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A comment on John Gray: 'What can we learn from cats? Don't live in an imagined future'. Parent comment

Re:John Gray: 'What can we learn from cats? Don't live in an... by yowlingcat on Wednesday October 28, 2020 @08:21AM (#24917868)
Counterpoint: Hayflick limit [1]. Of course, the humble lobster, jellyfish and hydra [2] (along with other animals) don't seem to undergo senescence but IMO the jury is still out on whether hominids are biologically amenable to such feats of genetic engineering.

The other question besides whether such a thing is possible is whether it is desirable. Depending on one's viewpoint, one could look at immortal humans as a cosmic cancer. At least the cycle of death and birth limits the harm a bad actor can do. What would you do if your least favorite fascist were also immortal and invulnerable? And I do mean that somewhat rhetorically. It's a messy ethical subject to think about, personally. I kinda prefer life and death.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayflick_limit

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_immortality#Organis...

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Re:John Gray: 'What can we learn from cats? Don't live in an... by amanaplanacanal on Wednesday October 28, 2020 @08:28AM (#24917916)
Yikes! What if you die, but the fascist lives forever? That seems like the worst of both worlds.
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Re:John Gray: 'What can we learn from cats? Don't live in an... by antepodius on Wednesday October 28, 2020 @10:45AM (#24919287)
Why does it matter if everyone else is immortal and invulnerable?
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Re:John Gray: 'What can we learn from cats? Don't live in an... by yowlingcat on Wednesday October 28, 2020 @10:50AM (#24919360)
Great question. IMO, it's because it doesn't prevent the counterparty from torturing everyone else in perpetuity. The world risks turning into a Dantean inferno.
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Re:John Gray: 'What can we learn from cats? Don't live in an... by antepodius on Wednesday October 28, 2020 @10:56AM (#24919451)
Are you talking about the counterparty taking 'physical' people hostage and torturing them? Because that sort of runs counter to 'everyone is invulnerable and immortal'.

Or about them running sentient hell-simulations for fun because they're a sadist? In which case, yes, that is a concern. If you knew it was going on, you could presumably try countermeasures (up to and including threatening to run simulations that decrease the sadist's utility function, if you know it). Otherwise, maybe engage in trades with other people where you refuse to cooperate with someone unless you both audit each other's hardware?

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