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Devon Fowler - Essay Submissions


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#1 Bruce Klein

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Posted 23 November 2003 - 07:20 AM


Devon has graciously submitted the following essays for consideration for inclusion in the book project.

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Devon Fowler

ImmInst Founder Interview

Edited by caliban, 14 January 2004 - 08:24 PM.


#2 Bruce Klein

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Posted 30 November 2003 - 02:08 PM

Devon and Reason's revised "Activism for Healthy Life Extension" may also be a good essay for consideration.

#3 Bruce Klein

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Posted 08 December 2003 - 09:26 PM

Devon has submitted the following...

Committing to Life Extension
Devon Fowler

In my experience as a human being on this planet I’ve run into quite a bit of lazy, ignorant and apathetic people. The reasons seem to vary but it comes as no surprise that a lot of people seem to lack a focus and are afraid to take a real stand on an issue. It’s easy to not take life seriously enough; after all it’s a built in defense mechanism we all have. But the problem is not just with the individual; it stems more from a collective apathetic attitude people have in general.

When I think of humanity one idea comes to mind: our priorities…they’re all out of whack. We worship celebrities, money, sports, eat unhealthy fast food and we “enjoy” simple pointless things that keep us distracted from the really important issues; issues such as quality of one’s life and living a long full life. To me these problems/issues are more important than what the score of the game was last night or who looked best on the red carpet. In my eyes life extension is worth fighting for.
Working hard for a cause can be difficult especially if it doesn’t come to fruition right away. But I would argue that life is such a gift in itself that I really think it’s worth passionately fighting for, even when the odds are stacked against us. I want to live as long as I possibly can, but if I die from some accident or a disease it doesn’t mean working for life extension was pointless. That’s why I’m making a commitment to stay as passionate and pro-active as I can about longevity no matter what the end result may be for me personally.

I may not be a scientist but through writing I hope to reach people who feel as passionately as I do about this mission. It would make me happy if I lived to 150 years or even longer but if I don’t, I pledge not to become apathetic in the process. There’s not enough time in life right now, to be a quitter and to become despondent. Humanity has spent enough time being lazy, and destructive when it comes to taking care of ourselves, the most important thing there is one might argue. In fact humanity has taught us that death seems to be preferable to life…especially throughout history with all the wars we’ve wasted wonderful people in, people that should have lived to see today. It's as if a deathist attitude is still the norm, must be some primal instinct we have in us. But I know we also have a strong instinct to want to live as well.

Don’t look at life extension as just a “cool” thing to do as a hobby; instead look at it as a necessity, and the more I learn about it the more I feel this way. This is the goal…and this is what we are going to do about it, should be the way we think about it. I’m not going to let this flash by me as just another “interesting” thing to distract myself by. Life extension encompasses everything we do as individuals. So if you’re feeling lazy and apathetic, snap out of it and do something to continue to support this cause. Mail some letters, write a post, make donations and try to influence your friends in the most blunt way possible so there can be no question how important this should be taken.

I’m sick of the distractions…I want to look at this problem head on and say something like, “hey, there are too many people dying in this country, let alone the world. I’m angry at the fact that people who should be alive today aren’t... This is an ongoing tragedy and it deeply angers and saddens me." If anything I think the longer people live the better quality of life there will be. If people started living longer and had fewer children, overpopulation would go down not up. A country full of experienced and really intelligent elder statesmen who have lived full lives is preferable in my eyes, to the talent that is currently going to waste because of the shortness of life. This is an outrage.

People shouldn’t have to devote a whole quarter of their lives to learning a skill just to have it go to waste when they die! Wouldn’t you rather have a doctor who has had a load of experience behind him or her helping you out rather than someone just out of medical school? I’m sick of the turnovers, and I’m furious at the apathy…whoops another one gone, too bad!
Get angry…life is your right…let’s stop wasting money on coffins and tombstones and put that money where it should be in hospitals, research for longevity, and institutions of higher learning, especially in departments for genetics. Talk to your friends about this issue. Let’s get it out there into the collective consciousness of humanity.

#4 Bruce Klein

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Posted 08 December 2003 - 09:27 PM

and...

A Throwaway Life
To Those Who are Angry : A Plea For Life Extension

http://www.imminst.o...t=0

#5 reason

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Posted 19 January 2004 - 07:59 AM

Hmm. Problem - any rewrite of Devon's original would look like what Devon and I came up with for the Longevity Meme. I feel this is crossing the no editor submissions line in a devious way, and through no fault of anyone involved. Even though I like the article and would like to see it in the book :)

Perhaps the next book, which I would like to focus far more on what people should be doing to attain radical life extension.

Reason
Founder, Longevity Meme
reason@longevitymeme.org
http://www.longevitymeme.org

#6 caliban

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Posted 19 January 2004 - 12:21 PM

I would prefer not to include the pieces.

-the ImmInst founder interview is not immediately relevant,
-the rethoric should be elicited from outside (if at all)

Also, my orignal assesment that these were original pieces was faulty in that they have been published... by us

My main concern is the editorial bias problem discussed elsewhere - rethoric especially puts one into competition with scores of others.

#7 Bruce Klein

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Posted 19 January 2004 - 06:11 PM

I concur with caliban and reason here.

#8 bacopa

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Posted 22 January 2004 - 07:16 PM

Fair enough we should not pick so much from our own ideas as that might skew our intented message to the public

#9 MichaelAnissimov

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Posted 23 January 2004 - 10:16 AM

I agree with everyone here...

#10 caliban

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Posted 01 February 2004 - 09:17 PM

Dear Devon

Just to make this formal: thanks a bunch for submitting your work for consideration!
To be honest, I too would much rather have contributed to the book. Had I thought things through back in October, you would not have to put up with my constant bitching now and would only have had to worry about a nice rejection letter ;))

But as the project grew, and most notably the numbers of the editorial team swelled it seemed that having a book filled with articles from the very same people listed as editors would send the wrong message. There were other issues too, and some of these have been debated at length, as you know.

Never mind that now.
Now I just would like to thank you -and everyone else- for abstaining.
And I would like to thank you even more for your continued work on the project.

We all had to sacrifice a bit of our time and nerves to this book, and if it is any consolation the worst is yet to come for many of us.
However, as I look at the submissions from outside we did get, I am sure that in the end we will have produced a work of benefit and interest not only to the Institute, but to many readers elsewhere.
Something to be proud of.
Moreover, if I get my way, I’ll continue to seek a publication outlet for quality essays from you and others. I am hopeful that after this book has been published we will be somewhat closer to that goal.

Best wishes
caliban




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