# If they came out with a pill that would let you live 1000 years... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 12, 2005, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845 "2005-10-12T03:47:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GrahamWellington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/54ee81/32.png) [@GrahamWellington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrahamWellington)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845/1 "2005-10-12T03:47:42Z")
would go for it? And with respect to accidents, will say that this (inexpensive) pill would also cause one to have sponteneous regeneration in the event one lost a limb. And, too, one’s thousand-year life would be one of good health and very, very slow aging so one wouldn’t look so horrible when the end arrived. Personally, I wouldn’t be too quick to take it for a couple of reasons. 1) I wouldn’t want to have to work until I was 920-years old before I could retire (in order to help pay off Bush’s spend-like-a-drunken-sailor fiscal philosophy). 2) I think the road humanity is on in general – with all the wars and disregard for the environment and over population – is not so good. But then again, the pain and terror of dying would be nice to postpone. So maybe I’d flip a coin. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![La\_Llorona](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@La\_Llorona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/La_Llorona)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845/2 "2005-10-12T03:52:13Z")
Nah. Wandering Jew, and all that jazz. It would suck to have all your loved ones kicking the bucket when you’re still alive and well…so then you get some new loved ones, and then _they_ die…on and on until you’ve gone through several sets, and then finally you kick the bucket as well. Besides, when would your Social Security kick in? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845/3 "2005-10-12T03:56:22Z")
No. It’d just be postponing the inevitable. If I were more of an asset to the world I’d maybe think about it, but as it is, I’m just regular housewife. Maybe my future children will have something more to offer. ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Train\_Song](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Black\_Train\_Song](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Train_Song)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845/4 "2005-10-12T03:58:02Z")
I’d do it. Sign me up for 965 more years of misery! I know the alternative. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845/5 "2005-10-12T04:03:15Z")
Absolutely. Being alive is better than being dead. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845/6 "2005-10-12T04:11:30Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > Absolutely. Being alive is better than being dead. Thats debatable ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845/7 "2005-10-12T04:21:01Z")
[GULP] Assuming I get to keep my devilishly good looks. FTR, **GrahamWellington** you invest even a small amount of your paycheck the right way; You could easily retire after about, say 200 years. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845/8 "2005-10-12T07:28:35Z")
Not especially. Of course, with the “instant regeneration” thing going, I suppose I could do a lot of good as a semi-immortal supersoldier…but if the pill was widely available enough that _I_ could get ahold of one, there’s probably a lot of people more willing and better prepared for that line of work before me. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845/9 "2005-10-12T07:35:04Z")
I doubt it. 1000 years is a loong time, I have a feeling I’d get bored after around 200 or so. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845/10 "2005-10-12T08:00:49Z")
In an instant. In fact, I hope that in that thousand years they come up with something even better. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845/11 "2005-10-12T09:36:03Z")
No. I reckon the longer you put off death, the more scared you become of it. ---
**Author:** ![GrahamWellington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/54ee81/32.png) [@GrahamWellington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrahamWellington)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845/12 "2005-10-12T14:52:13Z")
Hey everybody, THANKS for the great replies! It’s really something to pose such a question and get ideas and comments that are very good in their originality and cleverness! By the way, Shakes, what does “FTR” stand for? ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845/13 "2005-10-12T15:00:38Z")
FTR- For The Record. How many of these pills are there, because if you have to live for 1000 years with no-one you care about surviving too…bad idea If you can live for 1000 years with everyone you care about…better idea If you have to live for 1000 years with everyone you know, whether or not you care about them…worst idea yet. And if you buy real-estate and just sit on it outright, you’ll be able to pay off your mortgages in 20 years and sell when the next real-estate boom comes around…you’re in no rush, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845/14 "2005-10-12T15:01:35Z")
I would take it, & then would begin to practice my swordplay. _ **There can be only one** _… ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845/15 "2005-10-12T15:16:28Z")
I think I’d go for it; I currently have more plans and aspirations than I can possibly hope to fulfil in a single lifetime; would be nice to get a few more of them done. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845/16 "2005-10-12T16:06:29Z")
I’d take it in a hearbeat. I’m sure I’d find ways to keep busy. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845/17 "2005-10-12T16:17:57Z")
Absolutely. Wouldn’t even think twice. There’s a hell of a lot I could accomplish in 1000 years. There’s certainly more than I can accomplish in the one lifetime I have now. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845/18 "2005-10-12T16:19:45Z")
Not a chance. Mortality can be one of our greatest curses–and our greatest blessings. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845/19 "2005-10-12T16:22:32Z")
Sold! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845/20 "2005-10-12T16:23:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Thats debatable Not very much. Something is more than nothing. Refute. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-they-came-out-with-a-pill-that-would-let-you-live-1000-years/325845.md?page=2)