From: E. Shaun Russell (e_shaun@extropy.org)
Date: Tue Jan 16 2001 - 22:01:46 MST
Stewart Brand wrote:
>More like a thousand years weary, jaded, tired, bored, suicidal.
And to impose that view upon those who are either brave or ambitious enough
to want to live that long, is almost tantamount to murder. What I often
see in people who oppose (though I am not saying that you are doing this)
the notion of a vastly extended lifespan is the automatic thought that such
an extended lifespan will be forced on everyone. It shouldn't, and almost
certainly won't. If the option is there (and I stress the word "option")
for individuals to extend their lifespan indefinitely, it should have no
effect on anyone beyond those individuals.
>It's not even interesting being pretty and strong if everybody is
>pretty and strong.
Let that decision be made by the interested parties. If, down the road,
people do become tired, weary, jaded and bored, then suicide *is* a viable
option, isn't it? But it is a chance that *I* am willing to take, and it
would be an infringement to my individual freedom for others to try to stop
me.
>A thousand years wise might mean something. What, remains to be
>seen.
So stand aside and let us see it. If, down the road, it turns out that
extended life will be as terrible as you suggest, then you win...but let me
have that chance first.
_____________________________________________________________
E. Shaun Russell Operations Officer, Extropy Institute
e_shaun@extropy.org http://www.extropy.org
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~K i n e t i c i z e Y o u r P o t e n t i a l~
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