• Question: Do you think that in the future, measures will be taken to STOP people living longer (because the average life expectancy is increasing)?

    Asked by Lorelei to Aaron, David, Elaine, Sarah, Zoe on 14 Nov 2014. This question was also asked by sloth-savior.
    • Photo: Zoe Roberts

      Zoe Roberts answered on 14 Nov 2014:

      If this were to happen it would be very sad. People should be able to live out their life for as long as the have breath in their lungs and a beating heart. That should not change whether they live for a relatively ‘long’ or ‘short’ amount of time.

    • Photo: David Foley

      David Foley answered on 15 Nov 2014:

      Science fiction writers have imagined this scenario (Logan’s Run, for example). I can’t imagine a scenario where would let such a thing happen.

    • Photo: Sarah Ashwood

      Sarah Ashwood answered on 15 Nov 2014:

      I don’t think it will ever come to a situation where we will have to take measures to stop people living longer.
      It is quite likely that average life expectancy will start to decline again – or at least stop increasing, as improvements in technology mean we are more exposed to pollution, have less active/more high pressure jobs and are generally living a less “healthy” lifestyle than people in the 50s and 60s.

      The other point is that one thing we won’t be able to “cure” is the process of people ageing – which does inevitably lead to your body not being able to sustain life anymore. This is just a natural process, and interfering in this is not something that scientists are going to mess with!

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