# Would you marry Methuselah? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 26, 2010, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092 "2010-09-26T13:43:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092/61 "2010-09-27T22:38:16Z")
So you’re willing to imprison her to do that? It’s already in the OP that’s she’s not interested in being an experimental subject. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092/62 "2010-09-27T22:40:06Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > So you’re willing to imprison her to do that? It’s already in the OP that’s she’s not interested in being an experimental subject. More specifically it’s in the OP that’s she’s been one, found it profoundly exploitative and not to her benefit, and is determined not to repeat the experience. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092/63 "2010-09-27T22:40:40Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > > > Similarly Methuselah’s DNA would be incredibly unique among human beings and should be studied for the greater good. (yeah I’m a bit of a civic good person). > > But what if she protests? Has she not the right to control over her own body? Depends on how much she can be bribed. Plus suppose someone else kidnaps her and discovers such secrets? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092/64 "2010-09-27T22:41:58Z")
She’s rich, she can’t be bribed. And how does someone else getting the secret of eternal youth endanger anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092/65 "2010-09-27T22:44:32Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > > But what if she protests? Has she not the right to control over her own body? > > Depends on how much she can be bribed. Plus suppose someone else kidnaps her and discovers such secrets? _Bribe_ isn’t the word you want there. Since she has the right to control of her own body so long as she is not harming another person, it is not immoral of her to accept money to be experiemented on and thus she is not accepting a bribe. As for the kidnapping issue, that is obviously wrong. But are you saying the government has the [del]right[/dek] authority to confine her and test her against her will if she chooses not to be tested? And, since she is living _sub rosa_, she clearly does not consent to said testing. > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > She’s rich, she can’t be bribed. And how does someone else getting the secret of eternal youth endanger anyone? Well, you wouldn’t want Paris Hilton, Dick Cheney, or Overlord!Skald to have it, would you? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092/66 "2010-09-27T22:51:05Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > … > > > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > > > She’s rich, she can’t be bribed. And how does someone else getting the secret of eternal youth endanger anyone? > > Well, you wouldn’t want Paris Hilton, Dick Cheney, or Overlord!Skald to have it, would you? 🙂 Dick Cheney is being mechanically replaced piece by piece. You and Paris… eh, who cares? If I can have it, you can have it. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092/67 "2010-09-27T22:53:06Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > She’s rich, she can’t be bribed. And how does someone else getting the secret of eternal youth endanger anyone? Its not just eternal youth but powers of faster healing for example. Suppose China or Russia seizes control of it? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092/68 "2010-09-27T22:53:57Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > > … > > > > Well, you wouldn’t want Paris Hilton, Dick Cheney, or Overlord!Skald to have it, would you? 🙂 > > Dick Cheney is being mechanically replaced piece by piece. You misspelled _necromatically_ here. Everybody know he has to sacrifice a 16-year-old virgin to Morgoth every 29 days. > [@](#): > > You and Paris… eh, who cares? If I can have it, you can have it. You would inflict her on the generations of tomorrow? Monster! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092/69 "2010-09-27T22:58:19Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > > > She’s rich, she can’t be bribed. And how does someone else getting the secret of eternal youth endanger anyone? > > Its not just eternal youth but powers of faster healing for example. Suppose China or Russia seizes control of it? So what? Suppose China or Russia wanted to seize control of Einstein? Would we get to slap him in prison, forever? Oh, and by the way, there’s no actual evidence they want him – it’s more of a “just in case” kinda thing. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092/70 "2010-09-27T23:01:02Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > > > Dick Cheney is being mechanically replaced piece by piece. > > You misspelled _necromatically_ here. Everybody know he has to sacrifice a 16-year-old virgin to Morgoth every 29 days. > > > [@](#): > > > > You and Paris… eh, who cares? If I can have it, you can have it. > > You would inflict her on the generations of tomorrow? Monster! If she doesn’t personally live forever, there will be a clone along shortly. And there’s always the Lohans, the Spears, and god knows how many other self-entitled no-account celebrities out there to fill the same role. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092/71 "2010-09-27T23:19:10Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > If she doesn’t personally live forever, there will be a clone along shortly. And there’s always the Lohans, the Spears, and god knows how many other self-entitled no-account celebrities out there to fill the same role. Not to mention the those of the Madonna/Lady Gaga school of business. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092/72 "2010-09-27T23:27:18Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > > You misspelled _necromatically_ here. Everybody know he has to sacrifice a 16-year-old virgin to Morgoth every 29 days. > > > > You would inflict her on the generations of tomorrow? Monster! > > If she doesn’t personally live forever, there will be a clone along shortly. And there’s always the Lohans, the Spears, and god knows how many other self-entitled no-account celebrities out there to fill the same role. I don’t much care for young Ms. Spears, but I’d not put her in the same category as Hilton and certainly not as Lohan. She actually produces stuff, and in her insipidity and vapidness makes us appreciate Christina Aguilera all the more. > [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](#): > > > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > > > If she doesn’t personally live forever, there will be a clone along shortly. And there’s always the Lohans, the Spears, and god knows how many other self-entitled no-account celebrities out there to fill the same role. > > Not to mention the those of the Madonna/Lady Gaga school of business. You’re one of those people who think that Lady Gaga and Madonna are two separate persons, aren’t you? Ending [this] hijack of my own thread and moving on to another … **Curtis** , let’s assume that the Methuselah moved to what is now the United States in, oh, 1640 or something; she’s lived in Boston and Philly and Gotham and so forth. Unquestionably an American citizen, wouldn’t you say? Only an illegal immigrant from Powhatan’s point of view. Do you believe that she is in some sense the property of the United States and is legally, ethically, or morally obliged to submit to experimentation she objects to? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092/73 "2010-09-27T23:36:17Z")
I’m pretty sure Curtis buys into the “for the good of the many…” meme that ends up with so many individuals screwed over. Curtis, do you think if the Chinese or Russians become immortals, they will “win”? Because I imagine just the opposite – the the masses got practical immortality, the planet would be overrun in s couple of generations, there would mass starvation, wars, etc. My WAG is that giving their people immortality would be the next most dangerous thing to nuking them. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092/74 "2010-09-27T23:38:30Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I’m pretty sure Curtis buys into the “for the good of the many…” meme that ends up with so many individuals screwed over. We should let him speak for himself, no? That’s what Jesus would do. > [@](#): > > Curtis, do you think if the Chinese or Russians become immortals, they will “win”? Because I imagine just the opposite – the the masses got practical immortality, the planet would be overrun in s couple of generations, there would mass starvation, wars, etc. My WAG is that giving their people immortality would be the next most dangerous thing to nuking them. I can’t see any good long-range result to having populations with such long life spans unless we also have Trek-style warp drive and a galaxy full of M-class planets. In other words, none. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092/75 "2010-09-27T23:45:15Z")
I hadn’t heard about Jesus saying, “Shut thy mouth and let thy neighbor speak”. I rather like it – perhaps society would be a little better off if we added this in the next edition of the bible. ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092/76 "2010-09-28T16:33:26Z")
Is she rich? Can I get blood transfusions from her for extended life? Those would be icing on the “yes, in a heartbeat” cake. ---
**Author:** ![StrangeBird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e480ec/32.png) [@StrangeBird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrangeBird)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092/77 "2010-09-28T20:32:21Z")
If he has to change identities in order to prevent people realising he doesn’t age, then would I need to break off contact with my relatives (parents, siblings) so they don’t realise his secret? That would give me serious pause (though for some on this board it might be a plus). ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092/78 "2010-09-28T22:11:38Z")
> [@MegaBee](#): > > Is she rich? Can I get blood transfusions from her for extended life? Those would be icing on the “yes, in a heartbeat” cake. She obviously doesn’t know, as she opposes being experimented on (and I doubt that blood transfusions would work anyway). Also I think suggesting that is a quick route to Dumpsville and the Methuselah disappearing. ETA: Everybody who thinks **Curtis LeMay** is going to return to answer my last question to him, or **Boyo Jim** ’s, raise your hand. ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092/79 "2010-09-30T16:09:29Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > [@MegaBee](#): > > > > Is she rich? Can I get blood transfusions from her for extended life? Those would be icing on the “yes, in a heartbeat” cake. > > She obviously doesn’t know, as she opposes being experimented on (and I doubt that blood transfusions would work anyway). Also I think suggesting that is a quick route to Dumpsville and the Methuselah disappearing. Noooooooo! My sexy rich immortal! I hate Dumpsville. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092/80 "2010-09-30T16:12:26Z")
> [@MegaBee](#): > > > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > > She obviously doesn’t know, as she opposes being experimented on (and I doubt that blood transfusions would work anyway). Also I think suggesting that is a quick route to Dumpsville and the Methuselah disappearing. > > Noooooooo! My sexy rich immortal! > > I hate Dumpsville. I might also point out that, even if she’s worth $100 million or more, she may not be living large. Probably isn’t. Partly because she has a strong incentive to be discreet, and partly because she has to plan on living till Ragnarok. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-marry-methuselah/555092.md?page=5)