Monday was my 46th birthday and likely my last (2013) • Hacker News Board

Re: Monday was my 46th birthday and likely my last (2013)

#141

Post by mLuby » Fri, Aug 13, 2021, 12:30 AM UTC

8note wrote: post #115

xvector wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1. These are problems to solve independently of death. Shitty governments and politics do not justify death. These problems absolutely aren't in the problem space of life extension to solve. 2. It is arguable that life and freedom are meaningless if we are doomed to lose everything we ever have and are in the end, after such a short amount of time. 3. "Enjoying life for the ephemeral experience it is" is something we…

I don't think 2 is right. Only property becomes meaningless, since it's the only thing you're losing. Life and freedom only become more meaningful with time constraints, since you don't have time to do anything and everything. As a matter of focus, we should solve those other problems first, especially since increasing life expectancy is already having bad effects, both in wealth and power concentration. Eg. Boomers…

Put another way, you're in favor with forcing everyone to die hundreds of years early. "Nasty, brutish, and short" indeed.

I'm calling bullshit on "time constraints as meaningfulness" too. That's just the subjective time dilation we experience during stressful situations, like in sports.

We have so many aphorisms to sooth the fear of death, but that doesn't mean they're necessarily true in a post-mortality culture.

Re: Monday was my 46th birthday and likely my last (2013)

#142

Post by mLuby » Fri, Aug 13, 2021, 12:38 AM UTC

xvector wrote: post #95

morticiansflame wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's an episode of Black Mirror for this - "San Junipero".

Definitely my favorite episode, and beautifully optimistic. I like how they flipped the script on the generic and easy "immortality bad" hot-take.

Also a brilliant subversion of expectations, given how bleak the rest of the series is.

Re: Monday was my 46th birthday and likely my last (2013)

#143

Post by mLuby » Fri, Aug 13, 2021, 12:50 AM UTC

joelbluminator wrote: post #104

xvector wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When we are looking at deaths on the cosmic timescales you're implying, we can return to that point. For now, our lifespans are pathetically short. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good.

> For now, our lifespans are pathetically short. If you count healthy years I agree, sometimes it's too little for certain people. But in general 90 years seems like more than enough to me, what would you want to accomplish you couldn't in the 70 years form your 20s to your 90s? People peak quite early. Also seeing your values, beliefs and lifestyles being ridiculed by the new generations isn't that much fun...who kn…

> People peak quite early. Also seeing your values, beliefs and lifestyles being ridiculed by the new generations isn't that much fun.

Implicit in this is that people can't change.

More time alive to experience different cultures, form relationships with different people, and perform different roles in society are all likely to encourage people to be more accepting and adaptable, not less.

Put another way, I don't have to change if I'm just running out the clock, but if I'm going to be around a while then it's worth staying engaged with my community.

Re: Monday was my 46th birthday and likely my last (2013)

#144

Post by mehwoot » Fri, Aug 13, 2021, 3:59 AM UTC

mLuby wrote: post #140

mehwoot wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Enjoying life for the ephemeral experience it is" is something we do out of hard necessity. But we don't do it. We sit here worrying about dying and trying to ensure we will live forever instead of enjoying the time we do have alive. Read experiences of people who suddenly find out they are going to die relatively soon- the richness of their life takes on a whole new dimension. These are problems to solve independen…

> Technology comes in, makes peoples lives shit So pessimistic. Basically all tech (except perhaps certain weapons advances) improves our lives. Yeah doomscrolling sucks but is it worse than watching the grass grow while you get drunk on the porch a hundred years ago? (Assuming you had a porch, or booze for that matter.) Yeah biased AI sucks, but is it worse than overtly racist societies from 50 years ago? We certain…

Yeah doomscrolling sucks but is it worse than watching the grass grow while you get drunk on the porch a hundred years ago?

Do you think the Amish live a life vastly inferior to yours?

Re: Monday was my 46th birthday and likely my last (2013)

#145

Post by mLuby » Fri, Aug 13, 2021, 1:17 PM UTC

mehwoot wrote: post #144

mLuby wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Technology comes in, makes peoples lives shit So pessimistic. Basically all tech (except perhaps certain weapons advances) improves our lives. Yeah doomscrolling sucks but is it worse than watching the grass grow while you get drunk on the porch a hundred years ago? (Assuming you had a porch, or booze for that matter.) Yeah biased AI sucks, but is it worse than overtly racist societies from 50 years ago? We certain…

Yeah doomscrolling sucks but is it worse than watching the grass grow while you get drunk on the porch a hundred years ago? Do you think the Amish live a life vastly inferior to yours?

The Amish knowingly choose lives of less capability, opportunity, and range than modern ones.

Re: Monday was my 46th birthday and likely my last (2013)

#146

Post by ChrisMarshallNY » Mon, Aug 16, 2021, 7:04 PM UTC

Just came across this.

Two weeks ago, Bill died.

Bill was an old friend of mine. We'd known each other for 25 years or more. His wife used to work at the company that employed me, and Bill and I shared extracurricular interests.

Bill was trained as a Maritime Engineer. Due to a story that is not mine to tell, his engineering career was destroyed, and he became a housepainter. A really good one. Because of his erudite approach, he got high-dollar customers. Many of his jobs brought in six-figure gross.

He sent his three kids to college. They all did awesome. He left his wife in great shape, financially.

Bill died of kidney disease. He had been on home dialysis for years. It sucked.

Even with the dialysis, his body started to deteriorate. It was getting worse and worse.

a couple of months ago, he made the decision to stop dialysis, and just check out.

His bags were packed. He had done his job, and left the world a better place.

The last few weeks, I made a point of popping by his house as often as possible. I'd usually pop in five or six days a week, and sit with him for an hour or so. Towards the end, it was ten minutes, because he was in a parallel universe, and my being there didn't do more than make it a pain for his family.

Helping him to die was a deep Honor.