It said that immortality comes with a price. Unfortunately, that price is more than just a nose which is why insanity is a common theme when dealing with immortal beings. The years of years of traumatic experiences can pile on top of each other becoming a weight too much to bare PTSD to the max. Even if your experiences are not too traumatic you would still have to watch your loved ones die over and over again. So that brings me to the question if you were immortal could you stay sane and if so how?
I think it all comes down to someone's will and what their goals are if they had immortality.
I think if somehow an immortal being choose to abandon everyone and everything and just leave it all behind since they already know and is aware the fact that the inevitable would have happened either way, then they won't have to suffer by watching others suffer over and over again.
If it was possible why not just skip ahead really far into the distant future? Everyone's long gone and not longer exist by then and thus they would Never had been there the whole time to watch and see their loved ones suffer and die in the first place.
Would it not have been better to just NEVER been present there at all to watch and see their loved ones suffer and then eventually die anyway?
If I was immortal wouldn't waste time and effort in trying to change or better a world such as ours for example, in which I know and believe can absolutely never be fixed or change for the better, and I find no point of saving or harming anyone or anything since the end results are all the same: They would always eventually die no matter what, all attempts to change and make it better are entirely futile attempts, but I do give credit and respect for those that continue to try and try and try. But I just don't expect it ever really get better when I looked into our Planet's and Humanity's history altogether, I find the negative to greatly outweigh any of the positive.
And that the best anyone could really do is just postpone and delay the inevitable.
Also it is because I absolute know that I can not control the world, I can never control the world, and NEITHER would I ever have any desire to control the world as how it would turn out and because I know I will never ever have control over other people. So I'd forget about trying to change or save the world, because I just absolutely don't believe it can be saved. Again, all attempts I believed would be eventually futile.
Ideally like I said, if I was immortal I would want to skip ahead far far far into the very very distant future through space Faster-Than-Light travel or some sort of time displacement. Or if not possible, I'd find a way to leave to go to a new world in a far away planet or alternate reality or dimension and have a complete fresh start. But that would be my clear goal.
And depending on what kind or type of immortality you're referring to specifically? Any specific requirements to maintain the immortality?
I don't have anything against open ended, however without any specifics on what kind of immortality, it would make things hard for me to really answer clearly. I never think that just about ANY immortality is good or ok for me, because it isn't so. And without anything specific it pretty much would be like anything goes without any rules or limitations. It's just that when it comes to immortality, there has many different interpretations and conceptions of that concept, many different variations of immortality. If it was more specific as to what applies and what doesn't apply then I would know for certain what my answer and response should be or how I would answer the question. E. G. Immortality that meant someone would ONLY not die specifically from Aging, but can still die from everything else, Or the kind of immortality where someone would be pretty much Invulnerable or Indestructible and nothing, nobody could ever harm them or kill them in any possible way.
I was referring to general definition for immortality as in living forever. I'm not asking if it is worth it or not just wondering how one would stay sane. Limitations and adventures are made depending are what type immortal being and the interpretation of said being for sure. However, the only concept I'm am concerned about is sanity. The burden of so many memories on the mind if it would make one insane or apathetic to the world around you.
I would think that as long as I could go where ever I go and have clear goals, like exploring new places, such as other planets, worlds, then I'd be much too busy to worry about losing my sanity, because that is something that I know I would want to do and had always wanted to do "if" I can never die. Because as a mere mortal being I know I'm never going have the chance to be able to do all of those things, even our current technology in real life is still way behind what had always been depicted in science fiction thus the opportunity to explore way way way out there in outer space and beyond is very limited to impossible. And besides if something goes wrong, I'd die, which would hold me back from exploring way out there. Even astronauts can only go to the moon and a space station but that's about it. Who knows what or whom I'll find out there? I shouldn't fear anything if I know I can't die, because then there really is nothing that would be holding me back from explore the universe.
Doubt you would explore much of the Universe, the statistical probability of actually reaching another planet outside our solar system after say the Sun dies is highly unlikely, less you somehow manage to travel at near light speeds. Even then outside a certain distance traveling at light speed you would never ever reach any part of the unfathomable amount of the observable universe; light does not travel fast enough to over take the rate at which the universe expands realitively.
In the end you will float through an endless abyss that will grow darker and darker as the last light fades whilst entropy slowly disperses energy like a tiny bit of butter spread over a large piece of toast. Without light or anything to observe, without any thoughts to be recongnized and come to fruition, without dispairity, will you even exist? I think the paradox of this question is that even hypothetically it is impossible depending on how we look at the definition of existence and death.
Yea, pretty much. Unless immortality comes with the ability to teleport and just about anywhere instantaneously. Traveling at faster than light speeds haven't even been accomplished in our reality yet, much less immortality or teleportation. And besides if it was faster than light speed through a spacecraft, I don't think that spacecraft would last indefinitely and would eventually run out of fuel and energy, or it could become compromised and damaged at some point I can't even use it to explore the universe anymore.
I'd probably go to sleep until I'm pulled in by the gravitational force of some other planet or something if I was drifting endlessly. Assuming I could even go to sleep and not have to wake up, I mean if it's gonna be dark for a long time, I could just take a long long nap until I end up on the surface of some other planet, and then, I'd be up and about exploring and continuing my own adventures again.
Well from what I heard (think it was the guy from Vsauce) traveling at light speed and from the prospective of you, the object that is traveling at light speed, that time from your prospective would not pass at all. To an observer outside a million years could pass as you travel across the universe but to you not even a planc measurement of time would occur. So there is that hypothetical positive in this scenario.
Yea, but we'll never know for certain because it just really can't be possible and be done. I mean to become a kind of indestructible or near indestructible immortal being to explore the universe I could only imagine it when the concepts were introduced to me I figured that's the only thing to really go for "if" it was ever attainable or possible. But since it's not we could only use our imagination on "what if" it was attainable and possible and "if" were were to travel beyond earth and explore the universe and other worlds in which we would never die, how would that endless adventure turn out. And it makes me wonder what would it be like to be in a Black Hole but not be destroyed by it? Same for Supernovas and all those other things we can't normally "safely" see up close and personal and experience them up close and personal as they would just kill us instantaneously if not almost instantaneously.
Immortality doesn't give you supernatural powers being an immortal creature on the other hand does. I read a series where the vampires and demons can teleport but only to places they have been before. You would need a clear destination in order to teleport somewhere or travel anywhere via ship. Space is so vast I agree you would run out of fuel before you find anything.
You forgot about angels, they can teleport also. But I don't think they're limited to only the places they have been before. Depending on which version represented. The ones seen on SuperNatural seem to be able to go just about anywhere instantaneously and warp between dimensional planes.
Yeah perhaps. If said angels are not secretly of an alien race with advanced technology. But then if one is an angel that would involve serving a holy deity of some kind. I doubt they are allowed to just poof where ever they want to.
I have always wondered that - It must be very hard - I once saw a TV show where a guy wanted to be made immortal and he got his wish with a twist, he was made a living statue, fully conscious, fully aware but coundn't speak or move, be careful what you ask for.
That dude really should have been thinking more deeply before rushing a decision to just make a wish, I mean he didn't even bother to look at every possible angle of what the version of immortality he was gonna be receiving? He said he want to live forever, BUT then he forgot to say that he actually wanted to RETAIN all of his motor functions, or that they'd be intact. Maybe he should have wrote everything down and make sure there is very little that his own words when making the wish would go against him. Should revise it over and over and find every possibility of flaws in the way he decides to word his wish and then he'd won't regret anything, well even if he did it would be substantially less. But look on the bright side, I suppose as a conscious and self-aware statue for all eternity, he doesn't have any maintenance requirements. it's like he instantly converted from bio organic matter into an eternal stone.
I am not immortal but my mom is. Nothing stops her. She is invincible. Sometimes she is normal, but other times she freaks out, because as you said, she experienced a lot. But that doesn't stop her... Nothing does.
I'd change careers often and I'd learn to play cello, piano, guitar, violin so I could take out my frustrations on a music sheet. Then again, I'm already crazy so there would be no damage.
See that's what I meant. That's the spirit. You have to have goals. Goals that are set and then immortality wouldn't be so damn pointless. But now you would have all the time to learn how to play all those various instruments and learn about pretty much everything else if you had become immortal.
That's why I said I'd leave earth and leave everyone and everything behind as I wouldn't want to be there to watch, hear or feel everyone else suffer and die and not get so overly emotionally attached, as if I'm not already attached emotionally to some people already. Either I'd leave earth or go so far into the future that even if the people are all gone I skipped past it all never would have seen, heard, or felt how they had all die and/or suffered. After all, it all comes down to which version of immortality, but she said it is open ended. And what goals you would set and what you would want to do in such a hypothetical situation. I want to explore the entire universe and outer space for all eternity, since it's an impossible goal to begin with, same goes for attaining an ideal version of immortality.
I would stay sane. How? It's just the type of person I am. Death is natural and it happens. If you refuse to accept reality and what has happened this will draw you to insanity. I don't have a problem accepting things.
Death is inevitable for all mere mortal biological organic beings. It's just watching people suffer and die and seeing the agony they're going through, especially if they were close you like friends, family, significant other, loved ones, etc., and especially in this scenario if you were to never ever die, but everyone else around you still can and will die.
But you can always try and stay away as much as possible and not get overly attached if you knew that it was going to happen and that it could and would affect your own emotion in a real bad or sad way when their time is up, and it's their time to go.
Impossible to stay sane, but what is sanity really? Is it not just how we agree one should view reality? When you are the only one left and your view of reality is absolute then you will of course be sane? Or is sanity only possible when multiple observers can agree on their separate views of reality?
In the end it seems like you should just play Dar Souls to find your answer!
That's why I asked her which version of immortality? There's like a shit tons of different ones. Some aren't truly immortal. It requires maintenance and even then can die under certain circumstances. Examples are like Vampires, they might live forever provided the fact they continue to be able to maintain that immortality by drinking fresh human blood, but once they don't have that, then they're fucked. Also they aren't 100% immune to everything depending upon the lore or version, usually decapitation, sunlight, or stake through the heart and they're done for. I get that in general many people would automatically presume that immortality would mean immune to dying from ONLY causes of aging and not physical trauma, toxins or chemicals, illnesses. But that's why I even ask, which version of immortality, but she kept it open ended.
Guess you're never gonna get bored. I figured if I could never ever die, then I really wouldn't mind exploring all over the entire universe going to outer space and beyond. After all, why remain on earth any more when you could be exploring whatever is out there. Again, depending upon the version of immortality but she kept it open ended without any specifics or restrictions. I would only want immortality if there are absolutely no maintenance requirements to sustain and retain the immortality (no longer limited such as by any required necessities) and most importantly total protection over all possibilities of harm, death and destruction under pretty much all circumstances, unless and with only exceptions to the universe itself totally collapsing and ended itself. As I can't see how something can exist anymore when there isn't even an existence at all anymore and the universe is essential to being an existence.
@ZellRocx666 Sounded like what I wanted to do. But why stop there and just explore this planet? Why not also considered the possibilities and opportunities to explore in outer space and beyond earth, I mean if you can never die, you'd have all the time and the possibility to do it and not have to worry about returning home to earth just because your spaceship's about to run out of fuel or that you'll run out of air.
i 30 and can't be sane being immortal is like being the ultimate insane just living with these people is nuts the more you live with them the more you take off your brain
@JudgmentDay The label of insanity is flexible and changes with the attitude of the public. 50 years ago psychologist labeled mentally handicapped people insane and put them in institutions. Before that they exiled them to colonies for the mad. Today, they have a different view of insanity. In 50 years, there will be a new way of looking at it again. Ultimately it comes down to what people within civilization deem abnormal. So if the masses can't execute you for being different, it doesn't really matter if you're different... There would be no way for them to govern your behavior with threat of death. That's all I'm really saying. That doesn't mean you need to go on a murderous rampage just because you can survive it. But if you act a littler fucking weird and they mob you with pitch forks, fuck emm... :D
You know what? Why not be a Troll for all eternity if you're immortal and annoy as many people such as GAGers for the fun of it all? You'd become the Troll that can never die, no matter what you do to try to get rid of you.
If that's the case you better ask if the immortality package comes with full immunity to all STDs, and venereal diseases, the last thing you would want is to live forever AND SUFFER all of the horrible effects of various STDs like AIDs with No Possibility of dying, or make sure that death is still possible regularly, just not from Aging specifically. I'd go with the first option: full immunity from all bad effects of STDs, or entirely immune to ever catching any of them in the first place. But you're still gonna need birth control, last thing you want is to knock up shit tons of girls and pay child support for all eternity or something like that. LOL
Ah alright!!! I'd feel great! XD I mean, yeah, I can't find love.. Or I'd have to find another person who answered this question and try a relationship with that person!
Also I'm an optimistic person and since you said that I don't age that means that I can do Capoeira forever, I can practise other sports, I can learn and take the time to master whatever :) Limitlesssssssssssss
Still have to be careful if you don't age just like as if you were regular human being now. You should have asked more like are you completely immune from all forms of harm, like physical harm, or illnesses or diseases, etc., Wouldn't it be worse if you could suffer from any of those things and it never ever healed right and because you couldn't die at all anymore?
Oh, and uh. No dying from ONLY the effects of Aging would also meant that you still have to pay bills, taxes, etc. and you'd still have to eat, sleep, drink water, need to have shelter, etc., and all of the necessities still apply since that would meant you can still die from starving, thirst, dehydration, etc.
I'd always check and see which version of immortality someone is talking about specifically and if it's not the ideal best possible one, then I would think it really isn't worth it or all that much difference compared to being a regular mortal being, in fact that kind of Immortality then becomes HARDER.
I guess if the kind of immortality you had received rendered you invulnerable and impossible to kill yourself, you'd eventually lose your sanity? I thought about it myself, it would suck to watch everyone suffer and die before your eyes and hears, I figured the only real objective that makes sense is to explore the entire universe in outer space and beyond earth if immortality was ever been attainable, again depending upon which variation. I mean if you couldn't die would that no longer hold you back from exploring whatever it is out there in this entire universe? Besides you would have all the time to explore and seek out new and possibly interesting things out there since you couldn't die.
Who knows for certain? Depends on the kind of immortality. So many variations. We can't possibly know for certain how immortality will actually affect our memory since we can't be immortal to experience it and know how it actually affects our memory or mental state. Who knows you might even remember everything and most of everything clearly. Or you might end up having something like amnesia where your entire memory eventually goes blank or is wiped clear.
Well the only way I could see us remembering everything would be if we become cyborgs. However Im kinda skeptical of the whole uploading your consciousness to a computer thing.
We've yet to know because the singularity hasn't happened yet. It's still hypothetical and hypotheses that sounds way too farfetched to become a reality and more like science fiction concepts.
You also forgot about nanomachines, but right now in this reality they don't work the way that we wish or expected them to work like how they are depicted in science fiction. If you had ever watched Terminator Genisys, there is a good example of a nanomachine-type human and machine hybrid.
Even now no one would know for certain if uploading someone's consciousness into a computer system would meant what exactly? On whether if it's only going to be a digital emulated copy of someone? Or would it actually meant a true crossing over and combination between human consciousness and machine. E. G. The machine and computer system becomes your new body or "vessel" and you are in control of from within it. Like as if the entire computer system is "possessed" by your entire consciousness.
One would eventually forget if we could stay completely human by finding a way to stop telomeres from shorter since that is what leads to the eventually death of a cell. If there was a way to prevent stem cells from aging we could live forever. Flatworms are theoretically immortal because they can turn on their telomerase enzyme which regenerates the telomeres. The telomerase enzyme is only turned on in humans during development. If scientists figure out how it does this we may not need nanomachines.
Yeah, I believe there is also a certian type of jellyfish that is also "theoretically immortal".
The idea of uploading your conciousness to a machine and becoming a cyborg doesn't make sense to me. I feel like you would still die and your conciousness would end. All that you'd be doing is creating a "copy" of whatever information was in your brain and pasting it on the computer. Thats how I understand it anyways :/
Speaking of the Immortal Jellyfish, I read about that way back when it was first confirmed. It's called the Turritopsis dohrnii, see the Wikipedia entry here:
Although it had always made me wonder, does that mean that Biological Immortality only meant that whatever has it will not die Only from effects of aging or but about maintenance requirements? Would they then still apply?
I mean if humans were to have biological immortality then would they still have to work and eat, and drink water, etc., all to support and maintain their immortal life otherwise they'd still starve to death and die of dehydration? Or does it mean that all of those maintenance and necessities no longer applied and that we would instead ONLY die from physical trauma?
@JudgmentDay Biology immortality means an organism cannot die of senescence which is the condition or process of deterioration with age. So yeah we would still have to eat, sleep, and drink.
That's what I was afraid of and wouldn't desire. That's what I meant by "maintenance" requirements. It's not all set and done, set it and forget it, not like once you have a way to live forever that's all done and you wouldn't have to still maintain and protect the body, so that is really a very limited immortality you can't just go about anywhere and not worry about clumsiness or unexpected things that could get you killed such as accidents or even being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I figured bio immortality would be like that, you "can" live forever provided the fact you can continuous pay the toll and maintain and protect your body from ever getting severely hurt and continuing providing it with nutrients for nourishment, but then that's really not much difference than how we are now, other than requiring even more lengthy amount of maintenance and hard work, whereas we normally could just retire once we're too old or can not work to support ourselves anymore.
Most Helpful Opinions