Poll: On the Subject of Immortality

[BiscuitTrouser]

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 ^_^

"Natural causes" doesnt really mean a lot :/ Cancer is a disease, and dying of old age is a biological issue, does it count as natural? Is any disease a natural cause? I dunno, cus if cancer counts statistically youd make it to around 300 before that should get you:

(1/3 people get it on one lifetime, 30% chance over 90 years ish?) correct me if im wrong.

Dunno really. I wouldnt be so much paranoid about it as, ironically, being "immortal" would remind me constantly of my own mortality if something were to happen. Itd be annoying as hell.

 

[ZeroMachine]

Option 2, definitely. As long as I can work out and lose weight, that is...

Option 1 would have it's uses, but I'd rather live longer instead of just safer. Besides, I'm just too curious as to where humanity will go.

Can you imagine, though, the amount of accumulated knowledge? Being able to take your time on certain things that we would, comparatively, have to rush right now?

 

[Android2137]

Decline. I never found any form of immortality to be enticing. Besides, there are social factors to consider and I for one do not want to become a lab experiment.

 

[VeneratedWulfen93]

I'd go for eternal youth. I'm greedy and selfish and my end goal in my life currently is to have my name remembered by humanity for thousands of years after my death through my literary works. With immortality I wouldn't have a time limit to accomplish this unless somebody wanted me dead for some crazy reason.

 

[Knight Captain Kerr]

I would go for #2 that would be awesome.

 

[newwiseman]

I'll go with the cease aging option. To say nothing of hubris I would love to be able to perfect knowledge of my surroundings, and master control over them.

 

[renegade7]

Indefinite lifespan, and use the time to devise technologies and gene therapies to make myself invulnerable.

 

[Lawlhat]

I would tell that genie to go away. I don't want to live forever.

 

[NightHawk21]

Both options seem flawed. #1 doesn't make any sense, unless you are feeling every one of those objects as a blunt force (assuming your bones don't break). Also pain is technically a type of injury.

#2 Cancer is natural in the vast majority of cases. In very few cases does cancer develop due to prolonged exposure to high energy radiation. Also it could be argued that viruses are also natural causes.

Regardless of how ambiguously the choices are worded however, I would pick #2 every time. I don't live the kind of life that requires protection continuously, but I sure as shit would like more time on this earth.

 

[Randomeaninglessword]

Number 2, I like the idea of being able to "opt-out" of life if I eventually become tired of it.

 

[Andothul]

1. Invulnerability for the simple fact that i believe indefinite lifespan or at the very least increased life span is something science can and will do for us within the next 100 years.

With stem cells, artificial and cloned organs and age research i think this century will see
the beginning of people living 150 years or older and it will only grow

 

[Hal10k]

It's lunch. I whack the genie with my plate and steal his power.

I'm honestly curious as to why nobody else has suggested this.

 

[StrappingYoungLad]

Number 2 since you can opt-out.

 

[springheeljack]

Invulnerability
Then I would go about setting up a vast criminal network so that my
I would be unstoppable no fed will be able to get their hands on me
then I can give the reins to my offspring
It is going to be a legacy

 

[FalloutJack]

In a world where splitting up those two choices is non-negotiable, I say that not being able to have your cake and eat it too - because that's a dumb phrase anyhow - is ridiculous in that anything you want badly enough, you can find a way to get. That's pretty much the history of the human race at large.

But purely for the fun of it, without calling fairness into question, I will choose option 2. There is no actual reason for me to be invincible if you can't let me enjoy it indefinitely. For what reason would I so badly need or want to protect a normal lifespan? Not actually worth it. Better to immune to the natural aging process and just keep oneself out of harm than to waste such a gift as invulnerability on one who is only in the blink of an eye of history.

It makes more sense that way.

 

[Varanfan9]

Id go with number two. I would love to live way longer than usual but I would still have some end. Just in case it turns out to be a bad idea I have a way out.

 

[Jedoro]

Option 2

I'm 21, which means I'm old enough to enjoy every single right of an American citizen (read: drink alcohol and carry handguns, but not at the same time obviously). It'd be nice to live forever as long as I took care of myself and end it when I wanted to, though I wouldn't enjoy my loved ones getting old. Oh well. I'd just take my guns and become the Punisher, let the government have fun looking for someone who should be old or dead.