You better start saving cos.....

bluesjnr · 25th October 2009, 10:58 PM

Thats right forumites. Save your pennies because if you don't you'll not be part of the forthcoming master race.

Quote:

Rich 'may evolve into separate species'
The super-rich may evolve into a separate species entirely in the future due to enhancements in biotechnology and robotic engineering, American futurologist Paul Saffo has said.

Read all about it here in todays science section of the Telegraph.

If we couple that up to this statement by Ray Kirtzweil referenced in the same article, then things are looking pretty good if you are credulous enough.

Quote:

Mr Kurzweil calls his theory the Law of Accelerating Returns. Writing in The Sun, Mr Kurzweil said: "I and many other scientists now believe that in around 20 years we will have the means to reprogramme our bodies' stone-age software so we can halt, then reverse, ageing. Then nanotechnology will let us live for ever.

I'm going with the tag-line

"If you've got the dough - We'll make sure you go and go and go"

Hmm, maybe should'a kept that to myself.

So what is your situation? Will you be joining the new species or are you, like me, too poor to upgrade?

Sledge · 25th October 2009, 11:55 PM

Too poor to upgrade, but you're never too poor to steal.

Puppycow · 25th October 2009, 11:57 PM

I don't think I'm young enough or rich enough to expect affordable immortality in my lifetime.

Snixtor · 26th October 2009, 12:05 AM

Classic sci-fi really isn't it? Private health care taken to the nth degree. We've already got the means to make the wealthy look "better" than the poor through cosmetic surgery. And those in "wealthy" nations generally have a tendancy to live longer.

As for new species? I'm not so sure about that. We'd have to be developing means to favourably mutate our offspring. "GMO Humans" in a sense. I can't see truly distinct species occuring within our lifetimes. Although.. if we're talking about nano-teching ourselves up to be able to survive far more than the traditional 3 - 4 generations of humans, that does dramatically change the definition of "within our lifetime".

arthwollipot · 26th October 2009, 12:06 AM

Originally Posted by Puppycow

I don't think I'm young enough or rich enough to expect affordable immortality in my lifetime.

Ditto. Unfortunately.

lionking · 26th October 2009, 12:07 AM

Originally Posted by arthwollipot

Ditto. Unfortunately.

Jeez, what does that make me then wolli? Thanks for bringing me down violently.

Aitch · 26th October 2009, 03:10 AM

Originally Posted by Snixtor

Classic sci-fi really isn't it? Private health care taken to the nth degree. We've already got the means to make the wealthy look "better" than the poor through cosmetic surgery. And those in "wealthy" nations generally have a tendancy to live longer.

I'm glad you put better in quotes...

Beth · 26th October 2009, 05:53 AM

Since species are defined by individuals not mating outside the group, I don't think the rich will be forming a new species. They'll just spread their enhanced genetic profile throughout the human race the old-fashioned way.

Bikewer · 26th October 2009, 09:14 AM

I wonder....If I go to the local Mall, here in the less-than-affluent area South of St. Louis, I see lots of people that look like....Me. Scruffy, ill-groomed, bald....

If I go to the well-heeled Mall on the West side of town, the one adjacent to the more affluent communities, I see lots of much more attractive people with straight teeth, no eyeglasses, lots of hair, dainty little noses....
Could this be evolution at work?
Or cosmetic surgery....

25th October 2009, 10:58 PM	#1
bluesjnr Professional Nemesis for Hire Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Not where I should be. Posts: 501	You better start saving cos..... Thats right forumites. Save your pennies because if you don't you'll not be part of the forthcoming master race. Quote: Rich 'may evolve into separate species' The super-rich may evolve into a separate species entirely in the future due to enhancements in biotechnology and robotic engineering, American futurologist Paul Saffo has said. Read all about it here in todays science section of the Telegraph. If we couple that up to this statement by Ray Kirtzweil referenced in the same article, then things are looking pretty good if you are credulous enough. Quote: Mr Kurzweil calls his theory the Law of Accelerating Returns. Writing in The Sun, Mr Kurzweil said: "I and many other scientists now believe that in around 20 years we will have the means to reprogramme our bodies' stone-age software so we can halt, then reverse, ageing. Then nanotechnology will let us live for ever. I'm going with the tag-line "If you've got the dough - We'll make sure you go and go and go" Hmm, maybe should'a kept that to myself. So what is your situation? Will you be joining the new species or are you, like me, too poor to upgrade?
	__________________ Belief is the death of intelligence. - Robert Anton Wilson Creationists make it sound as though a 'theory' is something you dreamt up after being drunk all night. - Isaac Asimov He hoped and prayed that there wasn't an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely hoped that there wasn't an afterlife. - Douglas Adams

25th October 2009, 11:55 PM	#2
Sledge Muse Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Coming to you live from the Sledge cave Posts: 901	Too poor to upgrade, but you're never too poor to steal.
	__________________ "The perfect haiku would have just two syllables: Airwolf" ~ Ernest Cline "Science knows it doesn't know everything, otherwise it would stop" ~ Dara O'Briain.

25th October 2009, 11:57 PM	#3
Puppycow Philosopher Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Japan Posts: 6,323	I don't think I'm young enough or rich enough to expect affordable immortality in my lifetime.
	__________________ I can't come to bed yet, honey. Someone on the Internet is wrong. -XKCD Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned. -Anonymous Religions are God's way of telling us that He doesn't exist. -Pat Condell

26th October 2009, 12:06 AM	#5
arthwollipot The Accidental Podcaster Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: On the other side of your screen. Posts: 28,320	Originally Posted by Puppycow I don't think I'm young enough or rich enough to expect affordable immortality in my lifetime. Ditto. Unfortunately.
	__________________ The Nonsense Podcast Episode 17: Coming Mid-February. We welcome Lexi Hameister into the world at 1830 on 29 January! What's an "arthwollipot"?

26th October 2009, 12:07 AM	#6
lionking Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 12,135	Originally Posted by arthwollipot Ditto. Unfortunately. Jeez, what does that make me then wolli? Thanks for bringing me down violently.
	__________________ You must believe in free will; there is no choice. Isaac Bashevis Singer

26th October 2009, 12:05 AM	#4
Snixtor Scholar Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 90	Classic sci-fi really isn't it? Private health care taken to the nth degree. We've already got the means to make the wealthy look "better" than the poor through cosmetic surgery. And those in "wealthy" nations generally have a tendancy to live longer. As for new species? I'm not so sure about that. We'd have to be developing means to favourably mutate our offspring. "GMO Humans" in a sense. I can't see truly distinct species occuring within our lifetimes. Although.. if we're talking about nano-teching ourselves up to be able to survive far more than the traditional 3 - 4 generations of humans, that does dramatically change the definition of "within our lifetime".

26th October 2009, 03:10 AM	#7
Aitch Apprentice Crud Puppy Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,442	Originally Posted by Snixtor Classic sci-fi really isn't it? Private health care taken to the nth degree. We've already got the means to make the wealthy look "better" than the poor through cosmetic surgery. And those in "wealthy" nations generally have a tendancy to live longer. I'm glad you put better in quotes...
	__________________ There's less to this than meets the eye!

26th October 2009, 05:53 AM	#8
Beth Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Flatland Posts: 3,863	Since species are defined by individuals not mating outside the group, I don't think the rich will be forming a new species. They'll just spread their enhanced genetic profile throughout the human race the old-fashioned way.
	__________________ Beth "You are not the stuff of which you are made." Richard Dawkins, July 2005, 10:45 http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_daw..._universe.html

26th October 2009, 09:14 AM	#9
Bikewer Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St. Louis, Mo. Posts: 5,249	I wonder....If I go to the local Mall, here in the less-than-affluent area South of St. Louis, I see lots of people that look like....Me. Scruffy, ill-groomed, bald.... If I go to the well-heeled Mall on the West side of town, the one adjacent to the more affluent communities, I see lots of much more attractive people with straight teeth, no eyeglasses, lots of hair, dainty little noses.... Could this be evolution at work? Or cosmetic surgery....