Hypothetically, how long do you suppose would someone who is immortal be able >to live a normal life before being found out in modern society?
(As to what defines immortal, I'm assuming that telomere wear and disease >would be covered, but it is up to our hypothetical immortal to remember to >eat, breathe, and avoid fatal bus encounters. So if you are the seventh son of >a seventh son, try to avoid making contact between a broadsword and your >neck.)
A hundred or so years ago it would be very easy for an immortal person to walk >into a village, claim to be 20 years old, stay for a few decades, then move to >another town and do it all over again. In the U.S. you could simply move to a >neighboring state and you were basically anonymous since state databases >rarely communicated with one another.
Even as recent as 50 years ago, there were many gaps in government systems >that were especially susceptible to human error. Spy novels liked to suggest >finding an infant's grave, obtaining the child's birth certificate and using >it to apply for other ID like a driver licence, because it was unlikely that a >death certificate for a child that young would have been filed. But those >loopholes have been closed off over the years.
Now, however, any arrest will enshrine your fingerprints and DNA in a national >database forever. If you're arrested again 90 years later, questions will >arise.
As for employment, there's a gray market for jobs but I doubt you'd want to >spend eternity mowing lawns or squirting the guac bottle at Taco Bell. The >super rich can circumvent a lot of the bureaucracy and someone who has lived >for centuries may well indeed be super rich. Bribes to doctors and other >officials to generate documentation could go a long way, but great wealth >brings notoriety and that's the last thing an immortal would want.
Of course one could just not try and hide it and take your chances, since it's >not illegal to live forever, and hope that you can defend yourself against the >government goons who will inevitably show up to take you in for "further >study".
BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:
Hypothetically, how long do you suppose would someone who is immortal be able
to live a normal life before being found out in modern society?
(As to what defines immortal, I'm assuming that telomere wear and disease
would be covered, but it is up to our hypothetical immortal to remember to >> eat, breathe, and avoid fatal bus encounters. So if you are the seventh son of
a seventh son, try to avoid making contact between a broadsword and your
neck.)
A hundred or so years ago it would be very easy for an immortal person to walk
into a village, claim to be 20 years old, stay for a few decades, then move to
another town and do it all over again. In the U.S. you could simply move to a
neighboring state and you were basically anonymous since state databases
rarely communicated with one another.
Even as recent as 50 years ago, there were many gaps in government systems >> that were especially susceptible to human error. Spy novels liked to suggest >> finding an infant's grave, obtaining the child's birth certificate and using >> it to apply for other ID like a driver licence, because it was unlikely that a
death certificate for a child that young would have been filed. But those
loopholes have been closed off over the years.
Now, however, any arrest will enshrine your fingerprints and DNA in a national
database forever. If you're arrested again 90 years later, questions will
arise.
As for employment, there's a gray market for jobs but I doubt you'd want to >> spend eternity mowing lawns or squirting the guac bottle at Taco Bell. The >> super rich can circumvent a lot of the bureaucracy and someone who has lived >> for centuries may well indeed be super rich. Bribes to doctors and other
officials to generate documentation could go a long way, but great wealth
brings notoriety and that's the last thing an immortal would want.
Of course one could just not try and hide it and take your chances, since it's
not illegal to live forever, and hope that you can defend yourself against the
government goons who will inevitably show up to take you in for "further
study".
I'm less worried about the government than some billionaire kidnapping
me to perform experiments endlessly.
Hypothetically, how long do you suppose would someone who is immortal be able to live a normal life before being found out in modern society?
(As to what defines immortal, I'm assuming that telomere wear and disease would be covered, but it is up to our hypothetical immortal to remember to eat, breathe, and avoid fatal bus encounters. So if you are the seventh son of
a seventh son, try to avoid making contact between a broadsword and your neck.)
A hundred or so years ago it would be very easy for an immortal person to walk
into a village, claim to be 20 years old, stay for a few decades, then move to
another town and do it all over again. In the U.S. you could simply move to a neighboring state and you were basically anonymous since state databases rarely communicated with one another.
Even as recent as 50 years ago, there were many gaps in government systems that were especially susceptible to human error. Spy novels liked to suggest finding an infant's grave, obtaining the child's birth certificate and using it to apply for other ID like a driver licence, because it was unlikely that a
death certificate for a child that young would have been filed. But those loopholes have been closed off over the years.
Now, however, any arrest will enshrine your fingerprints and DNA in a national
database forever. If you're arrested again 90 years later, questions will arise.
As for employment, there's a gray market for jobs but I doubt you'd want to spend eternity mowing lawns or squirting the guac bottle at Taco Bell. The super rich can circumvent a lot of the bureaucracy and someone who has lived for centuries may well indeed be super rich. Bribes to doctors and other officials to generate documentation could go a long way, but great wealth brings notoriety and that's the last thing an immortal would want.
Of course one could just not try and hide it and take your chances, since it's
not illegal to live forever, and hope that you can defend yourself against the
government goons who will inevitably show up to take you in for "further study".
On 2/10/2025 7:22 PM, Adam H. Kerman wrote:
BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:
Hypothetically, how long do you suppose would someone who is immortal be able
to live a normal life before being found out in modern society?
(As to what defines immortal, I'm assuming that telomere wear and disease >>> would be covered, but it is up to our hypothetical immortal to remember to >>> eat, breathe, and avoid fatal bus encounters. So if you are the seventh son of
a seventh son, try to avoid making contact between a broadsword and your >>> neck.)
A hundred or so years ago it would be very easy for an immortal person to walk
into a village, claim to be 20 years old, stay for a few decades, then move to
another town and do it all over again. In the U.S. you could simply move to a
neighboring state and you were basically anonymous since state databases >>> rarely communicated with one another.
Even as recent as 50 years ago, there were many gaps in government systems >>> that were especially susceptible to human error. Spy novels liked to suggest
finding an infant's grave, obtaining the child's birth certificate and using
it to apply for other ID like a driver licence, because it was unlikely that a
death certificate for a child that young would have been filed. But those >>> loopholes have been closed off over the years.
Now, however, any arrest will enshrine your fingerprints and DNA in a national
database forever. If you're arrested again 90 years later, questions will >>> arise.
As for employment, there's a gray market for jobs but I doubt you'd want to >>> spend eternity mowing lawns or squirting the guac bottle at Taco Bell. The >>> super rich can circumvent a lot of the bureaucracy and someone who has lived
for centuries may well indeed be super rich. Bribes to doctors and other >>> officials to generate documentation could go a long way, but great wealth >>> brings notoriety and that's the last thing an immortal would want.
Of course one could just not try and hide it and take your chances, since it's
not illegal to live forever, and hope that you can defend yourself against the
government goons who will inevitably show up to take you in for "further >>> study".
I'm less worried about the government than some billionaire kidnapping
me to perform experiments endlessly.
Is that the plot of a movie? It sounds a little familiar. Or am I just >thinking of a random episode of Highlander?
On Mon, 10 Feb 2025 19:31:51 -0800, Arthur Lipscomb ><arthur@alum.calberkeley.org> wrote:
On 2/10/2025 7:22 PM, Adam H. Kerman wrote:
BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:
Hypothetically, how long do you suppose would someone who is immortal be able
to live a normal life before being found out in modern society?
(As to what defines immortal, I'm assuming that telomere wear and disease >>>> would be covered, but it is up to our hypothetical immortal to remember to >>>> eat, breathe, and avoid fatal bus encounters. So if you are the seventh son of
a seventh son, try to avoid making contact between a broadsword and your >>>> neck.)
A hundred or so years ago it would be very easy for an immortal person to walk
into a village, claim to be 20 years old, stay for a few decades, then move to
another town and do it all over again. In the U.S. you could simply move to a
neighboring state and you were basically anonymous since state databases >>>> rarely communicated with one another.
Even as recent as 50 years ago, there were many gaps in government systems >>>> that were especially susceptible to human error. Spy novels liked to suggest
finding an infant's grave, obtaining the child's birth certificate and using
it to apply for other ID like a driver licence, because it was unlikely that a
death certificate for a child that young would have been filed. But those >>>> loopholes have been closed off over the years.
Now, however, any arrest will enshrine your fingerprints and DNA in a national
database forever. If you're arrested again 90 years later, questions will >>>> arise.
As for employment, there's a gray market for jobs but I doubt you'd want to
spend eternity mowing lawns or squirting the guac bottle at Taco Bell. The >>>> super rich can circumvent a lot of the bureaucracy and someone who has lived
for centuries may well indeed be super rich. Bribes to doctors and other >>>> officials to generate documentation could go a long way, but great wealth >>>> brings notoriety and that's the last thing an immortal would want.
Of course one could just not try and hide it and take your chances, since it's
not illegal to live forever, and hope that you can defend yourself against the
government goons who will inevitably show up to take you in for "further >>>> study".
I'm less worried about the government than some billionaire kidnapping
me to perform experiments endlessly.
Is that the plot of a movie? It sounds a little familiar. Or am I just >>thinking of a random episode of Highlander?
Sound to me like THE GANYMEDE CLUB by Charles Sheffield. It's based
around such a group of long lived individuals who become so rich they
buy their own asteroid and turn it into their private home so that
they avoid all of those issues of people discovering their long lives.
On Mon, 10 Feb 2025 23:26:09 -0500, shawn
<nanoflower@notforg.m.a.i.l.com> wrote:
On Mon, 10 Feb 2025 19:31:51 -0800, Arthur Lipscomb >><arthur@alum.calberkeley.org> wrote:immortal be able
On 2/10/2025 7:22 PM, Adam H. Kerman wrote:
BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:
Hypothetically, how long do you suppose would someone who is
seventh son ofto live a normal life before being found out in modern society?
(As to what defines immortal, I'm assuming that telomere wear and disease >>>>> would be covered, but it is up to our hypothetical immortal to remember to
eat, breathe, and avoid fatal bus encounters. So if you are the
person to walka seventh son, try to avoid making contact between a broadsword and your >>>>> neck.)
A hundred or so years ago it would be very easy for an immortal
then move tointo a village, claim to be 20 years old, stay for a few decades,
move to aanother town and do it all over again. In the U.S. you could simply
to suggestneighboring state and you were basically anonymous since state databases >>>>> rarely communicated with one another.
Even as recent as 50 years ago, there were many gaps in government systems
that were especially susceptible to human error. Spy novels liked
and usingfinding an infant's grave, obtaining the child's birth certificate
unlikely that ait to apply for other ID like a driver licence, because it was
a nationaldeath certificate for a child that young would have been filed. But those >>>>> loopholes have been closed off over the years.
Now, however, any arrest will enshrine your fingerprints and DNA in
has liveddatabase forever. If you're arrested again 90 years later, questions will >>>>> arise.
As for employment, there's a gray market for jobs but I doubt you'd want to
spend eternity mowing lawns or squirting the guac bottle at Taco Bell. The
super rich can circumvent a lot of the bureaucracy and someone who
for centuries may well indeed be super rich. Bribes to doctors and other >>>>> officials to generate documentation could go a long way, but great wealth >>>>> brings notoriety and that's the last thing an immortal would want.
Of course one could just not try and hide it and take your chances, >since it's
not illegal to live forever, and hope that you can defend yourself >against the
government goons who will inevitably show up to take you in for "further >>>>> study".
I'm less worried about the government than some billionaire kidnapping >>>> me to perform experiments endlessly.
Is that the plot of a movie? It sounds a little familiar. Or am I just >>>thinking of a random episode of Highlander?
Sound to me like THE GANYMEDE CLUB by Charles Sheffield. It's based
around such a group of long lived individuals who become so rich they
buy their own asteroid and turn it into their private home so that
they avoid all of those issues of people discovering their long lives.
Though now that I think about it, it is more like the idea behind THE >IMMORTAL, a 70s TV show with Christopher George playing the role of
the immortal who is constantly trying to avoid becoming known and the
subject of those endless experiments.
On Mon, 10 Feb 2025 23:26:09 -0500, shawn
<nanoflower@notforg.m.a.i.l.com> wrote:
On Mon, 10 Feb 2025 19:31:51 -0800, Arthur Lipscomb
<arthur@alum.calberkeley.org> wrote:
On 2/10/2025 7:22 PM, Adam H. Kerman wrote:
BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:
Hypothetically, how long do you suppose would someone who is immortal >>>>> be able to live a normal life before being found out in modern society? >>>>>
(As to what defines immortal, I'm assuming that telomere wear and
disease would be covered, but it is up to our hypothetical immortal to >>>>> remember to eat, breathe, and avoid fatal bus encounters. So if you are >>>>> the seventh son of a seventh son, try to avoid making contact between a >>>>> broadsword and your neck.)
A hundred or so years ago it would be very easy for an immortal person >>>>> to walk into a village, claim to be 20 years old, stay for a few
decades, then move to another town and do it all over again. In the
U.S. you could simply move to a neighboring state and you were
basically anonymous since state databases rarely communicated with one >>>>> another.
Even as recent as 50 years ago, there were many gaps in government
systems that were especially susceptible to human error. Spy novels
liked to suggest finding an infant's grave, obtaining the child's birth >>>>> certificate and using it to apply for other ID like a driver licence, >>>>> because it was unlikely that a death certificate for a child that young >>>>> would have been filed. But those loopholes have been closed off over >>>>> the years.
Now, however, any arrest will enshrine your fingerprints and DNA in a >>>>> national database forever. If you're arrested again 90 years later,
questions will arise.
As for employment, there's a gray market for jobs but I doubt you'd
want to spend eternity mowing lawns or squirting the guac bottle at
Taco Bell. The super rich can circumvent a lot of the bureaucracy and >>>>> someone who has lived for centuries may well indeed be super rich.
Bribes to doctors and other officials to generate documentation could >>>>> go a long way, but great wealth brings notoriety and that's the last >>>>> thing an immortal would want.
Of course one could just not try and hide it and take your chances,
since it's not illegal to live forever, and hope that you can defend >>>>> yourself against the government goons who will inevitably show up to >>>>> take you in for "further study".
I'm less worried about the government than some billionaire kidnapping >>>> me to perform experiments endlessly.
Is that the plot of a movie? It sounds a little familiar. Or am I just >>> thinking of a random episode of Highlander?
Sound to me like THE GANYMEDE CLUB by Charles Sheffield. It's based
around such a group of long lived individuals who become so rich they
buy their own asteroid and turn it into their private home so that
they avoid all of those issues of people discovering their long lives.
Though now that I think about it, it is more like the idea behind THE IMMORTAL, a 70s TV show with Christopher George playing the role of
the immortal who is constantly trying to avoid becoming known and the
subject of those endless experiments.
BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:
Hypothetically, how long do you suppose would someone who is immortal be able
to live a normal life before being found out in modern society?
(As to what defines immortal, I'm assuming that telomere wear and disease would be covered, but it is up to our hypothetical immortal to remember to eat, breathe, and avoid fatal bus encounters. So if you are the seventh son of
a seventh son, try to avoid making contact between a broadsword and your neck.)
A hundred or so years ago it would be very easy for an immortal person to walk
into a village, claim to be 20 years old, stay for a few decades, then move to
another town and do it all over again. In the U.S. you could simply move to a
neighboring state and you were basically anonymous since state databases rarely communicated with one another.
Even as recent as 50 years ago, there were many gaps in government systems that were especially susceptible to human error. Spy novels liked to suggest
finding an infant's grave, obtaining the child's birth certificate and using
it to apply for other ID like a driver licence, because it was unlikely that a
death certificate for a child that young would have been filed. But those loopholes have been closed off over the years.
Now, however, any arrest will enshrine your fingerprints and DNA in a national
database forever. If you're arrested again 90 years later, questions will arise.
As for employment, there's a gray market for jobs but I doubt you'd want to spend eternity mowing lawns or squirting the guac bottle at Taco Bell. The super rich can circumvent a lot of the bureaucracy and someone who has lived
for centuries may well indeed be super rich. Bribes to doctors and other officials to generate documentation could go a long way, but great wealth brings notoriety and that's the last thing an immortal would want.
Of course one could just not try and hide it and take your chances, since it's
not illegal to live forever, and hope that you can defend yourself against the
government goons who will inevitably show up to take you in for "further study".
I'm less worried about the government than some billionaire kidnapping
me to perform experiments endlessly.
BTR1701
Now, however, any arrest will enshrine your fingerprints and DNA in a national
database forever. If you're arrested again 90 years later, questions will arise.
As for employment, there's a gray market for jobs
BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:
Hypothetically, how long do you suppose would someone who is immortal be able
to live a normal life before being found out in modern society?
(As to what defines immortal, I'm assuming that telomere wear and disease
would be covered, but it is up to our hypothetical immortal to remember to >> eat, breathe, and avoid fatal bus encounters. So if you are the seventh son of
a seventh son, try to avoid making contact between a broadsword and your
neck.)
A hundred or so years ago it would be very easy for an immortal person to walk
into a village, claim to be 20 years old, stay for a few decades, then move to
another town and do it all over again. In the U.S. you could simply move to a
neighboring state and you were basically anonymous since state databases
rarely communicated with one another.
Even as recent as 50 years ago, there were many gaps in government systems >> that were especially susceptible to human error. Spy novels liked to suggest >> finding an infant's grave, obtaining the child's birth certificate and using >> it to apply for other ID like a driver licence, because it was unlikely that a
death certificate for a child that young would have been filed. But those
loopholes have been closed off over the years.
Now, however, any arrest will enshrine your fingerprints and DNA in a national
database forever. If you're arrested again 90 years later, questions will
arise.
As for employment, there's a gray market for jobs but I doubt you'd want to >> spend eternity mowing lawns or squirting the guac bottle at Taco Bell. The >> super rich can circumvent a lot of the bureaucracy and someone who has lived >> for centuries may well indeed be super rich. Bribes to doctors and other
officials to generate documentation could go a long way, but great wealth
brings notoriety and that's the last thing an immortal would want.
Of course one could just not try and hide it and take your chances, since it's
not illegal to live forever, and hope that you can defend yourself against the
government goons who will inevitably show up to take you in for "further
study".
I'm less worried about the government than some billionaire kidnapping
me to perform experiments endlessly.
On 2/10/2025 7:22 PM, Adam H. Kerman wrote:
BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:
Hypothetically, how long do you suppose would someone who is immortal be able
to live a normal life before being found out in modern society?
(As to what defines immortal, I'm assuming that telomere wear and disease >>> would be covered, but it is up to our hypothetical immortal to remember to >>> eat, breathe, and avoid fatal bus encounters. So if you are the seventh son of
a seventh son, try to avoid making contact between a broadsword and your >>> neck.)
A hundred or so years ago it would be very easy for an immortal person to walk
into a village, claim to be 20 years old, stay for a few decades, then move to
another town and do it all over again. In the U.S. you could simply move to a
neighboring state and you were basically anonymous since state databases >>> rarely communicated with one another.
Even as recent as 50 years ago, there were many gaps in government systems >>> that were especially susceptible to human error. Spy novels liked to suggest
finding an infant's grave, obtaining the child's birth certificate and using
it to apply for other ID like a driver licence, because it was unlikely that a
death certificate for a child that young would have been filed. But those >>> loopholes have been closed off over the years.
Now, however, any arrest will enshrine your fingerprints and DNA in a national
database forever. If you're arrested again 90 years later, questions will >>> arise.
As for employment, there's a gray market for jobs but I doubt you'd want to >>> spend eternity mowing lawns or squirting the guac bottle at Taco Bell. The >>> super rich can circumvent a lot of the bureaucracy and someone who has lived
for centuries may well indeed be super rich. Bribes to doctors and other >>> officials to generate documentation could go a long way, but great wealth >>> brings notoriety and that's the last thing an immortal would want.
Of course one could just not try and hide it and take your chances, since it's
not illegal to live forever, and hope that you can defend yourself against the
government goons who will inevitably show up to take you in for "further >>> study".
I'm less worried about the government than some billionaire kidnapping
me to perform experiments endlessly.
Is that the plot of a movie? It sounds a little familiar. Or am I just thinking of a random episode of Highlander?
On Mon, 10 Feb 2025 19:31:51 -0800, Arthur Lipscomb <arthur@alum.calberkeley.org> wrote:
On 2/10/2025 7:22 PM, Adam H. Kerman wrote:
BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:
Hypothetically, how long do you suppose would someone who is immortal be able
to live a normal life before being found out in modern society?
(As to what defines immortal, I'm assuming that telomere wear and disease >>>> would be covered, but it is up to our hypothetical immortal to remember to >>>> eat, breathe, and avoid fatal bus encounters. So if you are the seventh son of
a seventh son, try to avoid making contact between a broadsword and your >>>> neck.)
A hundred or so years ago it would be very easy for an immortal person to walk
into a village, claim to be 20 years old, stay for a few decades, then move to
another town and do it all over again. In the U.S. you could simply move to a
neighboring state and you were basically anonymous since state databases >>>> rarely communicated with one another.
Even as recent as 50 years ago, there were many gaps in government systems >>>> that were especially susceptible to human error. Spy novels liked to suggest
finding an infant's grave, obtaining the child's birth certificate and using
it to apply for other ID like a driver licence, because it was unlikely that a
death certificate for a child that young would have been filed. But those >>>> loopholes have been closed off over the years.
Now, however, any arrest will enshrine your fingerprints and DNA in a national
database forever. If you're arrested again 90 years later, questions will >>>> arise.
As for employment, there's a gray market for jobs but I doubt you'd want to
spend eternity mowing lawns or squirting the guac bottle at Taco Bell. The >>>> super rich can circumvent a lot of the bureaucracy and someone who has lived
for centuries may well indeed be super rich. Bribes to doctors and other >>>> officials to generate documentation could go a long way, but great wealth >>>> brings notoriety and that's the last thing an immortal would want.
Of course one could just not try and hide it and take your chances, since it's
not illegal to live forever, and hope that you can defend yourself against the
government goons who will inevitably show up to take you in for "further >>>> study".
I'm less worried about the government than some billionaire kidnapping
me to perform experiments endlessly.
Is that the plot of a movie? It sounds a little familiar. Or am I just
thinking of a random episode of Highlander?
Sound to me like THE GANYMEDE CLUB by Charles Sheffield. It's based
around such a group of long lived individuals who become so rich they
buy their own asteroid and turn it into their private home so that
they avoid all of those issues of people discovering their long lives.
Of course one could just not try and hide it and take your chances, since it's not illegal to live forever, and hope that you can defend yourself against the government goons who will inevitably show up to take you in
for "further study".
In article <voefgu$1g32b$1@dont-email.me>, atropos@mac.com wrote:
Of course one could just not try and hide it and take your chances, since
it's not illegal to live forever, and hope that you can defend yourself
against the government goons who will inevitably show up to take you in
for "further study".
I bet one could make a TV show or several about it.
--
Not a joke! Don't jump!
On 2025-02-10 10:17 PM, BTR1701 wrote:
Hypothetically, how long do you suppose would someone whoIf this idea of immortality intrigues you, may I suggest
is immortal be able to live a normal life before being
found out in modern society?
(As to what defines immortal, I'm assuming that telomere
wear and disease would be covered, but it is up to our
hypothetical immortal to remember to eat, breathe, and
avoid fatal bus encounters. So if you are the seventh son
of a seventh son, try to avoid making contact between a
broadsword and your neck.)
A hundred or so years ago it would be very easy for an
immortal person to walk into a village, claim to be 20
years old, stay for a few decades, then move to another
town and do it all over again. In the U.S. you could
simply move to a neighboring state and you were basically
anonymous since state databases rarely communicated with
one another.
Even as recent as 50 years ago, there were many gaps in
government systems that were especially susceptible to
human error. Spy novels liked to suggest finding an
infant's grave, obtaining the child's birth certificate
and using it to apply for other ID like a driver licence,
because it was unlikely that a death certificate for a
child that young would have been filed. But those
loopholes have been closed off over the years.
Now, however, any arrest will enshrine your fingerprints
and DNA in a national database forever. If you're
arrested again 90 years later, questions will arise.
As for employment, there's a gray market for jobs but I
doubt you'd want to spend eternity mowing lawns or
squirting the guac bottle at Taco Bell. The super rich
can circumvent a lot of the bureaucracy and someone who
has lived for centuries may well indeed be super rich.
Bribes to doctors and other officials to generate
documentation could go a long way, but great wealth
brings notoriety and that's the last thing an immortal
would want.
Of course one could just not try and hide it and take
your chances, since it's not illegal to live forever, and
hope that you can defend yourself against the government
goons who will inevitably show up to take you in for
"further study".
that some of Robert A. Heinlein's novels might be right up
your alley, particularly his book, Time Enough For Love,
which is set a couple of millennia in the future. The
protagonist, one Lazarus Long, is over 2000 years old and
has seen and done everything, usually several times over.
He's very old and jaded and is ready to die as the book
begins but then rediscovers his zest for life and is set
to go on for another few millennia.
Heinlein actually explored this theme in several of his
earlier novels via the Howard Families, a group of people
that just naturally lived longer than other people. This
put them in extreme jeopardy as people with ordinary
lifespans became aware of the Howard Families and sought
to study them to find out their secrets so that ordinary
people could have extended lifespans.
Of course if you loathe science fiction, you may want to
ignore this recommendation. Heinlein is widely considered
one of the masters of science fiction and I think he's a
hell of an engaging writer. I've been a big fan of his
since I was a kid. He died in 1988. (Use a bit of caution
with his last few books which weren't as good as earlier
books.)
Hypothetically, how long do you suppose would someone who is immortal be able to live a normal life before being found out in modern society?
(As to what defines immortal, I'm assuming that telomere wear and disease would be covered, but it is up to our hypothetical immortal to remember to eat, breathe, and avoid fatal bus encounters. So if you are the seventh son of
a seventh son, try to avoid making contact between a broadsword and your neck.)
A hundred or so years ago it would be very easy for an immortal person to walk
into a village, claim to be 20 years old, stay for a few decades, then move to
another town and do it all over again. In the U.S. you could simply move to a neighboring state and you were basically anonymous since state databases rarely communicated with one another.
Even as recent as 50 years ago, there were many gaps in government systems that were especially susceptible to human error. Spy novels liked to suggest finding an infant's grave, obtaining the child's birth certificate and using it to apply for other ID like a driver licence, because it was unlikely that a
death certificate for a child that young would have been filed. But those loopholes have been closed off over the years.
Now, however, any arrest will enshrine your fingerprints and DNA in a national
database forever. If you're arrested again 90 years later, questions will arise.
As for employment, there's a gray market for jobs but I doubt you'd want to spend eternity mowing lawns or squirting the guac bottle at Taco Bell. The super rich can circumvent a lot of the bureaucracy and someone who has lived for centuries may well indeed be super rich. Bribes to doctors and other officials to generate documentation could go a long way, but great wealth brings notoriety and that's the last thing an immortal would want.
Of course one could just not try and hide it and take your chances, since it's
not illegal to live forever, and hope that you can defend yourself against the
government goons who will inevitably show up to take you in for "further study".
Rhino wrote:
On 2025-02-10 10:17 PM, BTR1701 wrote:In order for Time Enough for Love to make sense, one
Hypothetically, how long do you suppose would someone whoIf this idea of immortality intrigues you, may I suggest
is immortal be able to live a normal life before being
found out in modern society?
(As to what defines immortal, I'm assuming that telomere
wear and disease would be covered, but it is up to our
hypothetical immortal to remember to eat, breathe, and
avoid fatal bus encounters. So if you are the seventh son
of a seventh son, try to avoid making contact between a
broadsword and your neck.)
A hundred or so years ago it would be very easy for an
immortal person to walk into a village, claim to be 20
years old, stay for a few decades, then move to another
town and do it all over again. In the U.S. you could
simply move to a neighboring state and you were basically
anonymous since state databases rarely communicated with
one another.
Even as recent as 50 years ago, there were many gaps in
government systems that were especially susceptible to
human error. Spy novels liked to suggest finding an
infant's grave, obtaining the child's birth certificate
and using it to apply for other ID like a driver licence,
because it was unlikely that a death certificate for a
child that young would have been filed. But those
loopholes have been closed off over the years.
Now, however, any arrest will enshrine your fingerprints
and DNA in a national database forever. If you're
arrested again 90 years later, questions will arise.
As for employment, there's a gray market for jobs but I
doubt you'd want to spend eternity mowing lawns or
squirting the guac bottle at Taco Bell. The super rich
can circumvent a lot of the bureaucracy and someone who
has lived for centuries may well indeed be super rich.
Bribes to doctors and other officials to generate
documentation could go a long way, but great wealth
brings notoriety and that's the last thing an immortal
would want.
Of course one could just not try and hide it and take
your chances, since it's not illegal to live forever, and
hope that you can defend yourself against the government
goons who will inevitably show up to take you in for
"further study".
that some of Robert A. Heinlein's novels might be right up
your alley, particularly his book, Time Enough For Love,
which is set a couple of millennia in the future. The
protagonist, one Lazarus Long, is over 2000 years old and
has seen and done everything, usually several times over.
He's very old and jaded and is ready to die as the book
begins but then rediscovers his zest for life and is set
to go on for another few millennia.
Heinlein actually explored this theme in several of his
earlier novels via the Howard Families, a group of people
that just naturally lived longer than other people. This
put them in extreme jeopardy as people with ordinary
lifespans became aware of the Howard Families and sought
to study them to find out their secrets so that ordinary
people could have extended lifespans.
Of course if you loathe science fiction, you may want toG
ignore this recommendation. Heinlein is widely considered
one of the masters of science fiction and I think he's a
hell of an engaging writer. I've been a big fan of his
since I was a kid. He died in 1988. (Use a bit of caution
with his last few books which weren't as good as earlier
books.)
needs to read Methuselah's Children first that sets up
the whole Howard Families saga and how they survived
while hiding their longevity.
Once that's done, the other books featuring the Howards
and Lazarus Long (aka Woodrow Wilson Smith) will continue
the story.
Nyssa, who read 'em all last century, but revisits them
and other Heinlein books occasionally
Ubiquitous <weberm@polaris.net> wrote:
In article <voefgu$1g32b$1@dont-email.me>, atropos@mac.com wrote:
Of course one could just not try and hide it and take your chances, since >>> it's not illegal to live forever, and hope that you can defend yourself
against the government goons who will inevitably show up to take you in
for "further study".
I bet one could make a TV show or several about it.
https://youtu.be/Aoof0ug4Pbc?si=P3PT-CBrVSPq9Omm
On 2/11/2025 8:04 AM, anim8rfsk wrote:
Ubiquitous <weberm@polaris.net> wrote:Anim!! *slap* Stop speaking in YouTube!
In article <voefgu$1g32b$1@dont-email.me>, atropos@mac.com wrote:
Of course one could just not try and hide it and take your chances, since >>>> it's not illegal to live forever, and hope that you can defend yourself >>>> against the government goons who will inevitably show up to take you in >>>> for "further study".
I bet one could make a TV show or several about it.
https://youtu.be/Aoof0ug4Pbc?si=P3PT-CBrVSPq9Omm
On Tue, 11 Feb 2025 17:46:20 -0800, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
On 2/11/2025 8:04 AM, anim8rfsk wrote:
Ubiquitous <weberm@polaris.net> wrote:Anim!! *slap* Stop speaking in YouTube!
In article <voefgu$1g32b$1@dont-email.me>, atropos@mac.com wrote:
Of course one could just not try and hide it and take your chances, since >>>>> it's not illegal to live forever, and hope that you can defend yourself >>>>> against the government goons who will inevitably show up to take you in >>>>> for "further study".
I bet one could make a TV show or several about it.
https://youtu.be/Aoof0ug4Pbc?si=P3PT-CBrVSPq9Omm
You would prefer he start speaking in memes?
On 2/11/2025 8:04 AM, anim8rfsk wrote:
Ubiquitous <weberm@polaris.net> wrote:Anim!! *slap* Stop speaking in YouTube!
In article <voefgu$1g32b$1@dont-email.me>, atropos@mac.com wrote:
Of course one could just not try and hide it and take your chances, since >>>> it's not illegal to live forever, and hope that you can defend yourself >>>> against the government goons who will inevitably show up to take you in >>>> for "further study".
I bet one could make a TV show or several about it.
https://youtu.be/Aoof0ug4Pbc?si=P3PT-CBrVSPq9Omm
Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
On 2/11/2025 8:04 AM, anim8rfsk wrote:
Ubiquitous <weberm@polaris.net> wrote:Anim!! *slap* Stop speaking in YouTube!
In article <voefgu$1g32b$1@dont-email.me>, atropos@mac.com wrote:
Of course one could just not try and hide it and take your chances, since >>>>> it's not illegal to live forever, and hope that you can defend yourself >>>>> against the government goons who will inevitably show up to take you in >>>>> for "further study".
I bet one could make a TV show or several about it.
https://youtu.be/Aoof0ug4Pbc?si=P3PT-CBrVSPq9Omm
How about I mention that in the book the immortals name is Cartwright and >apparently they decided they couldn’t have the star of another show named >Cartwright so they changed it to Richards (which I think was actually the
bad guy in the book although it’s been a long time). They also gave the >name Cartwright to the girlfriend character played by the late great Carol >Lynley who had that look you very seldom find… The haunting, haunted kind.
There isn’t a wiki for the book, but it’s covered somewhat in the wiki for >the show:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Immortal_(1970_TV_series)?wprov=sfti1#Cast
The TV show became just another FUGITIVE variation with the lone innocent
guy being chased by somebody who works for big evil. But the book extends >into the future and goes into how the various long lived hide from each >other. Or, more ominously, don’t.
Wed, 12 Feb 2025 01:34:37 -0700, anim8rfsk <anim8rfsk@cox.net> wrote:
. . .
How about I mention that in the book the immortals name is Cartwright and >>apparently they decided they couldn't have the star of another show named >>Cartwright so they changed it to Richards (which I think was actually the >>bad guy in the book although it’s been a long time). They also gave the >>name Cartwright to the girlfriend character played by the late great Carol >>Lynley who had that look you very seldom find… The haunting, haunted kind.
Interesting that you bring her up. I've been working through the
JUSTIFIED series and in season 4 they come upon a brother and sister
faith hilling. The sister is played by Lindsay Pulsipher, who
instantly reminded me of Carol Lynley. She's not quite the looker
that Lynley was but she shares many of the same characteristics.
. . .
shawn <nanoflower@notforg.m.a.i.l.com> wrote:
Wed, 12 Feb 2025 01:34:37 -0700, anim8rfsk <anim8rfsk@cox.net> wrote:
. . .
How about I mention that in the book the immortals name is Cartwright and >>>apparently they decided they couldn't have the star of another show named >>>Cartwright so they changed it to Richards (which I think was actually the >>>bad guy in the book although it’s been a long time). They also gave the >>>name Cartwright to the girlfriend character played by the late great Carol >>>Lynley who had that look you very seldom find… The haunting, haunted kind.
Interesting that you bring her up. I've been working through the
JUSTIFIED series and in season 4 they come upon a brother and sister
faith hilling. The sister is played by Lindsay Pulsipher, who
instantly reminded me of Carol Lynley. She's not quite the looker
that Lynley was but she shares many of the same characteristics.
She gets victimized by her husband or boyfriend or by over-the-top movie >circumstances or just gets flat out murdered?
I posted once about Once You Kiss a Stranger (1969), a second adaptation
of Strangers on a Train. The movie is dreadful and she can't pull off
acting against type, but has extended scenes in a swimming bikini (not a >model's bikini which one must not swim in), erotic as hell.
. . .
On Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:14:28 -0000 (UTC), "Adam H. Kerman"
<ahk@chinet.com> wrote:
shawn <nanoflower@notforg.m.a.i.l.com> wrote:
Wed, 12 Feb 2025 01:34:37 -0700, anim8rfsk <anim8rfsk@cox.net> wrote:
. . .
How about I mention that in the book the immortals name is Cartwright and >>>> apparently they decided they couldn't have the star of another show named >>>> Cartwright so they changed it to Richards (which I think was actually the >>>> bad guy in the book although it’s been a long time). They also gave the >>>> name Cartwright to the girlfriend character played by the late great Carol >>>> Lynley who had that look you very seldom find… The haunting, haunted kind.
Interesting that you bring her up. I've been working through the
JUSTIFIED series and in season 4 they come upon a brother and sister
faith hilling. The sister is played by Lindsay Pulsipher, who
instantly reminded me of Carol Lynley. She's not quite the looker
that Lynley was but she shares many of the same characteristics.
She gets victimized by her husband or boyfriend or by over-the-top movie
circumstances or just gets flat out murdered?
Over the top movie circumstances. She was running a scam where her
brother (a true believer) would come into a small town and heal many
drug addicts. Driving down business for the local dealers who would eventually come calling and she would offer for them to move on for a generous donation to their church. The only problem is Boyd Crowder
(Walter Goggins) had been a true believer and he saw thru her plans
and worked to thwart them rather than paying them off. Which led to
death of her brother. Which then ended up with her facing death later
due to her having helped a young woman earlier.
So I think it's safe to say the circumstances were just a bit over the
top.
Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
On 2/11/2025 8:04 AM, anim8rfsk wrote:
Ubiquitous <weberm@polaris.net> wrote:
In article <voefgu$1g32b$1@dont-email.me>, atropos@mac.com wrote:
Anim!! *slap* Stop speaking in YouTube!Of course one could just not try and hide it and take your chances,
since it's not illegal to live forever, and hope that you can defend >>>>> yourself against the government goons who will inevitably show up to >>>>> take you in for "further study".
I bet one could make a TV show or several about it.
https://youtu.be/Aoof0ug4Pbc?si=P3PT-CBrVSPq9Omm
You would prefer he start speaking in memes?
nanoflower@notforg.m.a.i.l.com wrote:
Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
On 2/11/2025 8:04 AM, anim8rfsk wrote:
Ubiquitous <weberm@polaris.net> wrote:
In article <voefgu$1g32b$1@dont-email.me>, atropos@mac.com wrote:
Anim!! *slap* Stop speaking in YouTube!Of course one could just not try and hide it and take your chances, >>>>>> since it's not illegal to live forever, and hope that you can defend >>>>>> yourself against the government goons who will inevitably show up to >>>>>> take you in for "further study".
I bet one could make a TV show or several about it.
https://youtu.be/Aoof0ug4Pbc?si=P3PT-CBrVSPq9Omm
You would prefer he start speaking in memes?
Better than "speaking in Darmak".
--
Not a joke! Don't jump!
| Sysop: | Keyop |
|---|---|
| Location: | Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK |
| Users: | 546 |
| Nodes: | 16 (0 / 16) |
| Uptime: | 168:02:18 |
| Calls: | 10,385 |
| Calls today: | 2 |
| Files: | 14,057 |
| Messages: | 6,416,544 |