[rayiner]

You're defining rationality pretty narrowly. You're assuming that the only thing that is rational is living as long as possible. People invest for the happiness it brings them while they're alive. If I were a billionaire, I would derive much more joy, in the present, from seeing the real reduction in suffering and increase in human joy that can be achieved with my investment, than I would from spending that same money for a marginal chance of extending my own life.

Maybe because it's because I'm only 30, but I'm not afraid of death. Indeed, I find the idea of life extension horrific. It would destroy the vitality of society to have old generations, with their decades of entrenched perspectives and power, cling on in perpetuity. I don't want to hang around consuming resources and overshadowing my children. I want them to have their own time in the sun.

[tptacek]

Give it a few years. Paralyzing fear of death sinks in at age 32.5.

[benched]

I realize this is at least partly tongue-in-cheek, but at 36 I'm not really afraid of death. I am, however, rather terrified of aging further, since that's a thing that's happening right now. It's become very current in the last couple of years. And 'dying', since that's basically the very worst phase of aging.

[tptacek]

I'm 37, not paralyzed by mortality, but sickened by the purported invincibility of 30 year olds. :)

[dctoedt]

> I'm 37, not paralyzed by mortality, but sickened by the purported invincibility of 30 year olds. :)

It starts long before age 30. Just wait till your kids get older, Thomas ....