21st century immortality, how long do you want to live for? with poll

[sk8er913]

Next generation of genetic research is underway that may allow us to repair and manipulate our DNA so that we can live in a mid or late 20s body; or whatever age we want to be; pretty sure mid or late 20s is the limit though; because of brains development period. (approximately 25 years). So how long would you like to live for, what ages would you try? You can be any age you want at any time over the course of millennia. I have no idea what to pick... I mean... if I pick 1000... I'm only at about 2%. It's hard to imagine what 980 more years would be like. That's a really long time. In 1,015 the Ancient Roman empire was still around I think, it wasn't doing very well at that time though.

 

[niky]

Might work better in the Opinions section, since it's not a discussion of Genetic Manipulation, per se. If you would like it moved, just note it in your next reply.

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My question is: Why would you limit yourself? If you could live forever, why not live forever?

The one terrifying thing about growing older is forgetting. But that's a trait of aging that might go away with whatever technology is used to keep you alive...

Even at your age, there will already be things that are hazy from your childhood. When you get to twice that, they get hazier, and you won't remember everything you've learned and done in College (except the lessons you had to keep repeating... or using afterwards).

I would like to live "forever." Just to see what happens. And if that means ultimately dying in a fireball when the sun expands and swallows our planet in a few billion years... so be it.

 

[Robin]

Knowing your luck you would pick a date to finally leave.... and the day before something good happens

 

[Grayfox]

We just need some wraith DNA

Then we can live forever.

 

[ECGadget]

I picked 500, just to see if Star Trek will actually happen. In reality though, I would be happy with living until 125, so I can see what the next century brings, but they say death is the next great adventure...
I think as long as I live and fall in love and have someone with me until then, I would say I have completed my life and at 125 I would be happy to die peacefully...
See the problem I think with living forever is that you will see people come and go, you will make friendships or fall in love and eventually they will all die, but you will be left to start the cycle all over again

Edit: Completely failed and said Millenium instead of Century. I suppose I shouldn't live on this planet anymore

 

[DQuaN]

In reality though, I would be happy with living until 125, so I can see what the next millenium brings

 

[ECGadget]

Brain fail, meant century!

 

[Liquid]

If you want to live forever, try changing trains at Crewe railway station. It feels like an eternity.

 

[Johnnypenso]

Knowing your luck you would pick a date to finally leave.... and the day before something good happens

You mean like England finally winning another World Cup?

 

[DQuaN]

You mean like England finally winning another World Cup?

The poll only goes up to 10,000 years...

 

[Tired Tyres]

The poll only goes up to 10,000 years...

No. There is a longer option.

 

[Johnnypenso]

No. There is a longer option.

Well there's hope even for the Americans then

 

[Carbonox]

Meh, I see no reason to live to such a large age, it'd only increase the amount of time I end up griefing for the loss of my relatives and friends... /mandatory depressing comment

 

[Imari]

I would like to live "forever." Just to see what happens. And if that means ultimately dying in a fireball when the sun expands and swallows our planet in a few billion years... so be it.

This.

I'd start with the intention of living forever. If I happened to get bored at some point, so be it. But I see no reason to cut myself off short just when I might be starting to enjoy myself.

I wouldn't set myself a curfew on a night out, I might be having a great time and not want to go home. Why should life be any different? As long as you're having a good time, keep on going.

Meh, I see no reason to live to such a large age, it'd only increase the amount of time I end up griefing for the loss of my relatives and friends... /mandatory depressing comment

Apart from the obvious fact that your family and friends probably get the treatment too, I'd imagine that if you live for a long time you either come to terms with death being a natural thing or you kill yourself.

It's only relatively recently that people aren't exposed to death frequently and from a young age, so a lot of modern people kind of freak out about it. It's sad when people die, but it's just the way the world works. You can learn to cope with it, and not in a horrible "forget all about them" sort of way, but in the sense of remembering what was great about that person and enabling their legacy to live on in all the ways that they changed your life for the better.

 

[Exorcet]

Forever easily. Besides the obvious health and happiness benefits of being a 20 something forever, it also means I'll be able to work forever and acquire infinite wealth which I could use on infinite spare time to chase after infinite hobbies.

This actually is one thing I'm looking out for and I hope it really does hit us within my life time. Immortality along with genetic engineering should dramatically improve quality life in many ways, I just hope that the people who don't understand it don't spoil it for the rest of us. "It's not natural" "People with money have too many advantages" etc.

 

[CodeRedR51]

I just hit 30 and hope this hits very soon. Feeling old already.

 

[Doodle]

1,000 seems like a nice round number.

 

[Grand Prix]

Immortality would make interstellar space travel a more realistic prospect. A massive spaceship crewed by multiple generations of people can do that as well, but carrying out a mission like this, knowing that it may not even be completed by your great grandchildren, is a tougher pill to swallow. Immortality would also eventually force us into space, traveling around the galaxy searching for resources and inhabitable planets, like locusts, leaving behind an over-populated and resource depleted Earth.

I imagine there will be attempts at population control once immortality becomes more common, limiting couples to just one child, or perhaps even removing the freedom for many people to have children at all. This is just one of the more obvious problems, there would undoubtedly be more.

That said, I would very much like to live forever, can't really experience much in this universe when you're dead. That we know of, anyway.

 

[mistersafeway]

This.

I'd start with the intention of living forever. If I happened to get bored at some point, so be it. But I see no reason to cut myself off short just when I might be starting to enjoy myself.

I wouldn't set myself a curfew on a night out, I might be having a great time and not want to go home. Why should life be any different? As long as you're having a good time, keep on going.

My answer exactly, live until I get bored.

Apart from the obvious fact that your family and friends probably get the treatment too, I'd imagine that if you live for a long time you either come to terms with death being a natural thing or you kill yourself.

It's only relatively recently that people aren't exposed to death frequently and from a young age, so a lot of modern people kind of freak out about it. It's sad when people die, but it's just the way the world works. You can learn to cope with it, and not in a horrible "forget all about them" sort of way, but in the sense of remembering what was great about that person and enabling their legacy to live on in all the ways that they changed your life for the better.

People get upset about death?

Semi serious, BTW, I know other people do, I just never have. The only time I cried when someone died it was because I stubbed my toe. Hard. With an ingrown toenail.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

I would like to live "forever." Just to see what happens. And if that means ultimately dying in a fireball when the sun expands and swallows our planet in a few billion years... so be it.

This. Actually, especially this: watching the sun do that would be pretty cool.

I've got a bit less than 18 months to go in my 20's. If I'm honest, if given the choice I think I'm vain enough to want to stay roughly this age. If others had the option, then I wouldn't have to worry about the constant cycle of death. Even if they didn't chose to extend their original life, it's not like death would be an unknown quantity; we'd still deal with it in the case of bad accidents. The idea of being able to travel through space is exciting, and as someone who doesn't want children, that'd no longer be a pressure either.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Quite frankly, I'm happy with normal ageing. I don't feel the need to live any longer.

 

[Thematic]

I'd like to gallivant around the galaxy. It's probably not all that safe, so I don't think "LE" would be anything five figures.

 

[Carbonox]

People get upset about death?

Semi serious, BTW, I know other people do, I just never have. The only time I cried when someone died it was because I stubbed my toe. Hard. With an ingrown toenail.

When you start thinking about it really deeply, and realize how permanent and non-undoable (bit of a weird word) it is, yes, then getting upset is a rather likely scenario.

 

[kennylmao]

I want to live forever. Immortality has long been the pursuit of man, isn't it?

@Carbonox Hello sir, may I suggest religion to quell your angst?

Edit: Okay, I do get upset about death; my parents' more than anything else. Seeing them grow old and knowing one day they won't be around is the hardest part of dealing with mortality.

 

[sk8er913]

Meh, I see no reason to live to such a large age, it'd only increase the amount of time I end up griefing for the loss of my relatives and friends... /mandatory depressing comment

If they live until the right year then they will be forever young also.Although, it would be kind of weird having grandparents the same biological age as you are. O.o ...

Also; you can still die, you will be forever young, but you can still get in a car accident or a disease that hasn't been cured yet. etc... but forever young sounds cool.

Why are there 2 votes for 150 and 1 for 125; come on those are the new baby years!

@niky yeah I wasn't sure where to put it; at first I thought technology was a good place. Because its technology that the majority us might have access to in the future. I wonder what the oldest person to live will be that's currently alive, and how many years would that be... that would be amazing to know. although I know that I know that I will never know.

@kennylmao Think they can make it to 2050? The current predicted dates are between 2030 and 2045... but scientist are always optimistic... so... say 2050. ... I will be 55. my brother and sister would be 68 and 69 and my parents would both be 88...

 

[Carbonox]

If they live until the right year then they will be forever young also.Although, it would be kind of weird having grandparents the same biological age as you are. O.o ...

Also; you can still die, you will be forever young, but you can still get in a car accident or a disease that hasn't been cured yet. etc... but forever young sounds cool.

But then I'll just feel bad for those who died before they could experience such a thing.

Yes, I'm the kind that can find negativity in anything.

 

[kennylmao]

@kennylmao Think they can make it to 2050? The current predicted dates are between 2030 and 2045... but scientist are always optimistic... so... say 2050. ... I will be 55. my brother and sister would be 68 and 69 and my parents would both be 88...

If it is possible I don't think they'd want to live forever. Traditional people they are.

Btw, your parents got real busy real young. Just like my grandparents.

 

[McLaren]

I picked 500, just to see if Star Trek will actually happen. In reality though, I would be happy with living until 125, so I can see what the next century brings, but they say death is the next great adventure...
I think as long as I live and fall in love and have someone with me until then, I would say I have completed my life and at 125 I would be happy to die peacefully...
See the problem I think with living forever is that you will see people come and go, you will make friendships or fall in love and eventually they will all die, but you will be left to start the cycle all over again

Edit: Completely failed and said Millenium instead of Century. I suppose I shouldn't live on this planet anymore

This is my thought as well. Eventually, there may come a point where you'll want to isolate yourself to avoid the cycle. And for some people, that already happens in today's life span.

Apart from the obvious fact that your family and friends probably get the treatment too, I'd imagine that if you live for a long time you either come to terms with death being a natural thing or you kill yourself.

It's only relatively recently that people aren't exposed to death frequently and from a young age, so a lot of modern people kind of freak out about it. It's sad when people die, but it's just the way the world works. You can learn to cope with it, and not in a horrible "forget all about them" sort of way, but in the sense of remembering what was great about that person and enabling their legacy to live on in all the ways that they changed your life for the better.

Which opens up a whole other can of worms & the beginning to Elysium.

I think your second statement is a bit too extreme with you either comes to term with death or kill yourself. People do walk the line between.

 

[mustafur]

I would want to live to the point the quality of life is comfortable, if it becomes painful to walk breathe or basically do anything then it starts getting to the level of too much for too little.

 

[sk8er913]

I would want to live to the point the quality of life is comfortable, if it becomes painful to walk breathe or basically do anything then it starts getting to the level of too much for too little.

Umm... You would be #ForeverYoung #GeneticManipulationAndRejuvenation #WillWeStillBeHashtaging in #1000years #hashtag...

Im surprised that 20 out of 30 votes want to live longer than 10,000 years. I mean; what was the world like 10,000 years ago? The Oldest artifacts created by humans are less than 10,000 years old... think about it... if your birth date was during the manufacturing date of the Great Pyramid of Giza then you would still be alive... that is amazing. It's mind blowing that this could be a possibility. Although I'm sure we will have unexpected complications after say the 200 or 300 year mark. Because we weren't designed to live that long; even those our DNA still thinks we are 25.