No thank you!

[susandennis]

This morning in our conversation, we were talking about future technology and I noted that I am sorry, in some ways, that I won't live long enough to see some of the cool stuff that's coming down the pike.  He said immediately 'sure you will, just not in this form'.

UGH!  And I said that out loud.  I've had a great life and while I'd rather not check out this minute, whenever it's time, I'll be fine with it and grateful for what I had.

He was astounded and, probably, unbelieving that I didn't want to live as long as possible in this form or another.

Now that I've thought about it a little, I'm still not wild about the idea but after I'm dead, I think I'm ok with whatever happens.  But I still don't want to outlive this life. Going peacefully in my sleep - tonight, if that's my deal - is my choice over all others.

Comments

[badrobot68.livejournal.com]

While I hope it isn't tonight for either of us, I totally agree! I saw my grandparents live to be almost 100 and they were both sick and miserable at the end. I'd like to go before that happens.

[susandennis]

yes! exactly. I'll be 65 in 3 months. 65 good years is really way more than anyone should rightfully even get. I got no need to be greedy and I sure don't want to be sick and miserable.

[badrobot68.livejournal.com]

I think you'll be happy and healthy for a little bit longer!

[holyoutlaw.livejournal.com]

Agree with you and the previous commenters. I'd rather go well than outlive my own functioning.

[egg-shell.livejournal.com]

I will miss you (if you should go before I do). You are a very enjoyable part of my life - even though I only see you on LJ.

[susandennis]

Thanks. nice to know I'll be remembered and not in a bad way!! :)

[kyrielle]

I'd rather you didn't check out any time soon, but I sure wouldn't wish suffering on you instead. I just hope that things continue as good as now or better for quite a while yet.

Same as I hope for me. If there's a happy afterlife where I get to be myself minus any accumulated discomforts and mental losses of aging - I'll be thrilled when I get there because I really do like existing. But, if there's no afterlife, that's okay - there will be no me to be upset about that.

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

It would be very weird. What would happen if you weren't in your current form? I'm not sure humans are made to be anything other than human. And how would we know what it's like to be in another form? It might be a nightmare. Science fiction has used the idea in the past, and most victims of it were definitely of the "please help me find some way to die!" opinion in most iterations I've seen.

[zimzat.livejournal.com]

I imagine it takes a very flexible perspective in order to adjust to all the little things that are different if we were able to change our body. So much of our mental functionality is purposed toward controlling physical appendages and listening to their feedback, that all those mental processes would have to be retrained or shut down, otherwise they keep giving us false feedback that becomes distracting and potentially annoying white noise.

I suspect that people who are nostalgic or anti-technology (or anti-new-technology) wouldn't be able to do it as easily as someone who looks forward to every new technology and is adapting themselves for faster and more efficient ways already.