:32 pm (UTC)