Poll

When All Else Fails
Hell No!!! I want another round to see what I can get up to next!

I'd like to be able choose when to die! Immortality would drive me mad but I like the thought of a brain transplant - get a nice new body when I need it ;)

I get that, but a body transplant wouldn't help really. The brain gets tired of all the technology updates. My great grandfather spent his last years distressed because he was born when kerosene was the lighting, and he died when electricity was in use. The confusion and stress of keeping up was huge. It feels cool now, but in 50 years?

Carmel wrote: "I get that, but a body transplant wouldn't help really. The brain gets tired of all the technology updates. My great grandfather spent his last years distressed because he was born when kerosene wa..."

I totally agree. And so does my grandad! I once asked him what or who he'd be in his 'next life' in theory. He said 'I bloody hope theirs not another one! This one has been so tiring and I think I'm ready for a rest.'

That's why I said that I'd like to choose when to die. When I'm tired of living, just go peacefully and content that I've done all I can.

Carmel wrote: " It feels cool now, but in 50 years?..."

What about in 500 years, Carmel? ;)

C'mon it'll be fun!
I mean, at least nobody will say the old cliche "life's too short" anymore!

I think that the Vampire series by Anne Rice perfectly portrays the depression that longevity can create. It is not easy to watch everybody and everything you know and love die around you. The whole point behind reincarnation and death is to give you a go around. But - if you are up for it James, I'll have a shot!! Imagine the conniptions we could cause??!! :)

No way! My great grandmother lived to 101, she had still walked everywhere and clear of mind, and she passed in her sleep...sounds great? Nope!

Not according to my gran she said the last 20 years was the toughest even worse than living through the depression and 2 World Wars...in that last 20 years she saw her only children, two sons pass away both from lung cancer although neither smoked (we suspect asbestos). She was incredibly close to her daughter in laws pass. She saw all her sisters pass away, she was the eldest. She saw a grandson pass away from bone cancer at 61. My grandmother also lived out both her husbands that she loved dearly.
When she went down to the elderly citizens club nearly every week, someone else had passed away.

My great grandmother really did live life to the fullest, at her 100th birthday party incredibly, she did her tap dancing routine. Always making ppl laugh but I could see that day a sadness in her eyes. When she blew out the cake, she hugged me and whispered " I just wish your grandfather (her youngest son)was here".
So nope I don't want to be around to see ppl I love pass particularly my children pass away.

Anyway, I have already told my sons (teenagers) that I am coming back to haunt then, not that I am planning on leaving anytime soon.

Oh, I'm up for it.
And Carmel, novels like Anne Rice or movies like Highlander are just fictional interpretations projecting out from our current (limited) reality in my opinion
e.g. Who is to say once humans are able to live for extended periods that you'd need to watch everybody you know die? Surely once science reaches that point most of your loved ones would be having extended life also, right?

Carmel wrote: "I think that the Vampire series by Anne Rice perfectly portrays the depression that longevity can create. It is not easy to watch everybody and everything you know and love die around you. The whol..."

Exactly Carmel the same reason as me. I agree 100%

Come on guys! If science can keep you alive forever it can keep your loved ones alive too! You'd all have a rave!

Sure I would, then I'll wander the earth carrying my sword, ready for battle: because there can be only one...

John wrote: "Sure I would, then I'll wander the earth carrying my sword, ready for battle: because there can be only one..."

Highlander!

Of course, Highlander, brilliant film!

I agree with many of the comments concerning grandparents. My people live long lives, with all my older relatives living past their 90s, some past 100. While it was amazing to sit and listen to their stories, they were born in the late 1800's and passed away having watched men walk on the moon. It was a lot. I don't believe I'd like to live forever, but to see where mankind is going would be interesting. However I believe I'd like to see what's next in our journey, whether it's a return visit or something else. I do think if reincarnation is the next step, I'd like to remember, and keep the wisdom gained in previous lives. I guess in a way that is being immortal.

Can't decide: those kind of inventions or revolutions can not and would not be perfectly safe, in my belief. they will carry some kind of a side effect, that I believe will turn the rest of my life into living hell.

immortality does indeed exist but not in this world. I wouldn't want to live forever here.

Not thousands of years....but a couple hundred for sure! I'm excited just to see the tech advances in the next 20-30 years, a hundred from now would be awesome....at least I hope it would be awesome and not some horrendous dystopian nightmare.

If overpopulation is a myth now, it certainly won't be once we're immortal!

And if it ever became a reality, you can bet your bottom dollar that the only immortals would be the stinking rich!

Earthly immortality's not for me.

If Trump becomes President, then I DEFINITELY don't want to extend my life!!!

Beth wrote: "If Trump becomes President, then I DEFINITELY don't want to extend my life!!!"
Agreed!

I can't decide yet! It depends on what is waiting for me on the other side! And wether my family would accompany me or not!

I would certainly like to live for ever. Think of all the changes I would see. Think of all the people I would meet. Think of all the novels I would write. The possibilities are endless.

I think you make a very good counter point about the elderly, Ila.
Many don't want to leave.
I know an 80-something Holocaust survivor with a serious health issue and she desperately wants to live as long as possible.

only fools would want to live forever in the lower west progression of the cube of space

It all depends, doesn't it? What would that life be like?

Rhys wrote: "Come on guys! If science can keep you alive forever it can keep your loved ones alive too! You'd all have a rave!"
Hmm yes if that was possible but if Trump becomes president there may be no world left and I am not going to live in some dystopian society unless I am the leader of course! Lol

Ila wrote: "Hell Yes. Think of all the books I could read, all the things I could learn, all the quilts I could sew, all the people I could meet.

Yes, yes and Hell yes. Great Question.

Most of the females i..."

Well I agree about the books I would miss out on! :)

Well, my choice is to die in the right time. Which will be the same as its now already, I believe.

I would like to die and then come back to life-just to see what happens!

What about this for a possible future.....From my next book....

Virtual Immortality (Atheist Heaven on Earth)

In a bizarre and ironic twist, could it be possible to create an atheist heaven on Earth? Those people who have no belief in a spiritual afterlife may wish at some stage to ‘plug in’ to the virtual world while their mind is still unaffected by the mortality of the body. This virtual world would be dynamic because new additions (other people’s minds) would be entered into the constantly changing collective virtual world. In essence the world would ‘grow’ with people and expand with new technology as applied over time. It could be possible for someone who enters the virtual world to have relationships with their deceased great, great grandchildren. The virtual world would be there to serve the needs of the individual mind that is fully aware of the artificial but dynamic nature of his/her virtual life. Ironically however, it will be the jobs of those people living in the real world to support the immortal lives of their deceased companions. Maybe the virtual worlds of Facebook, mobile technology and gaming are in some ways preparing us for the possibility of transcending death for the first time in human history. Here, science does not reject the notion of the divine, it becomes God by giving humanity everlasting virtual life.

One of favorite shows was the bicentennial man, my disappointment was the end when he chose to die. I would rather death is an optional choice rather than a given. At the ripe old age of 59 I would like to do almost everything still, and learn to do it well, I would like to be able to know everything about everything just to know, not to be a know it all, lol. To see illnesses reversed and suffering alleviated for man and beast would make my heart glad. I get tired, bored, worn out, depressed, saddened and feeling flat on my ass, but the sun comes out, life begins to sparkle and I live another day of whatever, bring it on. Circumstances make a person want to die but find the transition past the hard stuff and life is a kaleidoscope of adventure. I would want my loved ones to go on forever as well, but I never have been able to make the choices for the others in my life and must accept that fact. We all walk our own journey thru life. I hope I live long enough to get that choice.

Then again, after thinking on how my existence, and survival is all built on consumption of everything in my path and trying to avoid being consumed, if I had to chose to come into this realm of existence again upon leaving it, I likely wouldn't.

Harry wrote: "Earthly immortality's not for me...."

That's okay mate, you could always live off-planet.
I heard the weather on Venus is nice this time of year :)

Tony wrote: "Virtual Immortality (Atheist Heaven on Earth)

In a bizarre and ironic twist, could it be possible to create an atheist heaven on Earth? Those people who have no belief in a spiritual afterlife may wish at some stage to ‘plug in’ to the virtual world while their mind is still unaffected by the mortality of the body. This virtual world would be dynamic because new additions (other people’s minds) would be entered into the constantly changing collective virtual world. In essence the world would ‘grow’ with people and expand with new technology as applied over time. It could be possible for someone who enters the virtual world to have relationships with their deceased great, great grandchildren. The virtual world would be there to serve the needs of the individual mind that is fully aware of the artificial but dynamic nature of his/her virtual life. Ironically however, it will be the jobs of those people living in the real world to support the immortal lives of their deceased companions. Maybe the virtual worlds of Facebook, mobile technology and gaming are in some ways preparing us for the possibility of transcending death for the first time in human history. Here, science does not reject the notion of the divine, it becomes God by giving humanity everlasting virtual life. ..."

That's fascinating Tony.
Is this based on any scientists' interpretations or predictions?

Hell No, Who wants to live with a recycled old body when you can come back with a brand new one?

James wrote: "Tony wrote: "Virtual Immortality (Atheist Heaven on Earth)

In a bizarre and ironic twist, could it be possible to create an atheist heaven on Earth? Those people who have no belief in a spiritual ..."

Na just my own special ( maybe insane) version of the future James... From my draft...


Immortal Vision within a Mortal Body

The deepest dilemma that has confronted humanity is the unique realisation that we, alone amongst all other living beings, are aware of our own mortality. We know that at some point in time life as a functioning organism will cease, our body will rot and our former unique self will no longer play any part in the collective journey of humanity. Our minds however may exist as separate and possibly infinite creations outside the domain of material existence.
The last 20 years has experienced near exponential growth in new areas of technology that are now capable of creating virtual worlds that can be constructed to fit the personal needs/tastes of individuals. At the same time, medical advances have created a situation where it may be possible for the brain to function with artificial support outside of the support structure of a person’s body. This poses the obvious but frightening question – can a person’s unique self (their mind) exist as a near immortal entity supported by technological based systems – hopefully, with more sophistication that the ‘talking heads’ portrayed in Futurama. A second question then arises – how can this existence be one of productive value to an immortal conscious mind? A person’s mind could be linked to a virtual world as created by science. However, the lesson learnt from the Matrix is that any virtual world is essentially static and distant to any form of lived existence. For life (even virtual life) the events in the virtual world must by dynamic and therefore changeable to provide meaning. Therefore any sense of a meaningful life is usually dependent upon relationships and a continuing journey.
Thus the need for a linked collective of minds that has the capacity to 'grow' and change over time.... i.e. Science and technology become GOD...

Awesome ideas, Tony.
According to my very limited understanding of science, your theory that the brain could one day be kept alive after the body dies seems highly likely.

Have you considered the idea that what we call normal, natural everyday life could be a virtual world?

Feel free to check out this topic here:

Could the matrix be real? https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Rhys wrote: "I'd like to be able choose when to die! Immortality would drive me mad but I like the thought of a brain transplant - get a nice new body when I need it ;)"

That's a delusional proposition.

Now how the hell am i going to get to Valhalla with Odin and Thor if I decide to be immortal. At this stage I'd have to say no unless most of Humanity decided to get their act together and start colonizing space.

If there was no death would it be the end for religion? No heaven to aim for and no hell fire to avoid. A whole industry might become redundant. A lot of fat cats might be wailing and gnashing their teeth. My heart bleeds for them.

Prof. wrote: "Now how the hell am i going to get to Valhalla with Odin and Thor if I decide to be immortal. At this stage I'd have to say no unless most of Humanity decided to get their act together and start colonizing space..."

Well if all our brightest minds stop dying, we'll colonize space no probs!

Yes, I want to live until I choose to die :) ....and so far, I feel I'm still in the infant stages of my personal growth...gonna take a long time! ...and then my plan is to rule the earth until its end, where I then, leave this earth to take over another planet!

Wonder what would be considered the brightest minds when we've all lived for 2 thousand years....you think intelligence would become considered more in terms of divinity/spiritualism, rather than the tangible notion we have today of it being confined to our brain activity?

Well if tales of alien civilizations are true, then apparently most ETs live for thousands of years on their planets and they have very fair systems in terms of ethics and social justice.

All rumors of course, but you never know...Maybe that's the way humanity will head...And I do think those who have lived a long time have so much wisdom to share (generally speaking and apart from "senile delinquents"!!)...So the more we can keep the elderly around with advanced science, the more peaceful and prosperous our society will become I assume...

But the thing is, what we call "the elderly" now will be referred to as teens or even infants in future!!

I'm not sure there will even be a term such as elderly....but rather will be seen in terms of wisdom....

So if these alien tales are true...then surely, the earth would be one of these civilizations as well...as we are all the same...just residents in the multiverse....then what is it about our atmosphere...or our genetic make-up...or what is it that limits us to such a short life span?

Lisa wrote: "So if these alien tales are true...then surely, the earth would be one of these civilizations as well...as we are all the same...just residents in the multiverse....then what is it about our atmosphere...or our genetic make-up...or what is it that limits us to such a short life span? ..."

Dunno, maybe whoever built the matrix encoded us to have short life spans ;)

But soon, we'll defeat the matrix overlords!!

James wrote: "Lisa wrote: "So if these alien tales are true...then surely, the earth would be one of these civilizations as well...as we are all the same...just residents in the multiverse....then what is it abo..."

We are a glitch in the Matrix...

uzay kremasi wrote: "I like to have limits, for me, for also universe, and everything has limits. So no! But infinity is visible even now. I do not need science.."

...and who should determine those limits? Should we all be bound to the same limits? Why not have a limitless universe, where we, ourselves are only limiting ourselves, and via our own personal growth, we can expand these limits.....but if there are pre-existing limits, then how could we expand to our utmost potential?

If I could live exactly how I'm living.....meaning, still eat, enjoy life, sleep, make love etc. Absolutely. No Zombie, Vampire etc type of living. And stay a certain age. Not too young, just right in age.

I wouldn't have anything to do with science as a part of THIS society. In fact, however, we are immortal multidimensional creatures who have for some time been under a system of body death and reincarnation. Now, however, in these early years of New Earth, the cycle of aging, illness, body death, and reincarnation doesn't have to apply to us. There is a part of ourselves called the Innate or the Biological part of our spirit. We need to let it know that we are no longer under that system and we choose to Youth, rather than to age. It is up to old souls who get it to show it can be done, now. I've chosen that path. It isn't easy. In fact, just yesterday, with sciatic pain, I chose to make a statement of action by walking down the 500 steps of the Marvel Cave in Silver Dollar City, MO, and most of the way back up to the train that took the group the remaining way up. Every step through the craft displays was torture and today my body is sore, but the sciatica is hardly there and I feel a certain exuberance returned to the body. I'm sure most of you have no reason, as yet, to believe that we are in New Earth, so just set what I said aside, and keep an eye out for Youthing baby boomers! :)

We live in an infinite cosmos as limitless beings, but something happened that made us think we are fragile and mortal. My current thinking is that we agreed to play the game of forgetting who we are. And now, that game is over. It's time to wake up. Time to create our reality as we choose.

De wrote: "If I could live exactly how I'm living.....meaning, still eat, enjoy life, sleep, make love etc. Absolutely. No Zombie, Vampire etc type of living. And stay a certain age. Not too young, just right..."

I'm with you De. If we can apply that formula, I wanna live forever, too. So I'm going to change my vote right now to Hell yeah!