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Your Life

some1else.github.io

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Re: Your Life

#71

Post by fizixer »

Every time an existential post is made here, I have to remind people:

As technologists you guys should have a little more confidence/faith/whatever in the progress we're making every passing day, than is evident from the tone of most of the comments here.

Smart-phones, social media, startups, IPOs, these are huge blind spots of technology. It makes you think that's all there is to it.

Technology is much more than that. In that regard I always remember the DARPA's 21st century forecast of what's the most relevant human progress:

- Info"Tech"

- Bio"Tech"

- Nano"Tech"

We're making huge advances in all three (another blind spot is linear thinking when technology actually progresses exponentially).

With regards to biotech:

- CRISPR has made huge advances

- stem cells are making rapid progress

- supercomputers and advanced algorithms (including machine learning) are getting to the point where we're putting human biology on solid "informatic" footing every passing year. (IMPORTANT: And this is without assuming onset of human-level AI, which in itself is forecasted to happen by 2030. If that happens, then the progress would be unbelievably faster!).

- but most importantly, people like Aubrey de Grey are "waking up" medical researchers and gerontologists from a narrow view of "cure cancer", "cure HIV" and asking them to treat "aging" as a problem and treat it as an object of manipulation.

If people like you (technologists) can get out of the pessimism of pro-aging trance, a lot can be accomplished in the next 20 to 40 years.

Re: Your Life

#72

Post by broodbucket »

dominotw wrote: post #60
louprado wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

An e-mail I received right before reading this post: "THANK YOU for your excellent customer service. Your videos on YouTube -- while I little over my head -- tell how you have a passion for electronics and creating solutions. I have told several people about you and I hope it brings you business. Thank you for sharing your talents with the world." It is so hard to imagine that reflecting on this e-mail might bring me…

I never understood the big deal about death bed. I don't care much about what I think when my i am old and senile.

I'm sure I'll have huge regrets no matter what I do.

Re: Your Life

#73

Post by abootstrapper »

fizixer wrote: post #71

Every time an existential post is made here, I have to remind people: As technologists you guys should have a little more confidence/faith/whatever in the progress we're making every passing day, than is evident from the tone of most of the comments here. Smart-phones, social media, startups, IPOs, these are huge blind spots of technology. It makes you think that's all there is to it. Technology is much more than tha…

If you consider aging and death in old age as a negative, perhaps you should reconsider your philosophy, instead of chasing immortality.

Re: Your Life

#74

Post by borkabrak »

some1else wrote: post #22
misingnoglic wrote: post #6

I think the website needs a better job explaining what it actually is. What's the point? I just drew a smiley face by clicking random squares.

It's just an info-graphic. A reminder at how important it is to have weekly goals. The squares toggle, so I could mark the current week, or a short period. I think it's pretty awesome you drew a smiley face :-)

Say someone decides to mark all the significant events in his life. And notices that it's beginning to spell words.. maybe a neat story?

Re: Your Life

#75

Post by Roritharr »

abootstrapper wrote: post #73
fizixer wrote: post #71

Every time an existential post is made here, I have to remind people: As technologists you guys should have a little more confidence/faith/whatever in the progress we're making every passing day, than is evident from the tone of most of the comments here. Smart-phones, social media, startups, IPOs, these are huge blind spots of technology. It makes you think that's all there is to it. Technology is much more than tha…

If you consider aging and death in old age as a negative, perhaps you should reconsider your philosophy, instead of chasing immortality.

Without having too much hope for it, it should be noted that the first one who catches immortality will make your post look very condescending and outright damaging to progress.

Re: Your Life

#76

Post by fizixer »

abootstrapper wrote: post #73
fizixer wrote: post #71

Every time an existential post is made here, I have to remind people: As technologists you guys should have a little more confidence/faith/whatever in the progress we're making every passing day, than is evident from the tone of most of the comments here. Smart-phones, social media, startups, IPOs, these are huge blind spots of technology. It makes you think that's all there is to it. Technology is much more than tha…

If you consider aging and death in old age as a negative, perhaps you should reconsider your philosophy, instead of chasing immortality.

If you believe getting old, and sick, and miserable, and then dying, is good or natural or the way it is supposed to be, then I respectfully disagree with you [0].

[0] https://carcinisation.com/2014/07/13/an-anti-deathist-f-a-q/...

Re: Your Life

#77

Post by greggman »

There was this piece at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo

http://i.imgur.com/6uVRUff.jpg

It shows 100 years of days with someone's life highlighted. Kind of sobering.

I want to be believe like fizixer but it's hard to notice any medical changes. I'm 50, what's changed since I was born? I'm no a doctor so I have no idea. Sure I know we've got CRISPR and we've mapped the genome but where are the actual changes? Friends have gotten cancer, AFAICT treatment hasn't changed much. I still get colds. My hair is still falling out and turning gray. Face getting wrinkles.

Life doesn't look like the Jetsons

Re: Your Life

#78

Post by simplexion »

Why do people always feel like they are wasting time? How exactly do you waste your time? I ask people this every time I am told, by them, I am wasting my time playing games on my computer. I love playing games... why is doing something you love wasting time?

Re: Your Life

#79

Post by D-Coder »

abootstrapper wrote: post #73
fizixer wrote: post #71

Every time an existential post is made here, I have to remind people: As technologists you guys should have a little more confidence/faith/whatever in the progress we're making every passing day, than is evident from the tone of most of the comments here. Smart-phones, social media, startups, IPOs, these are huge blind spots of technology. It makes you think that's all there is to it. Technology is much more than tha…

If you consider aging and death in old age as a negative, perhaps you should reconsider your philosophy, instead of chasing immortality.

If you consider aging and death in old age as a _positive_, well, go for it.
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