+190 If advances in science and medicine push the average life span into the 120s or 130s, then people in a couple centuries will probably be cursing us for making life undesirably long, amirite?

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I don't want to live that long. I see my Grandpa at just 75 walking down the steps like a child, having to have both feet on the stair before taking the next step. I don't wanna piss a little bit when I sneeze cough or laugh, or even worse be completely incontinent and have to wear a diaper. I don't think we should try to do these things, it keeps the species at the same place with no room to evolve for the better. And the population would be huge. But at the same time, I think we should try to do things for people with cancer or need transplants and medication... So I guess I don't really know what I believe, it's a pretty contradicting view. I guess my view is that we shouldn't try to extend the natural life span but try to prevent early death.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Exactly what I was thinking. I also wouldn't have a problem being nearly helpless as long as my mind was still perfectly capable. Once I lose that I simply won't care anymore.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

The thing with a longer lifespan, colebowl, is that you also stay healthier for longer. Advances in medicine and healthcare will mean we will slow down the aging process and retain healthier bodies for longer. That means the 80 year olds of the future may be the 50 year olds of today. Old and aging, but not completely deteriorated. Also, the population in the developed world would not be huge, because birthrates will be much lower. Each couple will only have an average of two children in the future, which keeps the population stable. I am currently 18 and would be satisfied with living up to 100 years, but no longer than that because life would get tiring.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Yeah I know, it's just an example for why I don't want to be old, especially not super old. The problems of a 120 year old at the end of their life in the future would probably be way worse than the problems a 90 year old has at the end of their life now. Science up the human body as much as you want, you can't stop it from deteriorating. Imagine the knee joints of a 120 year old and how saggy their face would be. And the fact that such an extreme prolongation in life span due to science wouldn't be affordable to everyone.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Imagine health care costs in the future ono. Everybody's got to die sometime. That being said, what really is a "natural" lifespan? Without modern medicine, people typically died in their 40s/50s. Most of us wouldn't argue that it's a bad thing that now people live to about 80 on average. But most of us would be uncomfortable with the lifespan in OP. Just a little off track: when someone has become completely dependant on other people and on machines/medicine, I think it's time to let them go. Is living a few more miserable years really worth the money and emotional stress on loved ones?

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I wonder all the time what this world will be like in 100 years after I'm gone. Even if I'm in pain, I'll likely still have my mind longer. I'll be able to think, observe, and reflect a couple of years longer. I think this world is completely fascinating, so that'd be worth a lot to me, and I'm sure to the people lucky enough to be able to live long. If someone really would hate that, there's always the option of suicide. Provided the future doesn't have the same odd stigma against suicide like we do now.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

People won't think of that because it would be normal. Just as 80 year olds now don't curse science, because you just don't think about it. In additions, hundreds of years ago it was rare to live up to 40 or 50. Now that's completely normal. I guess it's all about perspective.

by Anonymous 11 years ago