{"id":2313,"date":"2014-04-01T02:30:52","date_gmt":"2014-04-01T02:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rationalargumentator.com\/index\/?p=2313"},"modified":"2014-04-01T02:35:09","modified_gmt":"2014-04-01T02:35:09","slug":"guide-immortality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rationalargumentator.com\/index\/blog\/2014\/04\/guide-immortality\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to Talking about Immortality – Article by Wendy Hou"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Wendy Hou
\n<\/big><\/big><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
April 1, 2014<\/span>
\n<\/big><\/div>\n
******************************<\/div>\n
\n

Introduction<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Wobster\u2019s List of Words to Avoid<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

A Non-Threatening Script (Faith-Friendly!)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

FAQs<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a>Introduction<\/h1>\n
\n

Death is natural. Death gives life meaning. Nothing would be meaningful if you lived forever. You\u2019ll be bored of living. Immortality comes through what we leave behind. You live on in your children. Immortality would only be available to the wealthy. You\u2019ll cause class warfare. Earth would run out of resources. People would stop having children. You should overcome your fear of death so you can live more fully.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

A discussion about potential immortality is among the most frustrating conversations a rationalist will ever have. Nowhere else is the response so uniform, uniformly hostile, and boringly predictable. While a more intelligent or more educated person generally makes for a better discussion, that doesn\u2019t seem to make any difference here.<\/p>\n

Meet Generic Gerry. This is an ordinary person with an ordinary upbringing, uploaded with our society\u2019s typical views on death. Here are my tips for talking to Generic Gerry. I hope it will be useful to you, so perhaps you can skip that pointless swirl and have a more fruitful discussion.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Wobster\u2019s List of Words to Avoid<\/h1>\n

To begin with, here are some words you shouldn\u2019t say.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    Immortal \/ immortality \/ live forever<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    This is number 1 for a reason! When you say \u201cimmortal\u201d, you\u2019re thinking of reading books and making art and enjoying the company of loved ones. You know what Gerry is thinking? Voldemort. Or perhaps the wicked stepmother in Tangled. Or perhaps the Flying Dutchman. Literature has not been kind. Let\u2019s just skip the part where Gerry calls you selfish and accuses you of sacrificing others for yourself.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \n

      Transhumanism<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \u201cOh, like Ray Kurzweil!\u201d Generic Gerry knows exactly one transhumanist, Ray Kurzweil. And (while Mr. Kurzweil is an excellent and inspiring person) Gerry thinks he\u2019s crazy. Unfortunately, Gerry hasn\u2019t actually met Mr. Kurzweil, only heard stories. Secondhand. They\u2019ve become distorted along the way. \u201cHe takes 1000 vitamins and wants to bring back his father\u2019s voice in a box!\u201d<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. \n

        Cryonics<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Another topic that\u2019s treated unfairly in the media. At best, Gerry thinks cryonics is weird; at worst, a cowardly scam. We don\u2019t need those negative feelings here.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. \n

          Singularity \/ AI<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Not directly relevant here, and kind of scary to Generic Gerry, who\u2019s not super excited about computers taking over the world.<\/p>\n

          These are all buzzwords<\/em>. They are like light switches in a room or buttons in a psyche. The moment you say \u201cimmortality\u201d, you are no longer talking to an agent. You are now talking to an NPC. NPCs are all about programming. Their thinking switches off while their programming switches on, and out of their mouths comes a whole culture\u2019s worth of social platitudes, all in one big defensive stream.<\/p>\n

          That\u2019s why it\u2019s always the same conversation.<\/p>\n

          <\/a>A Non-Threatening Script (Faith-Friendly!)<\/h1>\n

          Since talking about \u201cnot dying\u201d makes Generic Gerry raise up the defensive shields, I like to talk about \u201cnot dying without consent.\u201d<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. \n

            Begin with something anyone can agree with.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            \u201cDoesn\u2019t it suck when people die of cancer at the age of 40 with two young kids? Or when they die slowly of Alzheimers?\u201d<\/p>\n

              \n
            1. \n

              Link to aging.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              \u201cIf we could fix these aging-related problems, people wouldn\u2019t get cancer when they get older anymore. They would stay healthy and active.\u201d<\/p>\n

                \n
              1. \n

                Introduce the vision.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                \u201cInstead of dying from cancer before they are ready, they can live out all their dreams and read all the books they want.\u201d<\/p>\n

                  \n
                1. \n

                  Stick close to the cultural norm.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  \u201cThen, when decide they are ready, they can set up their affairs, get their finances in order, and die surrounded by family and friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

                  Of course, there will always be new books to read, and maybe you\u2019d never decide you are ready to die, but you don\u2019t have to say it. Leave Gerry to come to that conclusion.<\/p>\n

                  It works even with the religious who want to be with their god or their eternal family someday. Most would object to never dying, but some do appreciate more control over when and how.<\/p>\n

                  It\u2019s important to remember you won\u2019t change Gerry\u2019s mind overnight. Gerry will have to think about it over weeks and months, maybe even years. Your goal is to crack the gates open. If Gerry rejects immortality, that gate is slammed shut. But if Gerry expresses interest in choosing the timing and circumstances of death, you\u2019ve got your foot in the door! Gerry will not be openly hostile to discussing aging research with you. Perhaps Gerry will even be interested in the research or excited about advances. And for a first conversation, that\u2019s the best you can hope for.<\/p>\n

                  <\/a>FAQs<\/h1>\n

                  I\u2019ve heard every one of these way<\/em> too many times. In all likelihood, so have you.<\/p>\n