Immortality

[Vasska]

@t Wizzy

Yes indeed shape-shifting (couldn't find the words for it). I think it would be cool to be able to morph into anyone you want, but still it might prove to be as problematic as eternal life, again as said before on eternal life, you will undoubtedly change.

Assuming anyone's form can be quite "evil" for you can pretend to be someone (or something for that matter) else, and mess their lives up real bad. Some people might deserve it, but many others will not.

Again your ethics will change since you'll become arrogant (if someone doesn't let you in you just shape-shift into someone else) and many things will be boring after a while, just like eternal life.

I guess all supernatural powers should have their maximum strength and should be controlled at all times. Also you should be able to give up your power.

The movie Bruce Almighty (even being a comedy) is a good example of what sudden superpowers can do to you. (The movie of course does not take an in depth analysis but just shows the tip of the iceberg in a fun way)

[Wizzy]

Vasska
I understand what you mean, but don't agree with it. Except perhaps in something as eternal-life which is not something you have to "activate" for it to have a function. If you get bored with shape-shifting you'll probably just stop doing it.

[Vasska]

Originally Posted by Wizzy

Vasska
I understand what you mean, but don't agree with it. Except perhaps in something as eternal-life which is not something you have to "activate" for it to have a function. If you get bored with shape-shifting you'll probably just stop doing it.

Yeah, your right about that. Didn't think of it that way ^^. I'm more of an worst case scenario kind of person.

[Aedes]

If you were immortal, does that mean you'd continue to live forever and ever after the human species becomes extinct, after some disaster renders earth uninhabitable, and after the sun explodes and consumes the solar system?

[Wizzy]

techniqually, yeah...

[Vasska]

Originally Posted by Aedes

If you were immortal, does that mean you'd continue to live forever and ever after the human species becomes extinct, after some disaster renders earth uninhabitable, and after the sun explodes and consumes the solar system?

If the religions are right God is doomed ^^

[dancinginchains]

Originally Posted by Vasska

@t dancinginchains
I enjoyed reading your story, and completely agree with it, but still find something missing. Namely evolution. We evolve because our ancestors die and make room for a new generation of people that are able to improve upon the foundations created by out ancestors (like Plato, Aristotle and many other historically important people etc).

Death also is -as you stated - necessary for the simple reason of being able to evolve, since both the bad and the good (again the border between good and evil is a discussion for a different time) die, and with them habits, cultures and other things that could slow down (or stop) our evolutionary path for some time.

That is a very good point that I missed.

There's an old saying that came from Hegel that I think ought to be kept in the back of our mind when considering evolution: "The more things change the more they stay the same." History has taught us this lesson time and again.

[dancinginchains]

Originally Posted by Wizzy

But as everybody have mentioned how lonely it would be, if you had somebody to be immortal with then? Say a parter of the opposit sex (cause then you can have sex with eachother...) who where also immortal, would that make the whole idea of immortality more attractive?

Perhaps for others but not for me because there's still the whole issue of ethics, and even aesthetics, that would continue to loom over the curse of immortality even then. To me those are of far greater importance than an immortal sex partner, but with that said an immortal partner would likely reduce the loneliness unless of course if she's a man-hating lesbian. (No offense intended, just trying to prove a point.) Though I would tend to think that if someone wanted to be immortal in light of their thirst for power, even a dozen immortal counterparts would not be enough to satisfy such a being. Why? Because, as we have often seen, the world is never enough for those who have it all.

However we must also not stray too far into fantasy. There is a lesson in life that I think we've all learned, if not are learning or will learn of, which entails a vast difference between fantasy and reality. How we fantasize the way something will be is more often than not very different from how it really is. To not consider this is categorically unwise.

[Vasska]

Originally Posted by dancinginchains

Perhaps for others but not for me because there's still the whole issue of ethics, and even aesthetics, that would continue to loom over the curse of immortality even then. To me those are of far greater importance than an immortal sex partner, but with that said an immortal partner would likely reduce the loneliness unless of course if she's a man-hating lesbian. (No offense intended, just trying to prove a point.) Though I would tend to think that if someone wanted to be immortal in light of their thirst for power, even a dozen immortal counterparts would not be enough to satisfy such a being. Why? Because, as we have often seen, the world is never enough for those who have it all.

However we must also not stray too far into fantasy. There is a lesson in life that I think we've all learned, if not are learning or will learn of, which entails a vast difference between fantasy and reality. How we fantasize the way something will be is more often than not very different from how it really is. To not consider this is categorically unwise.

Wizzy had a good point, but i think you should have a really good band with someone that will last for eternity. Maybe the addition of more people might ease your loneliness. But then as you stated, what is eternal life worth to anyone which a sane mind? The world is never enough for someone who has it all.

About the fantasy and reality thing; i think fantasy is something people still need to escape from the suffocation reality, but that indeed we can never completely calculate how someone will react in reality to a situation in reality (but can come close). Other that that fantasy is still very important for keeping the mind satisfied and maybe even come up with ideas.

[Quatl]

Originally Posted by Aristoddler

Have you considered the fact that if you couldn't die, then you would have no purpose in life to do anything aside from fulfilling your own personal selfish desires?
You would never have a mate for life, since they would become old and frail while you remain young and virile. You might try for a while, but grow bored of it, if the tragic onslaught of centuries of these emotions didn't drive you insane.

You would be lonely for eternity, and that would be much worse than simply dying when nature takes its course.

How is this different really from the way things are anyway. I have outlived loved ones already, I have loved those who did not love me already, I have been lonely already, and still am lonely now.

I'm sure I f I were to ask if suicide were a good idea you would object. How is that different from turning down a chance at eternal life if such were offered.

I reject your logic.

I love those I love, and when they are no more I carry them with me, It is the memory of joy that carries me through the pain of loss. Indeed life is painful often, but that is no reason to run from it. Pain is an inevitable price we must pay in order to buy future happiness.

If we allow the memory of pain grow into such fear that we are unable to risk, then we will never know happiness again. It is irrelevant if we will live merely another few years, or for the rest of time.

I would embrace immortality, even though my heart is often heavy. I would relish in the knowledge that so many more years were to come in which I could pursue true happiness, and joy. And in the great long depths of eternity, so many years of happiness would be the reward for the many in which I inevitably would suffer.

You say "if you couldn't die, then you would have no purpose in life to do anything aside from fulfilling your own personal selfish desires?" I say, "NO!" In an eternal life there is truly, finally, a logical reason to embrace all forms of long term thinking. It becomes in your clear and undeniable interest to do all one can to foster a better world. For in an eternal life you will be there, to selfishly enjoy the fruits of such a better world.

Fear not life my friend!