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GORDON 
90%
Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 36125
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 14 2014,18:33 |
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New to me.
http://americandigest.org/mt-arch....aws.php
QUOTE Spengler's Universal Law #1: A man or a nation at the brink of death does not have a "rational self-interest."
Spengler's Universal Law #2: When the nations of the world see their demise not as a distant prospect over the horizon, but as a foreseeable outcome, they perish of despair.
Spengler's Universal Law #3: Contrary to what you may have heard from the sociologists, the human mortality rate is still 100 percent.
Spengler's Universal Law #4: The history of the world is the history of mankind's search for immortality.
Spengler's Universal Law #5: Humankind cannot bear mortality without the hope of immortality.
Spengler's Universal Law #6 (courtesy of Warren Buffett): You don't know who's naked until the tide goes out.
Spengler's Universal Law #7: Political models are like automobile models: you can't have them unless you can pay for them.
Spengler's Universal Law #8: Wars are won by destroying the enemy's will to fight. A nation is never really beaten until it sells its women.
Spengler's Universal Law #9: A country isn't beaten until it sells its women, but it's damned when its women sell themselves.
Spengler's Universal Law #10: There's a world of difference between a lunatic and a lunatic who has won the lottery.
Spengler's Universal Law #11: At all times and in all places, the men and women of every culture deserve each other.
Spengler's Universal Law #12: Nothing is more dangerous than a civilization that has only just discovered it is dying.
Spengler's Universal Law #13: Across epochs and culture, blood has flown in inverse proportion to the hope of victory.
Spengler's Universal Law #14: Stick around long enough, and you turn into a theme park.
Spengler's Universal Law #15: When we worship ourselves, eventually we become the god that failed.
Spengler's Universal Law #16: Small civilizations perish for any number of reasons, but great civilizations die only when they no longer want to live.
Spengler's Universal Law #17: If you stay in the same place and do the same thing long enough, some empire eventually will overrun you.
Spengler's Universal Law #18: Maybe we would be better off if we never had been born, but who has such luck? Not one in a thousand.
Spengler's Universal Law #19: Pagan faith, however powerful, turns into Stygian nihilism when disappointed.
Spengler's Universal Law #20: Democracy only gives people the kind of government they deserve.
Spengler's Universal Law #21: If you believe in yourself, you're probably whoring after strange gods.
Spengler's Universal Law #22: Optimism is cowardice, at least when the subject is Muslim democracy.
Spengler's Universal Law #23: The best thing you can do for zombie cultures is, don't be one of them.
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I don't give a fuck!
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| Post Number: 2
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TPRJones
I saw The Fault in our Stars opening night.
Group: Privateers
Posts: 12384
Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 15 2014,10:05 |
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Yeah, I for one have no problem with nor fear of death. It's just a thing that will eventually happen. No biggie.
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Vidi Perfutui Veni
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| Post Number: 4
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TheCatt
Top 2%
Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 22951
Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 15 2014,10:35 |
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It'd sure be nice if it didn't though, right?
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It's not me, it's someone else.
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| Post Number: 5
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Leisher
Top 3%, yo.
Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 26651
Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 15 2014,11:08 |
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Not necessarily.
My grandfather-in-law is 97. He's outlived all his friends. He's obviously past his prime. Can't really get around anymore. Etc. I'm pretty sure he'll be fine with the end.
My grandmother is in her 80s and is praying for the end. She's lonely without her husband and feels like a burden to her daughter.
For myself, I've no desire to outlive my kids.
So I think your situation would dictate your desire for immortality.
Do my kids and wife get it too? Can I gift it to some friends? Are you rich to the point where you don't have to work? Do you have to go to work 5 days a week for the next 400 years? If you don't get your loved ones, how tortured would your soul be to go through the constant pain of loved ones dying? How big of an asshole are you going to become about 6 lifetimes in?
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| Post Number: 6
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TheCatt
Top 2%
Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 22951
Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 15 2014,11:16 |
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OK, non-aging immortality... work is up to you, if you saved enough, retire. If you fucked up, suck it.
Freak lab accident, just enough serum so that you can choose 1 person. And you can pick whatever "age" you want to appear as, but have to keep that decision forever.
Alternate scenario: You will only be immortal in the sense of not aging, people/accidents/etc can kill you.
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It's not me, it's someone else.
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| Post Number: 7
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TPRJones
I saw The Fault in our Stars opening night.
Group: Privateers
Posts: 12384
Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 15 2014,11:23 |
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I think the primary factor is flexibility of mind. Â Can you keep up with technology and changes in the world for 400 years, or do you get left behind and praying for death like Leisher's examples?
The old folks home of my grandparents was filled with people staring silently at the wall because they didn't know what to do with themselves when no longer working, because that's all they knew. Â Our parents old folks homes will have a TV in every room on 24/7 that they will stare at, because it's what they know. Â Our old folks homes will be full of gamers playing decades-old games on ancient systems, because that's what we know. Â Where in that does the potentially immortal person fall, do they get to keep up with the times or are they feeling just as left behind, only still looking young?
Edited by TPRJones on Jan. 15 2014,11:24
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Vidi Perfutui Veni
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| Post Number: 8
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TheCatt
Top 2%
Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 22951
Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 15 2014,11:30 |
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I don't think keeping up with the times is that hard. But as you age, it becomes harder, so old people with failing faculties/abilities cannot keep up.. If you're always young and mentally aware, you can do it.
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It's not me, it's someone else.
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| Post Number: 9
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Malcolm
I disagree.
Group: Privateers
Posts: 27168
Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 15 2014,11:49 |
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QUOTE Freak lab accident, just enough serum so that you can choose 1 person. And you can pick whatever "age" you want to appear as, but have to keep that decision forever.
Hell, no. I have no intention of being around when the universe collapses into a singularity.
QUOTE Alternate scenario: You will only be immortal in the sense of not aging, people/accidents/etc can kill you.
Like a really shitty Highlander?
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Diogenes of Sinope:
"It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
"Other dogs bite only their enemies, whereas I bite also my friends in order to save them."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC:
"Better dead than smeg."
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| Post Number: 10
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Leisher
Top 3%, yo.
Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 26651
Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 15 2014,12:12 |
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QUOTE OK, non-aging immortality... work is up to you, if you saved enough, retire. If you fucked up, suck it.
Where's the fun in immortality if you can't enjoy it? I want to rule from the shadows.
Also, good luck dealing with all your finances forever. As soon as a single person notices you've been alive for longer than normal things are going to get bad.
QUOTE Alternate scenario: You will only be immortal in the sense of not aging, people/accidents/etc can kill you.
That would make it even worse.
QUOTE Freak lab accident, just enough serum so that you can choose 1 person. And you can pick whatever "age" you want to appear as, but have to keep that decision forever.
You're making this as far from a "gift" as possible. The obvious choice for many would be their "love", but let's be honest, no way you want to go on fucking the same person for a million years. So now you're left with your kids. Pick one. Every parent loves that choice...
Or let them all die and take your best friend.
Nah, I'd rather die.
As for the age...I think I'd go for early 30s. Body is still in awesome shape, You still look and are young enough to bag anything legit and people won't give you shit. Also, you're old enough to get respect in the business world.
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| Post Number: 11
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TheCatt
Top 2%
Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 22951
Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 15 2014,12:28 |
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You people (except TPR) are broken. TPR just reminded me to never grow old of spirit.
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It's not me, it's someone else.
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| Post Number: 13
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TPRJones
I saw The Fault in our Stars opening night.
Group: Privateers
Posts: 12384
Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 15 2014,12:32 |
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Man, that was a bit of a bullshit hippie moment there, wasn't it?
What has your magic immortality serum done to me?!
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Vidi Perfutui Veni
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| Post Number: 14
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TheCatt
Top 2%
Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 22951
Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 15 2014,12:35 |
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(Leisher @ Jan. 15 2014,15:12)
QUOTE
QUOTE Where's the fun in immortality if you can't enjoy it? I want to rule from the shadows.
Immortality would just be a way to experience lots of things you couldn't do in a single lifetime.
QUOTE Also, good luck dealing with all your finances forever. As soon as a single person notices you've been alive for longer than normal things are going to get bad.
Move your money. Put it into trusts, or corporations.
QUOTE You're making this as far from a "gift" as possible.
I didn't say it was a gift. I like TPR's dog theory. I also like the idea of just saving the serum. Sure, you may lose it, but I think immortality would take an adjustment.
if you don't save family members, how do you explain the whole "not getting older"?
Age: I'd probably go for 25-30.
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It's not me, it's someone else.
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| Post Number: 15
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Malcolm
I disagree.
Group: Privateers
Posts: 27168
Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 15 2014,12:56 |
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QUOTE Also, good luck dealing with all your finances forever. As soon as a single person notices you've been alive for longer than normal things are going to get bad.
All kinds of creative ways to hide that.
QUOTE Immortality would just be a way to experience lots of things you couldn't do in a single lifetime.
Do I get to pick the form of this immortality? Like could I be reincarnated as the being of my choice in the reality of my choice?
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Diogenes of Sinope:
"It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
"Other dogs bite only their enemies, whereas I bite also my friends in order to save them."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC:
"Better dead than smeg."
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| Post Number: 16
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Leisher
Top 3%, yo.
Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 26651
Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 15 2014,12:56 |
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QUOTE You people (except TPR) are broken.
Bullshit. My questions are steering the rules so I can eventually control the world and fuck who I want. If that's broken, I don't want to be fixed.
QUOTE Immortality would just be a way to experience lots of things you couldn't do in a single lifetime.
I think not getting to experience it all is part of the experience. Plus, if a bus could end the dream, you're not really experiencing immortality are you?
The longer you're alive, the higher the odds of you getting into an accident, being at the wrong place at the wrong time, etc.
If I need to endure the death of all my loved ones, AND avoid future relationship that will be unavoidably damaged by my knowledge that I will watch them all die, then I should get something back for that. Having extra time to go see Mount Rushmore isn't a good trade off.
And honestly, that's what you're trying to sell: Watch your loves ones die, but enjoy having the time to learn to play bridge!
QUOTE Move your money. Put it into trusts, or corporations.
And never get famous for anything or people will notice.
QUOTE I didn't say it was a gift.
Why am I signing up for a curse with many negatives and a single meaningless perk that can be taken away in the blink of an eye?
By the way, ask your "I'd rather have sex than see" wife who she'd take with her into immortality. I'm curious.
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| Post Number: 17
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TheCatt
Top 2%
Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 22951
Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 15 2014,13:00 |
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Speaking of Ghost Busters
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It's not me, it's someone else.
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| Post Number: 18
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| Post Number: 19
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Leisher
Top 3%, yo.
Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 26651
Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 15 2014,13:20 |
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I like the on/off switch, but again why am I staying immortal except to appease my own selfishness? I mean, who wants to watch their kids die while they get to live forever.
Oh wait, they give the "gift" to their dog too! 
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| Post Number: 20
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Malcolm
I disagree.
Group: Privateers
Posts: 27168
Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 15 2014,14:31 |
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You insist on having kids? The Highlanders were lucky enough to be sterile.
But hey, if you don't want to live beyond their years, you're free to die with them. But since you've got the potential to be the patriarchal figure of every generation, why wouldn't you use that argument for the grandchildren, great-grandchildren, ad nauseum?
If you tossed immortality, the ability to enter into stasis at will (hibernation to pass the boring time), being locked in at the age of my choice, and I'm running no risk of maiming, sickness, genetic resequencing, etc., then I'm pretty much locked in with a "yes" because shit's all my choice at that point. Death comes when I have balls to die and the stasis gives me a fast forward button. If all things to do with my physical form are made constant, down to the electricity, chemicals, and engrams in my brain, by some physics defying mechanism, it becomes a no-brainer.
That's a fuckload of conditions, though. I chalk this up to the fact that I've seen and read way, way, way too many stories about people wishing for eternal life and getting a raw deal.
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Diogenes of Sinope:
"It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
"Other dogs bite only their enemies, whereas I bite also my friends in order to save them."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC:
"Better dead than smeg."
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