[Flipside]

And each generation are going to be resentful of the next, because they will live longer, individual humans wouldn't be prepared to make that sacrifice for the good of the race, they don't think like that. To introduce it now would result in instant War, I can promise you that, because it would, as it were, draw the final line between the haves and have-nots.

[WeatherOp]

Alos, If this goes world wide, it means you will have to deal with people like Bin Laden, since he would also live 1000 years, unless he shoves his finger to far up his nose and dies.

[Clave]

*withhold the treatment*

It's that simple...

[WeatherOp]

But, back in the 50's they found out how to use a nuclear bomb, how long would it someone like Russia to copy it. I mean if someone overhere had it done to them, and then Russia offered them 10 million bucks to use them for tests to find out how we did, don't you think they would take it?

[Flipside]

Thing is, if this were to arise, it would probably be in the US or Europe first, no doubt if one achieved it, it wouldn't be long till the other did.

Now, America and Europe are not going to be likely to export this treatment do less wealthy countries for two reasons.

1: No money there.
2: Why would you want to risk people who actively dislike you getting a 1000 year lifespan.

Now, the thing about item 2 is that the risk is around 1 in every million people in the third world have either positive or negative opinions of the US, but that will be enough to warrant witholding the treatment.

So, we now have a situation where a small section of the world is enjoying the benefits of technology and long-life whilst a large proportion of it are living short and difficult lives. It won't take long for that to boil over into something no-one could handle.

[Kamikaze]

Rictor, it's happening already. Medicine and medical tech extends peoples' lives to beyond what they were generations ago. Some of this is only available to the wealthy (particularly in the USA). I'm not opposed to this in general (Not talking about healthcare systems, talking about extending lifetimes).

And what's with so many people thinking life would be boring if it lasted a long time? I'd love that chance. A chance to get a fraction closer to reading all the books I want to read, or to see if they ever prove the Riemann Hypothesis. If you don't think you could find things to be fascinated about during a thousand years that's pretty sad outlook on life.

[aldo_14]

Originally posted by Kazan
rictor what gives you the right to do any such thing?

if you even attempt that you're just as bad as the christofascists

I understand Rictors point; firstly it's a complete paradigm shift to effectively increase human lifespan by a factor of 10 - who knows what the social effects will be?  Secondly, most new treatments are expensive and restricted to the most fortunate.... do we want an 'elite' class which lives decades or even centuries longer than the rest of humanity?  And what would it do to the 'impetus' that drives many to create and do great things?

I think it is a valid issue to consider.  But I wouldn't turn down said treatment on this principle - like I said, I'm selfish.

[Grey Wolf]

Well, one thing it probably wouldn't do is cause a rapid advance in technology, as most breakthroughs are made by people in their 20s and early 30s.

[Unknown Target]

I, personally, would love it, just to see the changes that would occur in the future. It would be like heaven on Earth for me

[WeatherOp]

I would be purtty neat to se what aircraft they come out with. But, the Cons really outweigh the Pros. The big issue like said so many times is over reprouduce.

[Grey Wolf]

Well, if some scientists get their way, there's at last a small portion of people we wouldn't have to worry about. Namely, the ones who get to go to Mars....

[Ghostavo]

Grey Wolf, about research, wouldn't the longer life expectancy increase the amount of researchers and their "duration" (yeah, crude term ), which would lead to more technological discoveries over the same period of time? In other words, rapid advance in tech?

[Grey Wolf]

I was speaking more on the lines of sudden breakthroughs. Gradual evolution of technology would increase though, assuming a larger number of researchers.

[Corsair]

I'm not sure I'd want to live that long...

[Liberator]

Grey Wolf has a point, every major invention of the last 20-30 years has been done by someone in their early to mid-20s.  Steve Jobs and The Woz, George Lucas, Bill Gates, you get the picture.  Inventors later in life as too stuck in their ways to make major breakthroughs, Thomas Edison was the last one that wasn't that I know of, him or Tesla.

[Ace]

Actually studies on folks like that show that while they make their big breakthrough when young, every 20 years or so they make their follow up breakthroughs, which are more taken for granted since they're already famous.

The trick with folks like Einstein, Shakespeare, and such is that they operated in their own way regardless of society as a whole. Immortality wouldn't change that, it'd just give 'em more time.

There is the problem of obsolete ideas surviving a long time. If anything conflicts might wind up becoming literal ideological revolutions as people kill or exile viewed threats to their groups.