tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post111592424358974200..comments2024-01-28T00:20:40.933-08:00Comments on Agoraphilia: The Game of LifeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1117752686390707332005-06-02T15:51:00.000-07:002005-06-02T15:51:00.000-07:00It means rethinking a lot of things. We live in a ...It means rethinking a lot of things. We live in a profoundly deathist culture. <BR/>Niven's puppeteers focus on risk management.<BR/>" poor health, severe depression or chronic pain" I've misplaced the link, but there's a guy who writes about how new tech won't just let us live longer and smarter, but happier. Depression (which I live with) and pain will be cureable sooner or later, so the trick is indeed to surf that curve. I used to have this conversation with a friend of mine. He's my age, but is hiv+, so his concerns are more acute.<BR/>Do some risk assessment. Avoid smoking, smokers, maybe car exhaust and food additives.<BR/>In my case I have to a) move out of the ghetto and b) see a doctor once a year and c) manage my depression.<BR/>In the short term, your risks are cancer, heart disease, liver failure, gunshots, car wrecks. In the longer term your risks include volcanos, asteroids, and some 7th grader blowing up the science lab and taking out the western hemisphere. So getting off the planet becomes a priority.<BR/>But you might not want to be a beta tester.gthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12889694926704693924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1116704097177264962005-05-21T12:34:00.000-07:002005-05-21T12:34:00.000-07:00I hope you don't ever tire of living. I can think ...I hope you don't ever tire of living. I can think of only a few reasonable circumstances to give up on life--for reasons of poor health, severe depression or chronic pain. Even then, where there is life there is hope for a better day. Life is brief no matter how long you may live but death is forever and irrevocable (in spite of what Tom yearns for). Best of all is not to dwell too much on one's eventual demise but to live everyday to the fullest. Okay, this post was full of platitudes but at least it was "pro-life!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1116096030471208122005-05-14T11:40:00.000-07:002005-05-14T11:40:00.000-07:00As one of the other commenters pointed out, it's v...As one of the other commenters pointed out, it's very unlikely that any technology for healthy life extension will result in you being older for longer. This is the Tithonus Error: in fact, you'll be younger for longer. Here, some references:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.fightaging.org/archives/000058.php" REL="nofollow">http://www.fightaging.org/archives/000058.php</A><BR/><A HREF="http://www.longevitymeme.org/articles/viewarticle.cfm?page=1&article_id=1" REL="nofollow">http://www.longevitymeme.org/articles/viewarticle.cfm?page=1&article_id=1</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1115999357411474452005-05-13T08:49:00.000-07:002005-05-13T08:49:00.000-07:00You know what G.K. Chesterton said: "Millions drea...You know what G.K. Chesterton said: "Millions dream of immortality who get bored on Sunday afternoon."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1115999324885158492005-05-13T08:48:00.000-07:002005-05-13T08:48:00.000-07:00You know what G.K. Chesterton said: "Millions drea...You know what G.K. Chesterton said: "Millions dream of immortality who get bored on Sunday afternoon."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1115971190569356582005-05-13T00:59:00.000-07:002005-05-13T00:59:00.000-07:00Rest assured, anonymous of May 12, 2005, that I ha...Rest assured, anonymous of May 12, 2005, that I have given careful thought to the "accident" problem. As a professor, I garner a lot of comments like, "Gee, it was a shame someone 'accidentally' keyed your car! Hey, did I mention I know where you live? Now, can we talk about my grade?"<BR/><BR/>Still, I figure that even a life with threats beats a life without, well, life. And, anyhow, I'll be able to make backup copies by 2100. <BR/><BR/>Incidentally, with-it cryoncists use vitrification--not freezing. It makes a difference, you know. Too many ice crystals can really spoil your (future) day.Tom W. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02790351458154066358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1115940334081156762005-05-12T16:25:00.000-07:002005-05-12T16:25:00.000-07:00Life extension is about slowing or eliminating the...Life extension is about slowing or eliminating the aging process. Would your attitude change if you were in the same physical condition you were when you were 25?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1115928310164952472005-05-12T13:05:00.000-07:002005-05-12T13:05:00.000-07:00I never stop being puzzled at how many just presum...I never stop being puzzled at how many just presume that there is something desirable about living longer. I am only 68 but I am a bit weary. I think I would prefer to not wake up some morning.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1115926770755972672005-05-12T12:39:00.000-07:002005-05-12T12:39:00.000-07:00I read somewhere that even if aging could be stopp...I read somewhere that even if aging could be stopped, you'd still have to contend with an "accident" eventually putting an end to your existence. I put quotes around accident because it is hard to tell what is really accidental and what is caused by man(un)kind's activities. So even if Tom is frozen and thawed and reconstitued (sounds like orange juice), he may get runover by the kid with a driver's permit traveling at 500 mph in the latest solar powered vehicle of the 22nd century. <BR/><BR/>The man who lives only by hope will die with despair. <BR/> -- Italian ProverbAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com