Mentioned at NPR (By a Deathist)
I see that one of the NPR bloggers posted on the topic of longevity science today and linked to the Longevity Meme. Unfortunately that was done in the process of dismissing the whole exercise of working to extend human life span:
I confess that I find the whole trajectory to vastly miss the point of being alive which, I would say, is not how long it’s going to last but what it’s like to have it. Returning to the framing concept at the start of this piece, I think of my finite life cycle as a gift, or at least a gift by comparison with the dreary notion of endless existence. Its finiteness allows me to do my thing, make my mistakes, achieve my successes, love and nurture my family and community, run my course like every other critter, and then move out of the way.
Because, evidently, death is life. How very Orwellian. I will make the observation that the only people who say this sort of thing are those who keenly feel the bite of future loss. It is a compensation statement, a shield, a wrapper to hold in seeping existential fear and bitterness. No-one should take it at face value. Those folk who are truly unconcerned about the future state of being dead have no need to protest so loudly - in fact you won't hear them say much at all on the topic.
Sadly, there stands, slouching, a legion of people much like the author of the post quoted above. They sneer at actual research into aging and longevity, do nothing to help, and pretend to believe that death is life - all the while fearing what lies ahead, and working to convince themselves and others that nothing can be done. They will no doubt be jostling for a spot in line when, despite their inaction, rejuvenation therapies are developed and commercialized.
It's all human nature, standard issue, ugly as sin and twice as petty. Nothing to see here, business as usual.