Do Humans Live TOO Long? (discussion with POLL)

Analog

Lifer
Jan 7, 2002
12,755
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When you look at it scientifically, we live way longer than needed to reproduce and pass our genes on etc.

Also, the average lifespan is longer all the time, but is the quality of life better in those late years before the end??

I remember a trek episode (geek coming out!) where there is a race/planet [as always] that has euthanasia for its 'elderly' at a given age - enter Dr. Kevorkian....


{btw, the episode had Troi's mother fall in love with this guy who was going to go through with his own death, only to change his mind and seek assylum on the enterprise. In the end, he went along with the 'suicide' and Picard couldn't do anything about it due to the prime directive}...
 

DurocShark

Lifer
Apr 18, 2001
15,708
5
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I remember that episode...

I dunno. I'd like to think I'm gonna be kickin a$$ at 60 and 80 and 100. :D
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
56,841
17,665
146
As the average life expectancy goes up, so does the quality of life for people later in life. So I say NO, we are not living too long. Hell, I'd like to see life extended, even doubled and I think it's very possible.

The problem is, any drug that does this is going to have side effects, and will be dangerous to some... that will lead to lawsuits and the idiotic banning of such drugs.
 

Cyberian

Diamond Member
Jun 17, 2000
9,999
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Originally posted by: Amused
As the average life expectancy goes up, so does the quality of life for people later in life. So I say NO, we are not living too long. Hell, I'd like to see life extended, even doubled and I think it's very possible.

The problem is, any drug that does this is going to have side effects, and will be dangerous to some... that will lead to lawsuits and the idiotic banning of such drugs.
But don't you want your government to help you and protect you?





















;)
 

ragazzo

Golden Member
Jan 9, 2002
1,759
0
0
when you can't control your own bodily functions, then yes, you're living too long.

 

TheCorm

Diamond Member
Nov 5, 2000
4,326
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Originally posted by: ragazzo
when you can't control your own bodily functions, then yes, you're living too long.

Yes

Originally posted by: Tetsuo
I don't think we live too long. I think we get old too fast

Yes to that too.

I plan to use retirement to relax and hopeful see more of the world....and then after that when I am even older, I plan to be a grump...and egt up to oap mischief.
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
0
alienbabeltech.com
Only other humans live too long. ;)

rolleye.gif


I'd like to (continue to) live a long and healthy life.
 

desy

Diamond Member
Jan 13, 2000
5,442
212
106
If our only job was to reproduce and pass on genes maybe, but we are coded to live in societies and provide continual support for the children and grandchildren.
Baby deer can walk within an hr of being born ours need help much longer
 

Nyical

Golden Member
Feb 7, 2003
1,157
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Sounds more like Loguns Run ;)

Damn that was a good movie, now I want to watch it again.
 

Siddhartha

Lifer
Oct 17, 1999
12,505
3
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Originally posted by: yellowfiero
When you look at it scientifically, we live way longer than needed to reproduce and pass our genes on etc.

Also, the average lifespan is longer all the time, but is the quality of life better in those late years before the end??

I remember a trek episode (geek coming out!) where there is a race/planet [as always] that has euthanasia for its 'elderly' at a given age - enter Dr. Kevorkian....


{btw, the episode had Troi's mother fall in love with this guy who was going to go through with his own death, only to change his mind and seek assylum on the enterprise. In the end, he went along with the 'suicide' and Picard couldn't do anything about it due to the prime directive}...

When you write "scientifically" I think you mean in terms of evolution. The longer the parents live and contribute to the well being of their offspring increases the odds that they will survive and reproduce.



 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
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It would be good if we could have more healthy years, since so many people take the first good portion of their lives to figure out where they're going with things anyway. Of course many never reach an understanding of themselves, and barely deserve to live in the first place.
 

dxkj

Lifer
Feb 17, 2001
11,772
2
81
You would think if evolution were true we would die off and stop consuming resources after we stopped becoming useful to our society. (Age ____ and up)


 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
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Originally posted by: dxkj
You would think if evolution were true we would die off and stop consuming resources after we stopped becoming useful to our society. (Age ____ and up)
Maybe when we evolve more people will automatically die when they retire!

 

Double Trouble

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
9,270
103
106
It's pretty obvious to me that as a species (at least in certain countries) we have now extended the average lifespan too much. Not that there's anything wrong with trying to keep people healthy for as long as possible, but it's obvious that we've reached the point where we can make the body outlast the brain. What use is it if we outlive our cognitive abilities?

The fundamental life cycle (at least that makes sense to me) is that you start of as a child, learn from everything around you while you're under the umbrella of your parents, then you get physically mature at around 21. Your body is ready, and your mind is sharp, but you think you know it all, and you're prone to make dumb mistakes. As you grow older, you learn from experience (and you realize that you really didn't know jack when you were younger). Your increased experience balances out your degenerating physical strength and you achieve balance. That's when you are most productive to society. Then, your physical skills and mental skills both start slowly degrading over time, until finally one or the other fails completely. Now in a lot of places the average lifespan is such that people will certainly outlive their ability to contribute and be useful to society....
 

Kadarin

Lifer
Nov 23, 2001
44,296
16
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Originally posted by: yellowfiero
Originally posted by: Nyical
Sounds more like Loguns Run ;)

Damn that was a good movie, now I want to watch it again.

that was a good movie.

I agree.

Larry Niven, in his Known Space series, also felt that humans lived too long, but for a purpose. Read "Protector" and the Ringworld trilogy to learn everything you ever wanted to know about the brilliant and highly dangerous "protector" form of human.

But personally, if I can't live young forever, then when it comes time to die I wish to do so in a dignified, painless manner, at a time and place of my own choosing.
 

Geekbabe

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 16, 1999
32,207
2,471
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www.theshoppinqueen.com
Judging from what I've seen of growing older,I don't think I want to live much past 55 or so. Old people either become invisible or objects of ridicule in this society,what kind of "quality of life "is that?
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Originally posted by: tagej
It's pretty obvious to me that as a species (at least in certain countries) we have now extended the average lifespan too much. Not that there's anything wrong with trying to keep people healthy for as long as possible, but it's obvious that we've reached the point where we can make the body outlast the brain. What use is it if we outlive our cognitive abilities?

The fundamental life cycle (at least that makes sense to me) is that you start of as a child, learn from everything around you while you're under the umbrella of your parents, then you get physically mature at around 21. Your body is ready, and your mind is sharp, but you think you know it all, and you're prone to make dumb mistakes. As you grow older, you learn from experience (and you realize that you really didn't know jack when you were younger). Your increased experience balances out your degenerating physical strength and you achieve balance. That's when you are most productive to society. Then, your physical skills and mental skills both start slowly degrading over time, until finally one or the other fails completely. Now in a lot of places the average lifespan is such that people will certainly outlive their ability to contribute and be useful to society....
True, but from a productivity standpoint most people, when they retire, are still capable of working, so other than anything they can pass on to their descendents in terms of advice or what not, they are pretty much just dead weight.