RE: [Leica] something something and now animals

["Jeffery Smith" <jls@runbox.com>]

The life expectancy is certainly longer than it was 100 years ago. But
lifespan does seem to be genetically determined. Medicine allows us to dodge
the bullet longer.

As they say, "All cigarette smokers will die from smoking-related causes
unless they die of something else first", and "If you have a gun in the
house, you are more likely to be shot by it than if you didn't have a gun in
the house."

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of Barney Quinn
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 3:34 PM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] something something and now animals


John,

I don't know if I understand what you are trying to say. There certainly are
operations which will prolong one's life. Ask a cancer or heart patient.
And, serious disease, like blindness can most certainly shorten ones life in
a number of ways which range from making one more accident prone, more
subject to opportunistic diseases, to destroying ones will to live. I think
that your analysis vastly underestimates the pernicious effects that chronic
illness has on people.

Barney

John Collier wrote:

> This is the classic misperception. That one or another operation will 
> make us live longer. It may improve your quality of life but it will 
> have little effect on how long you live. You imply that being blind 
> will prevent you from functioning in society. I would agree with the 
> proviso that you say "as I do now". Many people function perfectly 
> well in society with a wide variety of conditions that "normal" people 
> consider catastrophic.
>
> John Collier
>
> On Thursday, October 30, 2003, at 12:41 PM, Barney Quinn wrote:
>
> >> It is an opening into the broader debate of what consciousness and 
> >> intelligence are. Should other "lesser" organisms be sacrificed to 
> >> marginally improve our life span* (and looks)?
> >
> > Marginally improve my life span? I have very serious eye disease. I 
> > have had five operations. I may well need a sixth early next year. 
> > If it weren't for
> > the modern, miracle medicinesand techniques which have been developed
> > in part
> > with animal research I would be blind, unale to support myself, and a
> > burden
> > to society. I am eternally greatful there there are doctors and
> > scientists
> > who have been willing to devote their lives to trying to help people
> > with
> > very real medical problems.
>
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