Poll: What's the attraction to being immortal?

[Hazy992]

I've noticed on these forums that a lot of people seem to like the idea of being immortal. So I was just wondering; why? I mean think about it.

First off, you've got the fact that you have to watch every single one of your loved ones die.

Then you've got the fact that within a few hundred years you'd be unable to communicate with anyone due to language changes, and eventually you wouldn't even look human anymore thanks to evolution. You'd be treated like a freak and likely ostracised by everyone. Although it's not like you'd be able to actually form relationships with anyone as by this point time would be moving so fast for you entire lifetimes would be gone in the blink of an eye.

Then there's the prospect of you inevitably being trapped somewhere for an eternity. And what happens the earth eventually blows up? Do you just float through space forever?

I know this is a bit of a rant and it's not like it can ever happen, but I was just curious.

TL;DR Why do you want to be immortal? There's some major drawbacks to it.


EDIT: There should be a poll here. Just say if you would be immortal or not I guess

Also, ignore the language thing. Probably didn't think that one through.

Oh, and assume that when I say immortal, I also mean indestructible. You can't die and you can't be killed.

 

[Furioso]

With the loved ones, I would get over it, I don't understand your point on language changes, it wouldn't be hard to keep up with the slow process of the change, the whole evolution thing could be a drawback, but the people could worship you as an immortal god. And when the Earth blows up, I would cross that bridge when I got to it, but floating through space to see the wonders of the cosmos wouldn't be all bad, and by that time we would probably have some way to travel through space quickly

Edit: This is assuming you mean invincible along with immortal, otherwise you would die when the earth blows up along with the non immortals

 

[dvd_72]

So you're saying you wont adapt with the change in languages?

And as humanity changes... well you'll be known as the only immortal person in the world. You're a freak anyways, though possibally idolised instead of shuned.

And that time thing, what's that all about? It's not like a day passes any faster for someone who's 50 compared to someone who's 5.

The rest are valid arguments though, and is why immortality isn't really a thing for me. Just... try to avoid silly arguments like the ones I've mentioned above, alright?

 

[somonels]

You can't be immortal. End topic.
But why? Because I want to see how this **** ends.

 

[Spoon E11]

Because the unknown is unsettling and in some cases scary. Whats more unknown than death? You can't exactly ask anyone about it.

 

[Schmeiser]

Someones been reading cracked, seriously atleast throw some proper credits. And i'd like to be immortal to fuck chicks from every era

 

[Xaryn Mar]

The attraction (for me at least) is knowledge. Think of all the knowledge yet to be discovered about the universe etc.
Being trapped for an eternity would still be only a short while compared to the time you would exist and floating in space might eventually bring you to another planet or at least you would experience somthing no one else has (not to mention that travel to another star would be a piece of cake since the largest problem with that at the moment is the time it takes).

 

[SlayerN]

I think a shallow person would want to be immortal to avoid death and they would never think about these drawbacks.

If you actually wanted to be immortal despite these drawbacks it's because of one of these two reasons:

1.You are comfortable being a sort of outcast who observes the changes the world undertakes as well as how humans advance through the ages.
2.You simply want enough power to stand out and be noticed and become a sort of icon some may see as a god/prophet.

 

[emptyother]

It would depend on how i would experience having 100+ years of experience in my head. If my head got "full" and i started having trouble adding new stuff, it would be boring.

But if it would work by deleting old stuff, i'm all for it. Watch "The Man From Earth" for an example.

Immortal AND invincible? I would prefer floating in space before being dead. Who knows, after a few thousand years i might land on another planet, or a rock, or something...

 

[Hazy992]

Someones been reading cracked, seriously atleast throw some proper credits. And i'd like to be immortal to fuck chicks from every era

Oh right yeah, forgot about that article Makes a fair point though

EDIT: quoting the wrong person

 

[Scarim Coral]

I do got to agree with immortality being over-rated.

I read somewhere that the human mind isn't adapt for such longevity meaning your mind will deteriorate in a century or two.

Also assuming by being immortal your body is permantly fixed in the said time you will be view as a freak/ outcast in the future. Someone in a thread had pointed that the human race is still evolving overtime meaning the human race will look different over a thousand year time were your immottal body cannot be change therefore looking different to everyone else.

 

[Soviet Steve]

Some of the points here are poor, as long as you're interacting with others the social aspects will not influence you, and evolution has ceased to function as humanity has removed nature's influence on us.

Sanity would be the long term issue however, though my grievance with it is that all drive and any reward would feel meaningless as you have infinite time anyway.

I just want my century or thereabout and then I want to return to my rest. Was perfectly fine with not existing in the preceding 12ish billion years and I have no qualms about returning to that once I've balanced out the shit I've dealt with so far with some pleasant memories.

 

[Allen Marks]

Most people who want to be immortal and assuming there isn't an afterlife, which is fairly reasonable, IMO.
Any sort of existence is mostly preferable to not existing.

 

[Tsaba]

wait one, lets ask Lestat how he feels about being immortal.

Not very good? Mortal life it is.

BTW, one of my favorite movies ever.

 

[Hazy992]

So you're saying you wont adapt with the change in languages?

Well ok, maybe you're right on that one.

 

[Spoon E11]

Because the unknown is unsettling and in some cases scary. Whats more unknown than death? You can't exactly ask anyone about it.

Oh right yeah, forgot about that article Makes a fair point though

What article?

 

[Macgyvercas]

Then there's the prospect of you inevitably being trapped somewhere for an eternity. And what happens the earth eventually blows up? Do you just float through space forever?

Sorry, pet peeve of mine. See this right here? What I quoted? That wouldn't happen with immortality. Unless you include invulnerability, you can be immune to age and disease, but not, say, a bullet to the brain. Or indeed, the planet blowing up. Think the Elves from LotR. They're effectively immortal, but that didn't stop one hell of a lot of them from dying when the Last Alliance stormed Orodruin.

As for me, I think 80-some years is enough. I mean, yes, I'll be kind of sad that I probably won't get my lightsaber, but I'd prefer that disappointment to having to bury my future children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc.

 

[Hazy992]

Because the unknown is unsettling and in some cases scary. Whats more unknown than death? You can't exactly ask anyone about it.

Oh right yeah, forgot about that article Makes a fair point though

What article?

I quoted the wrong person. whoops

 

[DragonFae]

I've never seen the attraction to immortality. For one thing, if the immortality was simply being unable to die, then your body would continue to age until you were trapped inside it. If you didn't age, you'd never be able to settle down. You'd have to move every five years. You'd never be able to have a family, never be able to have any true friends.

Saying that you'd float around in space after the world went kaput isn't valid. You'd have to be completely invulnerable and have no need for oxygen or food or water for that to work. Otherwise you'd be constantly going through death. Sounds very much like torture to me.

 

[Stew Coard]

only if there are other immortals to make stuff interesting, and by the time the earth blows up we should be able to travel through space or have encountered some life form that can