want to be immortal?

[blazeofglory]

In point of fact we all inherently want to be immortal,and of course we have many things to do in life. At times we keep on working hard in life and the rest of life we want to spend joyfully. But it will not be so, and we will have to part with everything.

And we feel if we have a longer span of life we can do lots of things in life. We kind of can read more books, or do great things. But there is no assurance of life. Life is so fleeting. Life is a bubble and it is so short-lived.

But you see life will tire you in a while and a time will come that you will like to live no longer.

This is my opinion and you may think differently than this.

But I think generation, degeneration and regeneration is a cycle of life. Do you really understand what I mean by this?

In a forest old trees die so that new trees can pop up.

And if we do not leave space for the new comers how can they have space?

And we should not be too much expecting from life, and asking too much of it is a cupidity.

I know you have different opinions on this.

Your ideas will be more interesting.

[weltanschauung]

immortality is scarier than death.

[The Atheist]

Couldn't agree more.

Living for a couple of hundred years might be ok, but I expect immortality would be horrible after more than that.

I stick to trying to be immoral.

[weltanschauung]

amen.

[Helga]

I wouldn't want to live forever, 80-90 years is enough for me. my great grandmother was 105 when she died and for about 10 or 15 years she thought that God had forgot her. she was the only one he didn't take.

[Nimor]

I agree.
Life is a circle (We come to life, we live, we die). The important thing about death is that it is certain. Death give us a goal. If we want to die happy with ourselves, we have to fill life with experiences, both good and bad (from mistakes and errors in general we can learn). No death no goal. Immortality would be hollow and sterile, because we couldn't live to the best of our possibilities.

[KryStaLitsa]

I agree.
Life is a circle (We come to life, we live, we die). The important thing about death is that it is certain. Death give us a goal. If we want to die happy with ourselves, we have to fill life with experiences, both good and bad (from mistakes and errors in general we can learn). No death no goal. Immortality would be hollow and sterile, because we couldn't live to the best of our possibilities.

even more,the fact that life is certain,too,the fact that it could easily end, is what makes us love it! it is never given;and it is short enough, to make us realise its importance!!!
life is beautiful exactly because it's fragile!!!immortality is neither...:yawnb:

[FanofdeBeauvoir]

Immortality would only lead to insanity, cough*Gulliver's travels*cough.

[Zee.]

i don't want to age to be honest. i like the way i am now :(

but yeah, immortality = no

[Nimor]

even more,the fact that life is certain,too,the fact that it could easily end, is what makes us love it! it is never given;and it is short enough, to make us realise its importance!!!
life is beautiful exactly because it's fragile!!!immortality is neither...:yawnb:

Yes, exactly. But there are people who live unhappy because they don't understand it. I would rather continue to be moved by the beauty of a sunset than to live forever...

[Maximilianus]

even more,the fact that life is certain,too,the fact that it could easily end, is what makes us love it! it is never given;and it is short enough, to make us realise its importance!!!
life is beautiful exactly because it's fragile!!!immortality is neither...:yawnb:
Yeah, that's true. Too long a life will cause not to appreciate it... though I'd very much love to live a couple centuries to have more time for quality matters :D

i don't want to age to be honest. i like the way i am now :(
Do not worry at all. When you age you're gonna be as cute as you are now. Besides you're gonna carry the beauty of experience, so you're gonna be extra cute :thumbs_up :)

[Haunted]

I never wished for immortality. How many times have I wondered, what am I going to do with my life...and what's the meaning of life. If I can't answer that, what's the purpose of living forever.

My own mortality is not a bad thing at all. It means one day I can reunite with the people I cared about and lost on the other side.

[The Atheist]

I never wished for immortality. How many times have I wondered, what am I going to do with my life...and what's the meaning of life. If I can't answer that, what's the purpose of living forever.

My own mortality is not a bad thing at all. It means one day I can reunite with the people I cared about and lost on the other side.

If you're going to reunite with them after death, you're clearly going to continue on, which would be immortality, wouldn't it?

[Haunted]

If you're going to reunite with them after death, you're clearly going to continue on, which would be immortality, wouldn't it?

We're discussing immortality in the physical sense, as from the original post: "In a forest old trees die so that new trees can pop up....And if we do not leave space for the new comers how can they have space?" So the immortality I'm referring to is restricted living physically and spatially forever as a breathing being in this world as we know it, not in spirit or as an eternal soul.

But to answer your question, to "continue" beyond is a double-edged sword. Eternal life has its promises but I must admit that are times when eternal death sounds just as appealing...

[Maximilianus]

If you're going to reunite with them after death, you're clearly going to continue on, which would be immortality, wouldn't it?

Has anyone really taken a peep on the other side to be so sure that we'll find someone there once we cross the flat line? Well, I can say I'd really love to meet a few dear ones on the other side once I get there, because I haven't seen them since they departed, but how can I know I'll be able to? What if they were sent to a different spot from mine? Is there a check-in office on the other side so we can ask the receptionist about the location of a dear one?

Just pondering, what if when we die we just travel to a place where there's no one else? Probably people who want to be immortal are afraid of finding out if there's really somebody on that side of the grave.

[Haunted]

Just pondering, what if when we died we just travel to a place where there's no one else? Probably people who want to be immortal are afraid of finding out if there's really somebody on that side of the grave.

Worse yet, what if we die and went to a place where the people we can't stand are all there?? yikes

The unknown is what makes people fear death. But I don't think that makes them want to live forever. I think those who want immortality are a different group entirely: egocentrics who have tons of money and are living the good life and not wanting to let go. Or else they're just plain crazy.

[Maximilianus]

Worse yet, what if we die and went to a place where the people we can't stand are all there?? yikes
:sick: :sick: That is the worst that can happen !!!! :cold:

I think those who want immortality are a different group entirely: egocentrics who have tons of money and are living the good life and not wanting to let go. Or else they're just plain crazy.
I have a plan for those: LET'S KILL THEM ALL AND PUT THEM AWAY FROM THEIR MISERY!! .... :lol:
(I was just kidding! I didn't really mean that.... did I? :p)

[JuniperWoolf]

Well, I disagree. Maybe it's because I'm young and nieve, but I'd LOVE to be immortal.

I've weighed all of the options, and right now I believe that when you die you stop existing altogether. I'd rather exist, no matter WHAT was happening to me or the planet. I really, really want to see what's going to happen to humanity and the world, and the entire universe for that matter. As long as I have eyes and ears (and a mind to recieve the stimulus and process the information) I want to exist. Plus if I were proven immortal, I would be so much fun to study (and people's minds would be completely blown).

Really though? Given the choice between living forever, seeing everything, reading everything, learning every language and doing everything, you people would rather cease to exist? Why the hell do you want to do that? Is it because you don't want to be alone and watch everyone that you love die? You're going to watch a lot of people that you love die anyway, and I'm sure being alone wouldn't be so bad after the rest of humanity stopped existing. You'd have thousands of years of memories, experience and wisdom. Sure, you'd be an unnatural thing, but so what? If this were true, and you WERE immortal, then you would exist. If this were real, then you would be a natural thing.


If you're going to reunite with them after death, you're clearly going to continue on, which would be immortality, wouldn't it?

I was JUST thinking that.


I think those who want immortality are a different group entirely: egocentrics who have tons of money and are living the good life and not wanting to let go. Or else they're just plain crazy.

I think that you're wrong, and that subconciously MOST people want to be immortal. That's why we create offspring (to carry on our genes), why we create art (so that people remember us) and why religion exists (to quell the horror at the prospect that one day our conciousness will dissipate). There ARE other reasons why we do these things (love, the need for expression and guidance, ect.), but death is a HUGE influence.

[Haunted]

I want to exist. Plus if I were proven immortal, I would be so much fun to study (and people's minds would be completely blown).

"exist" is not the same as "live". There're people who can exist on life support indefinitely...


Really though? Given the choice between living forever, seeing everything, reading everything, learning every language and doing everything, you people would rather cease to exist? Why the hell do you want to do that?

Maybe there comes a time when all that becomes meaningless? Or maybe it's been there done that, and the novelty just wore off?


Is it because you don't want to be alone and watch everyone that you love die? You're going to watch a lot of people that you love die anyway, and I'm sure being alone wouldn't be so bad after the rest of humanity stopped existing.

Watching everyone that you love die is a horrible thing. Loss of this magnitude would most likely make one re-think life.

[JuniperWoolf]

"exist" is not the same as "live". There're people who can exist on life support indefinitely...

I don't seperate the two. Someone on life support is still alive in my books. Plus, did you miss the part of my post about "seeing" and "hearing?" If I were an immortal in a coma, then what the hell's the point?


Maybe there comes a time when all that becomes meaningless? Or maybe it's been there done that, and the novelty just wore off?

That's a possability. I'd like to find out (might as well, if its a choice between boredom and non-existance).


Watching everyone that you love die is a horrible thing. Loss of this nature might just make one re-think life.

I imagine that if I were to live forever, I would re-think life several times. You WILL watch people that you love die, whether you live forever or not. I have, and yeah, it's pretty not great. Your dying doesn't change the fact that when your mom dies, you'll never see her ever again (unless you believe in an afterlife, which I don't have the luxery of doing).

[Maximilianus]

I think those who want immortality are a different group entirely: egocentrics who have tons of money and are living the good life and not wanting to let go. Or else they're just plain crazy.



subconciously MOST people want to be immortal. That's why we create offspring (to carry on our genes), why we create art (so that people remember us) and why religion exists (to quell the horror at the prospect that one day our conciousness will dissipate). There ARE other reasons why we do these things (love, the need for expression and guidance, ect.), but death is a HUGE influence.
I believe there's truth in both statements. There are some who lust for perpetuity because of their arrogance, and those who want it because of fear of ceasing to be.


Given the choice between living forever, seeing everything, reading everything, learning every language and doing everything, you people would rather cease to exist? Why the hell do you want to do that? Is it because you don't want to be alone and watch everyone that you love die? You're going to watch a lot of people that you love die anyway, and I'm sure being alone wouldn't be so bad after the rest of humanity stopped existing. You'd have thousands of years of memories, experience and wisdom. Sure, you'd be an unnatural thing, but so what? If this were true, and you WERE immortal, then you would exist. If this were real, then you would be a natural thing.
What would be the point of seeing everything, reading everything, learning every language and doing everything when you are the only one remaining and you don't have anyone to share your experience with? If all of humanity ceases to exist except of you, then what would you need the thousands of years of memories, experience and wisdom for? Wouldn't you feel lonely being the only one left?


"exist" is not the same as "live". There're people who can exist on life support indefinitely...
And even sadder, there are those not connected to life support and still they don't live but only exist.



Maybe there comes a time when all that becomes meaningless? Or maybe it's been there done that, and the novelty just wore off?
It would be meaningless to me if I were the last one standing and couldn't share anything with anyone else.

[Haunted]

And even sadder, there are those not connected to life support and still they don't live but only exist.

That's just what I was saying, living vs. existing — as in a miserable meaningless existence. Just breathing and going through the motion is not living, it's just being alive. Not sure if one wishes to be immortal and live forever as such.

the idea of purely existing also extends to include those in a comatozed vegetative state. Also I don't believe having one's brain preserved in a jar qualifies as immortality either.

[The Atheist]

We're discussing immortality in the physical sense, as from the original post:

What's the difference?

If it's the same consciousness, the body is irrelevant, surely?


Worse yet, what if we die and went to a place where the people we can't stand are all there?? yikes

That would be hell.

It's why I'm an atheist - a guaranteed way to avoid heaven, where all the people I can't stand are going.


Well, I disagree. Maybe it's because I'm young and nieve, but I'd LOVE to be immortal.

See how you feel after 10,000,000,000 years. And that's a blink to an immortal.

Immortality's a contradiction - sounds great in practice, but the reality would be the worst hell imaginable.

[Maximilianus]

Also I don't believe having one's brain preserved in a jar qualifies as immortality either.
Totally agreed! It would suck for me to be a brain in a jar; motionless, unable to talk, walk, run, smell, see, touch, etc. besides I wasn't made to be caged, so if I can't move I'd better die for once.

[Haunted]

If it's the same consciousness, the body is irrelevant, surely?

hmmm not sure if there's always consciousness, even if there's a body.

The thread starter posts dying as a means to make space for new life. That's the body dying. It's the body that takes up space, and I was responding to whether we want to live forever physically in this world. My answer is hell no, immortality is a curse.



It's why I'm an atheist - a guaranteed way to avoid heaven, where all the people I can't stand are going.

It sounds as though atheism is a choice, like in a multiple choice question.... But the choice doesn't change the answer. There's no guarantee in life — or in death, is there.

[Haunted]

Totally agreed! It would suck for me to be a brain in a jar; motionless, unable to talk, walk, run, smell, see, touch, etc. besides I wasn't made to be caged, so if I can't move I'd better die for once.

I know...It wouldn't be too much fun talking to a jar labeled Maximilianus with something floating in it :cold: :lol:

[Maximilianus]

I know...It wouldn't be too much fun talking to a jar labeled Maximilianus with something floating in it :cold: :lol:

:lol: If you ever see the jar with my brains in it, please destroy it!!! I don't want to be remembered like that!!! :lol:

[crystalmoonshin]

I certainly wouldn't want to be immortal; for sure there will come a time when I will be too bored to even continue living in this world. It will be the biggest regret to suddenly find no meaning in life and there's no way to end it.

However, I would really want to live for some 300 years, without aging and having all those bodily pains associated with old age. I think 300 years is sufficient to do the things I want, like travel around the world, try all the cuisines, read lots of books, watch lots of anime and movies, write stuffs, etc.

[Maximilianus]

Come to think of it, if I could choose a type of immortality I'd rather go for the type that can be ended, like the immortality of those "highlanders" of the movies and TV series, who are immortal unless someone puts an end to it by beheading.
It would be nice to live for enough time to do what I want... or most of it, and once I get bored, pick a sword fight with someone and end my days in a glorious battle. I prefer to live and die under my own terms.

[Janine]

Originally Posted by The Atheist

It's why I'm an atheist - a guaranteed way to avoid heaven, where all the people I can't stand are going.

:lol:The way you describe Heaven, Atheist, sound like my high school class reunion and all the people I could not stand then, and still can't!

[The Atheist]

The way you describe Heaven, Atheist, sound like my high school class reunion and all the people I could not stand then, and still can't!

:lol:

Great analogy!

[Pensive]

Nope.
Life isn't a big deal, on the other hand, death seems like quite something to experience!

[Maximilianus]

Nope.
Life isn't a big deal, on the other hand, death seems like quite something to experience!

Sure, in life nobody pricks you with a three-prong fork, but in death... :lol:

[Haunted]

Sure, in life nobody pricks you with a three-prong fork, but in death... :lol:

I hate it when that happens but hopefully it'll be over quickly :eek:

[Maximilianus]

I hate it when that happens but hopefully it'll be over quickly :eek:

Oh My! So you mean the end of pricking is near? How near is it? You know? Tell me, tell me... so I can tell my brains to enter the jar :lol: :p

[Haunted]

Oh My! So you mean the end of pricking is near? How near is it? You know? Tell me, tell me... so I can tell my brains to enter the jar :lol: :p

No need to panic, it's nowhere near that. It takes them time to make the Uncle Max jar label :D They need you to play forum games, go back to A-Z!

[Maximilianus]

Uh, huh! So they'll bribe me, uh? Shame on them! :lol:

[Dirtbag]

If I didn't age, immortality would be alright. The world would always be changing so I don't think I'd ever grow bored of it.

Life is meaningless anyways. Dying doesn't give it meaning. The way I feel while I listen to music is without purpose but it's not going to stop me from enjoying it. I think I could always take pleasure in something somewhere. My brain will never stop reacting.

What's the difference between eternal life and this? My life is happening right now. For the most part, I don't think the amount of yesterdays or tomorrows will change what I do today. My memory isn't going to allow me to remember most of my past. I'd be a different person with different memories every few thousand years.

[JuniperWoolf]

Oh My! So you mean the end of pricking is near? How near is it? You know? Tell me, tell me... so I can tell my brains to enter the jar :lol: :p

This reminds me of the short story "Other People," by Neil Gaiman from Fragile Things. It was really cool, you ought to read it. I think it was only like, two pages. Time is fluid here...

[Maximilianus]

This reminds me of the short story "Other People," by Neil Gaiman from Fragile Things. It was really cool, you ought to read it. I think it was only like, two pages. Time is fluid here...

I'll keep it in mind, thank you ;)

[rimbaud]

well, after a loooong time reading everything posted, i must say there are arguments of both sides and they are both tempting, but i couldn't help but think 'the best thing is to live as long as I would like, see what I want to see, and do what I want to do, and when I get bored with life only I can end it'. So it seems like the thing is having control over things, over nature, over your body. We say the soul is immortal but the body rots so is control of the soul over the body. Mind over matter. I don't think that is crazy not wanting to live forever, by all means, it is probably right, and I don't think it's egocentric(as it was mentioned) wanting immortality, I mean, can't we dream of having all the time in the world. So I guess I have to accept both sides. And even though I feel like one life would never be enough, I do appreciate mortality. Hoping that someday I will mature enough and time won't matter.