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New research reveals longevity gains slowing, life expectancy of 100 unlikely

(lafollette.wisc.edu)
215 points XzetaU8 | 4 comments | 30 Aug 25 16:15 UTC | HN request time: 0.659s | source
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bigmattystyles ◴[30 Aug 25 17:50 UTC] No.45076621[source]▶
I wonder if as a species we can ever get more comfortable with death. We’re built not to be I realize, and we should never be for those that are young but I feel like we should be ok with living 80ish or more years and then clocking out. That being said, I’m not cool with the idea of dying when good, but when I’m in a major depressive episode, the idea of immortality is terrifying.
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KronisLV ◴[30 Aug 25 17:52 UTC] No.45076641[source]▶
> I feel like we should be ok with living 80ish or more years and then clocking out.

Some people would very much prefer if their consciousness wouldn't have an end date, after which they'll never experience or think anything and will just cease to exist.

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1. bigmattystyles ◴[30 Aug 25 17:55 UTC] No.45076673[source]▶
Maybe, but I feel like most would eventually reach same conclusion as the (majority of) protagonists in the good place…
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2. KronisLV ◴[30 Aug 25 18:12 UTC] No.45076825[source]▶
Perhaps!

Though it would be nice if they had the option of choosing that for themselves, instead of being told that they don't really want long lives and that they should kneel before biology. Whether they're content with 100 years or 100'000 years, that should be up to them.

Or, as others pointed out, if at least whatever amount they're gonna be around for was more dignified and they had a better quality of life, instead of their bodies slowly wasting away.

3. kiba ◴[31 Aug 25 03:08 UTC] No.45080027[source]▶
That's just terror management of death.[1] That's why we say things like "death gives life meaning".

Utter bollocks.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terror_management_theory

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4. nradov ◴[31 Aug 25 18:03 UTC] No.45085368[source]▶
There's no reason to be terrified of death.