However bad people might think the modern world is and ask the question "why would anyone want to live any longer?" think about this:

200 years ago peoples standard of living was much MUCH lower than it is today. In another 200 years, if peace remains to the extent that there are only the few inevitable localised wars, we could potentially be living in a utopia beyond what we could possibly imagine.

With Artificial intelligence just around the corner, technology will make our lives even easier to live, for much longer and in absolute bliss (in an ideal world), unless you believe that there really is a NWO that is going to deliberately make all of our lives as miserable as humanly possible.

We might soon be living in a World where "heaven" becomes a reality through technology. It's a fact that life gets easier as technology increases. That or we just get lazier.

reply to post by dodgygeeza

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It's unfortunate that people fear this progress. The mentality of the dark ages is a hard thing to defeat.

reply to post by Good Wolf

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Very true, it's the mentality that has prevented our progress as an entire species. If there are indeed Aliens, perhaps they were never unfortunate enough to have to deal with religious values and that i why they are so much more advanced and we are no better than cattle. We'd rather appease the angry God by not improving ourselves. It's totally ridiculous.

reply to post by dodgygeeza

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My study of anthropology tells me that theism is inevitable in primitive societies. I think that they would most certainly have had to deal with religion. Maybe that is why we would need their help, to free ourselves.

[edit on 23/11/2008 by Good Wolf]

If this comes to fruiton, you literallty can say your damned for life in hell forever.

According to who exactly? Do you mean the Christian hell or our current state of existence? I wouldn't call it hell, but purgatory yes.

[edit on 23-11-2008 by dodgygeeza]

I can't come up with proof if there's a difference.

I posted this a few weeks ago on another thread although the Chinese have been using plant extracts that lengthen telomeres for centuries.

en.wikipedia.org...

Get shorter with age

altmedicine.about.com...

Astragalus Is a plant extract that rebuilds Telomeres

www.hollandandbarrett.com...

available here, there are plans to start using it in mainstream medicines so expect the pharmaceutical companies to start withdrawing it from circulation.

Now the problem with lengthening Telomeres is that if you do the same on cancer cells then you just end up making the problem worse although tests with Astragalus have shown not to adversely contribute to cancer cells.

[edit]
Oh and patching the ends of the chromosomes aren't going to stop free radicals from damaging the core of the DNA.

[edit on 23/11/2008 by spitefulgod]

The government will never allow a "Cure" for aging. Think about it, there are already 4 billion people on this planet and it's growing exponentially. If people lived to 200 then that means that not only will there be more people due to the age, but there is more opportunity for procreation and therefore a hell of a lot more people. It is not going to happen. If it does happen don't expect the average joe to ever get a shot at it. It will only be reserved for very very rich/important people.

reply to post by ExistenceUnknown

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This encourages space exploration and technological advancement in my opinion. When space runs out you move to where there is space, which of course is somewhere other than Earth.

Next time you take a plane journey, look out of the window and you will notice that there is still PLENTY of available space for further expansion. The world is NOT over populated.

Step 1...Immortal cells
Step 2...???
Step 3...Profit from everyone dying of cancer. Brilliant!

Don't get too excited about these kind of stories yet; we have other more important things to fix before something like this is useful.

The unfortunate thing is that it could do wonders, only the rich will be able to afford it, etc...

It would be awesome if this technology became a standard that was used from birth onwards in every civilized and uncivilized country.

It will probably be the new trend and people will want to use it to keep from getting wrinkles.

reply to post by prevenge

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That my friend is a very interesting idea... I suppose it's so radical there would be objections to changing us so much and what the outcome might be...

reply to post by ExistenceUnknown

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I agree.
This is another opportunity for a wider class divide , but with an even greater disconnection between both sides.

One would probability have to be extremely wealthy to begin with to get any future procedures done . Can you imagine the vast sums of wealth these individuals could accumulate over 100/200/250 + years and every year more billionaires joining the new elite.
All the while , the poor employees , cycle through their 80 years to be replaced by other "lifers".

What could a 200 year old remember of being young and reckless , it already causes frisson in society when a 80 year old retiree and a 20 somethings ideal of social bliss are juxtaposed .
These enhanced individuals would surely find there way into political life as the wealthy always do, would they be able to relate to the "youth" ?

They could still however , step out in front of a bus ........immortal calls or not !.

Dying at 80 btw, is like dying in childhood, barely a chance to have any brains yet, it's the fragilities of the body that make us wish to die...

I want my 800 years