> Even today there are a few things that you can do to postpone the
> inevitable. You are not likely to do them if you like the idea of death.
Ok, agreed -- almost. I don't *like* the idea of death, but I am also
too skeptical for the moment to be able to accept even a possibility
of eternal life. (I gave it a few hours of thought recently, thinking
of a post to Virus re "what the world would be like if we stopped
dying", and overpopulation was the least of my problems... I gave up
because the whole concept was overwhelmingly mind-boggling...) I guess
I suspend judgement for now, and remain interested - well, at least
I've dug up a few Transhuman pages on the Web and read a few things.
No, I don't like or enjoy the idea of death. I would support relevant
research, too. It is not my lack of belief in technology that makes me
skeptical, in fact: rather, it seems that the cycle of life and death
is so BASIC to the workings of nature that it just *feels* to me like
a law, like the insurmountable speed of light, or the absolute zero
temperature. But yes, this is a gut feeling, a belief. I have nothing
to show for it.
> Nor will *believing* in
> >immortality inundate you from death, or will it?
>
> You must be using a definition of the verb "to inundate" that I can't find
> anywhere, which makes your question hard to answer.
Oops, I'm put to shame. (Doubly now because I need to quote the above line.)
I meant "inoculate."
> I have found transhuman
> >thinking quite appealing due to its optimism and "will do" stance; but
> >for now these are dreams.
>
> There is such a thing as practice - a whole range of actions - from taking
> life extension drugs to signing up for, and supporting research in, cryonic
> suspension.
>
True; and again -- I do have enough trust in technology (for better or worse)
I just can't see how anyone would bother 'waking up' those who were put
to cryogenic 'sleep' in our times. Well, for initial research maybe, but
on a large scale? Would people be signing any contracts ensuring their
'return' once technology allows?
> > I don't think your words could be understood as a
> >threat, no; but a variation on the infamous FOAD they were.
>
> I find death-romance quite "anti-human".
So do I, although admittedly death has had some -- well, appeal -- for
various artists throughout the ages. But so has immortality. No,
I don't "like" or think well of death.
BTW, I checked David Krieger's page you mentioned in another post.
It's very politically uncorrect, very hilarious, and very true.
Gotta see it, folks!
Marek.
-- If Turing test were administered tonight, I'd fail it.