re: #234 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

Fear of death, fear of mortality, fear of missing out are major shaping factors in human nature. If those are altered or removed, god knows what people will develope into

The same assortment of personalities we have now, I figure. Some people learn as they grow older. Others stubbornly remain the same. Yet others become worse human beings. It’s the economics of life extension that few bother to consider. Now, most people stop working by age 70, and either live off pensions or the kindness of their families or live in poverty. What happens if people could now live to be 200? How long would they be allowed to work? How would younger people enter the workforce? If life expectancy doubles, how would that affect national social welfare programs designed for a maximum age under 100?

On a smaller scale, that the situation in China now. There is no real social security program for the vast majority of seniors, which means they live with their families usually. Their kids are their social security and medicare plans. But seniors are living much longer than before, well into their 80s, which puts a lot of pressure on their kids (remember the one-child policy?), who may not be equipped to handle a senile loved one.

Imagine dealing with a senior citizen who’ll be around for another 100 years.