betterhumans.com

[Gothic_J]

what are your thots on this website and the gene modifciation and cybernetics it suggests?

personally, Im all for it. I *love* the idea of speeding up our evolution. only human? never again.

[DigitalChicken]

Originally posted by Gothic_J
what are your thots on this website and the gene modifciation and cybernetics it suggests?

personally, Im all for it. I *love* the idea of speeding up our evolution. only human? never again.

The desire or need to "speed up" evolution strikes me as superstitiously religious. The idealistic goal of working for some super-state of human living, be that through getting to heaven, a socialist utopia, or manipulating human genetics seems to be all of the same ilk of not being satisfied with happiness and good which can be made here on earth.

DC

[Gothic_J]

Im not stating happiness is not unattainable without it, of course. Im extremely happy with my life, and have no implants or free market genes.

I merely consider improvement of both self and of species a high priority - why not evolve? why not improve? we are better then we were 100, 200, or 500 yrs ago, and why not let it continue? why *shouldnt* everyone be superhuman by today;s standards?

it is humanity's gift to ask why, and in the so doing, we acquire the next level of technology - applied understanding. I wish humanity to open every door and know every secret. religion is not a part of it - it is simple monkey curiousity.

[faust]

WHERE ARE THE FLYING CARS!!!!

:D

[Gothic_J]

oi vey, all you kids are the same. we get you flying planes, and you want flying cars. where will it end?

[Nostalgic Pushhead]

I hate it. Call me old fashioned... but I like being plain old human. In a plain old natural world.

I'm all for genetic therapy to save lives, but trying to extend our lives even farther past the natural age is foolhardy. FOOLHARDY I SAY. Because I'm just old fashioned, or something. Or the thought of designer babies scares the shit out of me.

[braces_for_impact]

The thought that scares me is that it may not be available to everyone, only those with economic, political, or public clout.

[Demosthenes]

I go to that site regularly, the idea of modification of the human body to achieve long life, inew abilities, augmented intelligence and all that appeal to me. I love being human but it can be improved ;)

My perspective echos exactly with David Zindell's quote, "A human is an acorn that is unafraid to destroy itself growing into a tree"

[Yangja Isuko]

fantastic, absolutely. give me my neural link, zoom-enhanced eyes, a 100terrabyte+ HD in my brain (well, preferrably just outside it actually). hell, map my brain into a computer.

and for the people who are scared or oldfashioned and all that, hey, let them have their way. as in, let them stay obsolete. as long as they don't try to prevent us from living our life the way we want to.

[Gothic_J]

I think it willbe for the rich at first, then everyone - same way as cars or computers.

and, Im making a list of improvments Id like.

ive always wanted to fly:D

[villainess]

Will designer babies stink less than the regular kind? Because if so I'm all for them.

Seriously, I love the idea of conscious self-selection of modification (and I personally look forward with great anticipation to the day when I become a professional brain-in-a-jar, jacked into all human knowledge for numberless centuries to come) but I do suspect that we may well learn some interesting and unwelcome things about what exactly it is that we as a race want when we are collectively able to get it. I mean, we've only just started mucking about with brain chemistry modification and do we use it to make people smarter? More creative? No, we use it to make adults perkier and children more complacent (not to dismiss those whose lives have been saved by some of the pharmaceuticals in question, it's just that some of the applications worry me.)

As far as I'm concerned, though, that's no reason to hold back on the development end. After all, there's no such thing as beneficial knowledge that can't be misapplied.

the.villainess

[The Other Michael]

Originally posted by braces_for_impact
The thought that scares me is that it may not be available to everyone, only those with economic, political, or public clout.

And that would be different from the way the world works now?

Eliminating cancers (of all types) would seem to free up huge amounts of money that are being spent now. The same savings would apply to the other large-population chronic diseases/ailments that are currently soaking up a lot of medical attention.

You do then have to deal with all these people that would have been dead before. It would be nice if smarts/ethics could keep pace with the body-system improvements.

cheers,
Michael

[PaulPritchard]

Originally posted by faust
WHERE ARE THE FLYING CARS!!!!

:D

Here (http://www.moller.com/skycar/)
:p

[The Other Michael]

I wouldn't advise holding your breath while waiting for Moller to perfect his skycar as I think he's been flogging that thing for well over a decade (possibly two decades by now).

cheers,
Michael

[Primordial Groove]

I like the idea of 'evolving' through the use technology, as long as everyone is given the option to upgrade.

I dont think it will be that easy though. I see the rich getting the technology first and through what they decide at that time, the rest of us will be allowed to upgrade or, we will be phased out as inconsequencial.

Damn my cycnicism.

[Gothic_J]

the rich need someone to grease their shiny new cybernetic arm. that would be us.

we'll stay around.

[beachmaster]

This sounds a lot like Ralph Spoilsport's New and Used body parts, made in America, by Americans, from the headless body farm in the City of the Future. Yes you may have to die, but you don't have to be there when it happens!

(it's a Firesign Theater routine...lol)

[edit: I just had to find the actual transcript after making this post... and find it I did!]

"Give me immortality or give me death!"

That's the motto here at Ralph Spoilsport's new and used BodyShop, in the City...Of The Future. Hiya, friends, Ralph Spoilsport here to tell you that everybody must die, but you don't have to be there when it happens. That's why we're having a great Going Out of Body Sale!

Yes, you can live forever while your friends fall apart around you like rotten fruit. And here's how -- Lease an organ or limb from our Headless Body Farm. It's made in America from Americans! Enter the new century with these exclusive clone-ons: nap-velour designer genes deluxe follical hair-mat grafting with upgraded media-sensitive, stimulated wrapper-filler rear-rolled non-glossy carbon-intensified glutal guards power moons and tinted-tit grill-spoilers in slash, dash or faux flannel.

So come on down to Ralph Spoilsport's City Of The Future. And do it today, because there may not be a tomorrow.

----ok, now I'm happy again!---

[xorbie]

Hell, this sounds good. We could create two species of humans. The fundies, who don't believe evolution is possible, will all die out. Um... sounds good.

[MrFurious76]

heck, it'll just be us atheists and people who don't believe in an afterlife getting that technology. What xian would want to prolong his or her life on Earth and miss out on some time with Jebus!

[Gothic_J]

Ive actually been polling the members of my family. the christians dont want immortality here, the atheists do.

[jayh]

Well at least this group seems cogniscent of the potential problems unlike some of the true-believer groups.

Real evolutionary progress probably would not come from these interventions, though specific small improvements may be possible, but their only tweaking a couple of genes that have relatively simple effects. Real evolution requires large numnbers of variants and a large number of individuals all competing for success.

On the other hand evolution is probably at a standstill at least in the developed world, so this may be the closest we have to it.

j