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by redwood 1648 days ago
Better?
1 comments

Arguably worse since old people have stubborn thought processes, especially politically. Usually the only way societies get change is once all the "boomers" die off.

I think it sad but death is evolved for a real reason and we should not forget Chesterton's fence, even if it was not designed but rather converged on by almost all species except for trees.

Youthful longevity would obviously be a focus of any longevity initiative. Far future, we are unlikely to remain on any fragile biological substrate. Not sure why people keep on bringing up the idea of 90-year-olds living forever.

> death is evolved for a real reason

Not necessarily true. Evolution only cares that we fuck and pop out kids and they grow up and do the same. Once we've accomplished that goal, we are irrelevant from an evolutionary perspective.

The psychological rot is what I'm talking about - not anything physical. Perhaps it has to do with aging brain anatomy but we don't know that it isn't due to the arduous nature of life itself. Life has a way of beating people down and making them bitter, far too often. Hell, you could be right and perhaps seeing everyone they know and love, sans their children, get sick and die, perhaps that is traumatizing though we have normalized it.

P.S. Don't know why you are being downvoted. Some people find fault in healthy discussion :-/

In any longevity scenario we will necessarily have the time to iron these problems out :) No technology, no matter how good, has been perfect from the beginning.
I suppose, we just have to be real careful that we aren't preserving Emperor Palpatine.
You have to remember that society changing over 200-300 years is an anomaly in the history of humanity.

Also, I am pretty sure that old people were involved in historical changes themselves, or will be forced to confront historical changes anyway.

Change isn’t always a good thing. Having your elders all die before they can pass on their knowledge, culture, and values isn’t the panacea you’re describing.
I agree. I was just providing some contrast. I am not pro-death.