Poll: On the Subject of Immortality

[DarthFennec]

So. So ... let's say you're on your lunch break one day, eating ... whatever it is you eat for lunch, and quite suddenly a genie is sitting next to you. He turns to you and calmly offers you immortality. If you accept the offer, he explains, you will, from that point forward, be unable to die, to some degree. But here's the twist, is you can't have full immortality. You have to choose:

1. Invulnerability. You will be unable to be harmed or killed. Things like gunshots, fire, automobile accidents, knives, explosions, and also things like diseases and poisons will not affect you like they do anyone else. Everything will just bounce off you. You will feel pain, but you won't die, and you won't suffer injury. No drowning or freezing to death or anything like that either. However, you will continue to age normally, you will experience the effects of aging, and, sometime in your late nineties, you will die in your sleep, just like everyone else who lives that long.

2. Indefinite lifespan. You will stop aging, and continue to be the same age for the rest of however long you end up living. You cannot die of old age. You will not experience the effects of aging, you will not experience physical or mental deterioration due to aging. However, you can be killed. You will be vulnerable to viruses, bullets, and getting your head chopped off. You can get cancer. You are basically just like any other person. Except you will never grow old, or die of natural causes.

You can only choose one of the two, not both. Or you can decline the offer. What do you do, and why?

 

[Supertegwyn]

1. Invulnerability. I plan on becoming a soldier, so being able to resist bullets would really help me

That form is just way cooler than Indefinite Lifespan.

 

[Chefodeath]

It becomes a question of statistics. Are the chances that I will succumb to physical trauma or disease before I turn 90? Then invulnerability. Otherwise I'd go for indefinite lifespan.

You gotta play by the numbers on things like this.

 

[Muspelheim]

Number 2, since it implies I'm still mortal, just not through my own aging. Sort of like the civilized ghouls in Fallout. It's the sort of immortality I'd prefer. If I'm not eventually killed through an accident or a virus (or my smoking habit) and finally tire of the whole thing, I can simply commit suicide. Furthermore, it'll take away the most obvious disadvantage of growing old; my entire body and all the cool stuff puberty gave it falling apart.

If I'm careful and very lucky (because the chances of me getting offed in an accident increases the longer I stick around), I can remain here as long as I like and on my own terms. Do all the things I want, see all the things I want, perhaps remain long enough to see us land on Mars... It'd be great. All it does is give me more time, and keep me away from the nursing home.

 

[JoJo]

I'd got for 2), as then I'd have the chance of a much longer lifespan (I don't think I'm that likely to die a violent death or die of non-age related disease before an average lifespan is up) and I would be free from aging.

 

[CrimsonBlaze]

I would probably go with invulnerability. I'm not too fond of staying young forever, and being immune to all forms of pain and punishment can allow me to take more risks in life with minimal consequences, as well as try different things and go anywhere without much concern for my well-being.

 

[Esotera]

Cancer is sort of a disease of old age...so eh. I'd probably go for the indefinite lifespan, as then I'd be able to die by my own means, assuming that medicine comes along enough in that time to cure me. Also I'd be a lot more careful than I currently am around traffic.

 

[OmniscientOstrich]

Well, technically speaking option 1 isn't really immortality now is it? Option 2 sounds like a pretty sweet deal; basically only entailing the kind of dangers you face anyway, but now with the ability to live for as long as you please provided you keep yourself healthy and are fortunate to avoid tragic accidents. Yes, option 2 please. When can I expect to see the serum in the mail?

- Omni ^_^

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

Well, technically speaking option 1 isn't really immortality now is it? Option 2 sounds like a pretty sweet deal; basically only entailing the kind of dangers you face anyway, but now with the ability to live for as long as you please provided you keep yourself healthy and are fortunate to avoid tragic accidents. Yes, option 2 please. When can I expect to see the serum in the mail?

- Omni ^_^

Would you be so desperate to preserve your immortality that you would become paranoid? It might happen, after a thousand years you might get so freaked out that you would die itd be like living in a world full of threats. You have a thousand years to think about all the ways your gift can be squandered. Might drive a person insane.

Id take option two though. Id be scared as fuck that the above might happen but hell, why not. Id feel bad for loved ones too. If i dont age i imagine people will notice. Ill be put in a vat full of liquid for study. And everyone i love will get old and die :/ kinda sucky.

 

[Blunderboy]

Except you will never grow old, or die of natural causes.

Such as cancer?

OT - Probably option 1, as frankly, the prospect of seeing all my friends and family grow old and die is too depressing.

 

[UnendingLight]

Option 2 is too flawed.

To not die of natural causes would include things such as viruses and disease, for they are, at their basic level, just a form of evolution and natural selection.

But then again so is option 1. Unable to be harmed yet able to feel pain? Doesn't quite make sense. If bullets bounce right off of you, what exactly do you feel? Pain from their force?

 

[orangeban]

Invulnerability, I wouldn't want to out-live my friends. Plus, I could be a superhero!

 

[OmniscientOstrich]

Would you be so desperate to preserve your immortality that you would become paranoid? It might happen, after a thousand years you might get so freaked out that you would die itd be like living in a world full of threats. You have a thousand years to think about all the ways your gift can be squandered. Might drive a person insane.

You will not experience the effects of aging, you will not experience physical or mental deterioration due to aging.

I think we're pretty well covered for that, by the looks of things. I'd rahter take the chance and risk insanity (though I don't think I'm quite as paranoid over it as you seem to be, no offence) for the oppourtunity to prolong my life for as long as possible, then to embrace the eternal emptiness of extinction (alliteration, ho!) after a mere 70 years of life or so. Being a Nihilist, I fear death above all else, so I want to keep myself alive for as long as can be.

- Omni ^_^

 

[Agayek]

I'd definitely go with #1. Immortality is simply not something I want. Everything ends eventually, and the ultimate ending gives meaning to everything we do. Beyond that, I'd be bored of everything after the second century. Fuck that. I'd much rather be dead than eternally bored.

Being impervious to injury, on the other hand, is actually pretty fucking sweet. I'd do all sorts of stupid shit, like base jumping without a parachute, just to say I did it and walked away. It'd be a blast.

 

[Alcamonic]

Option two. Several life-times of perfecting my 25-30 year old mind and body onto the limit of human capacity. Along side with all the knowledge and scientific breakthroughs that will happen over time.

Having such a blessing that I could live forever, but still die I something I dream about.

 

[Gunjester]

Quick Question: Does the invunerable person have to eat? Or do they have infinite calories to burn? Or how about sleep? Do they have to sleep?

Either way, I'd probably decline. Invulnerability with pain seems pointless to me, as I'm more afraid of pain then wounds or death, and Immortality is a stupid idea as you could sign up for it and then five seconds later get hit by a bus.
Though I'm answering this way because I don't necessarily fear death. Nervous about it? Hell yeah. But anything so natural...would feel really stupid to avoid it either way. I'm spiritual, wouldn't say religious because I have issues with some things in my religion, and as such, don't see death as an end.
Oh and please don't bother quoting me to try and disprove something I believe in. There's no way to tell if there's anything after death, and I'm fully aware of this.

 

[Ganthrinor]

Indefinite Lifespan.

I could not trust myself with Invulnerability.

 

[SextusMaximus]

Number 1,

Not having injuries would be sweet, and I don't want to live for too long anyway.

 

[winginson]

Option 2 because I have a way out of it.

Option 1 allows me to be trapped in a cave in in until I die of old age.