So either they’re full of shit or we need to stop them by any means necessary.
Actually... nah. Why even try? Trendy cynical hot takes on social media are more fun!
They believe it's real and they MUST be the ones to control it. That's how they keep their self-interests aligned.
Given the opportunity to give this pill to a dying loved one, you'd take it.
The only reason you think that being death-optional is bad, is because the only longevity-related media you've ever consumed has doomer outcomes - because positive sci-fi doesn't sell.
Also it cheapens the time you have. Why care about anything if you live forever
You cannot think of other ways to solve societal problems that don't involve killing everyone on the planet?
"cheapens the time you have" - this is just copium. When you're enjoying a day, you are not thinking "oh geez this day is good because I'm going to fucking die." You're just enjoying the day.
So yea I’m willing to “kill” everyone to prevent the perpetual torment nexus becoming a reality.
I wonder how your children would feel if you told them you'd rather kill them than think of other ways in which to solve the problem of a dictator that does not affect their lives in any way.
To the extent that it is even a "problem", frankly absurd to kill everyone because you're worried about out a few edge cases, and I think you realize it - you're just hanging on. We both know you wouldn't make this decision on your own deathbed.
Death is doing a fine job and has so for billions of years.
The only long-term outcome of immortality i can imagine is either Drukhari-style depravity, where you chase more and more fucked up pleasures because anything else you already did 10 million times in the last couple thousands of years - or something like I have no mouth but I must scream - you can live forever but the AI also tortures you forever.
Literally cant think of a positive outcome.
You are right that dynasties exist but that doesn’t mean they are static - the transfer of power of this to the next generation needs to happen.
Every king has its time to rule and then he dies.
Sure an evil dictator is just one person but they can inflict untold billions of suffering.
Just imagine if Hitler (or insert your favourite evil person) would live forever. Do you really think they are going to let go of power or care about anything else but achieving their goals?
We literally feel the ill effects of the previous generation not passing power onto the next (boomers) right now - imagine that was a perpetual state of society forever.
And while we are speaking of “killing” kids - what about the unborn ones? What motivation would people have to procreate if they live forever? Create more people to share more and more limited resources with, I don’t think so.
I think you haven’t quite thought this through; it’s not as easy as “death bad”.
Now I’m not saying we shouldn’t look for cures of diseases and suffering but striving for immortality is not desirable (tbh it will most likely take the form of “we’re gonna upload your consciousness into a computer” anyway, not physical immortality)