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A Protocol for Dying

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241–250 of 347 posts

Re: A Protocol for Dying

#241
post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find this anger against death weird. We are alive because we are not death. Death is part of our lives and we should accept it without the drama, just like Peter is doing.

> I find this anger against death weird. Of course you do, because accepting death is a huge part of our culture, a part we developed to make coping easier. It's hard to think differently from how you have been taught to. >Death is part of our lives and we should accept it without the drama Who says that and for what purpose (who benefits from status quo) ? Note that death isn't even a law of physics, it's just a con…

Sorry, can't compute this. And I mean it.

Re: A Protocol for Dying

#242
post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find this anger against death weird. We are alive because we are not death. Death is part of our lives and we should accept it without the drama, just like Peter is doing.

It's not sincere anger. It's trolls who are trying to find ways to annoy and provoke people. There is no point in arguing with them logically, they'll just continue in a different direction.

>>> There is no point in arguing with them logically

Viewing his reply confirms this. Once again, you are right.

Godspeed Pieter.

Re: A Protocol for Dying

#243
post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To put it bluntly, I can think of a number of other cases where (1) people say things to children because it is more pleasant or convenient, not because it is true, and (2) these misleading statements have negative effects later. In this case, it seems potentially worthwhile to keep in view that death is actually not a good thing, and that it would better if there weren't death, and that we want to keep an eye out fo…

It seems like if every person who has ever lived were still alive today we'd had some issues.

If they were still healthy and capable of work, they could help to solve those issues.

Re: A Protocol for Dying

#244

Another perspective, adopted by millions is simpler, and more joyful to explain. This life is temporary, but a life with Christ in heaven is eternal. Our christian funerals are often celebrations about a journey on earth well fought.

[deleted]

Re: A Protocol for Dying

#245

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, yes, but even if everyone lived a third-world lifestyle I don't think we could realistically support 108 billion people today.

We don't have to, these (108-7) billions of people will (sadly) never ever come back. We have just 7.3 bln people and a planet with more than enough resources to sustain them and then some more (I could give some practical computations regarding the limits to growth, but I won't waste our time doing that here). So your whole argument about all people that have ever lived is basically a strawman.

Well, how long do we expect the post-death utopia to last?

Re: A Protocol for Dying

#246

Good journey sir. Thank you for this piece. I feel your model should become an international standard. I am saddened to see you are so young. > ... and enforce the barbaric torture of decay and failure. It's especially relevant for cancer, which is a primary cause of death I'm glad you find yourself somewhere enlightened. As someone who watched his father die of cancer over 2.5-3 years in the UK it almost robbed me o…

At least the UK seems to be making moves toward a better system, Terry Pratchett had a bit to do with it. The rest of the european countries are blind to this issue. This is something that hits very close to home, as I'm in the same path as Pieter and your father and I see that path getting me to the same end. If that happens, I'd like to end on my terms, not as the husk that you describe and not after having my fami…

We seem to be progressing at glacial pace. I hope we've got there if it comes to be a choice I have to consider.

The Terry Pratchett documentary was challenging to watch, but very well made. At least it gave rise to a somewhat more rational discussion of the topic than they often are. It's sure to be out there on a torrent or YT for anyone who's not seen it.

Re: A Protocol for Dying

#247

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Progress doesn't occur by itself. If we won't develop the necessary technology (or help, or incentivize development) it won't magically show up by the time it is needed for you or for me. For OP and many others it didn't.

That is not correct. I was given five extra years by diligent medical work, expert surgeons and great after care. That didn't come from nowhere.

I'm glad that you or your government were able to afford state-of-art medical treatment. I won't be eligible for such luxurious treatment by virtue of being born in the wrong country.

Best regards, yours 3rd world anonymous.

Re: A Protocol for Dying

#248
post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Christianity has never been about not suffering. Many early disciples had painful endings to their lives and went through many hardships. God was with them in their pain, not their ticket to a problem-free life, on their journey to heaven where "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more" [Revelation 21:4]. One women I know that was sick in cancer said it like this to a friend of mine: I…

Your god is good, powerful, and all-seeing: pick two.

So if a parent does something their child doesn't like, but for a good reason, they must be one of 1) a bad parent, 2) incapable of doing anything better, or 3) unaware that the child won't like it?

Given a deity and an afterlife, I don't think that argument holds up. Generally the idea of God is that they understand a lot more than humans do or can. (Whether that's true or not is a different question, of course.)

Re: A Protocol for Dying

#249
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>There's no such thing as a half-Christian There's a massive variation in belief and practices amongst people who call themselves Christian. And I don't recall Jesus saying that you shouldn't do euthanasia for terminal cancer. He was generally a caring guy. Most of the anti stuff comes from right wing nutters born long after Jesus's death who I'd be happy to disregard.

>I don't recall Jesus saying that you shouldn't do euthanasia for terminal cancer Jesus didn't speak about how to reply to comments on Hacker News either, but that doesn't mean that Christians are given no insight on how he or she should conduct himself or herself here. >Most of the anti stuff comes from right wing nutters I do hope you will evaluate this opinion more critically. I mean, I'm pretty sure Aquinas was a…

Well, was he? That's a slightly complicated question. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principle_of_double_effect

Re: A Protocol for Dying

#250
post #216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you'd resent your parents for explaining death to you when you were five by an analogy without technical accuracy you probably have other issues.

Right. Issues that were caused by people distorting the truth instead of giving it to you straight.

That's not what I meant but I think you know that.
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