003. And we'll vacation first class

[diamant]

seeing as our social media overlords are doing nothing to discourage us
from assuming that the end times are nigh
i have a question for all of you
not like it's a pressing matter
but just because i want to see what people think
and i suppose it's thematically appropriate

say that someone is seeking immortality
it's something they want very badly
for whatever reason
but after they gain the ability to live forever
they decide to end the world

are there any situations you can think of in which that decision makes any sense at all
and is neither counterintuitive nor counterproductive
or stupid, stupid is another thing we want to avoid
what's the point in living forever if you're just going to destroy everything anyway?

Comments

[blondferret]

I'm ignoring the "decide to end the world" bit for a moment and just ask you, WHY WOULD THEY WANT TO SEEK IMMORTALITY? Because I do know of one way... sorta and... it's not pleasant.

[diamant]

in fairness
most people don't like the idea of dying
if i could prevent that from happening for as long as possible
i can't say that i wouldn't choose to

but go ahead this sounds like a story
what sort of method are you talking about

[blondferret]

Well this information is from the memories I've received about the wizarding world my other self lived in. The concept is called a Horcrux. The basic information about a Horcrux is this: To create a Horcrux, a wizard first had to deliberately commit murder. This act, said to be one of supreme evil, would result in the murderer metaphysically damaging their own soul. A wizard who wished to create a Horcrux would then use that damage to their advantage by casting a spell which would rip the damaged portion of the soul and encase it in an object. If the maker was later killed, he or she would continue to exist in a non-corporeal form. This is considered extremely dark magic.

[diamant]

i'm actually not sure how i feel about that
interesting that the world he came from put objective value on actions however
what with the good/evil distinction
i'd imagine that most worlds or powers that be would refrain from making a value judgement
morality being objective is fascinating

[clothes]

I am petty enough to do this. However, that is the only feasible motivation I can think of for doing something like that.

Why would wanting to live in isolation for eternity be counterintuitive or counterproductive? You look at this scenario as one who sees immortality as a chance to be with loved ones, and live an enriching experience. You are naive for believing all who seek or deserve that kind of power are obligated to somehow use it for something positive.

[diamant]

i'm thinking of a number between one and 500
do you want to assume you know what that is as well

[clothes]

If that is not how you view the ideal use for immortality, then by all means share.

[diamant]

the ideal use for immortality is not dying
that's really the beginning and end of it
what people choose to do with it or how they choose to be really isn't anything i care too much about
it really is interesting watching you project all over this however

at the same time i'm not getting the impression
with regards to the world-destroying thing
that we're talking simply a matter of "living in isolation"

[floret]

It probably depends on what "end the world" means in this scenario. Like, is the whole planet blown up, or is the planet still there but all the humans have been eradicated, or... you know, that sort of thing.

It also sounds like they weren't planning to destroy the world until AFTER they obtained immortality, right? So maybe something about gaining it caused them to come to some sort of realization, or twisted their perceptions in some way.

[diamant]

i don't know the exact timeline of things
it's possible the world-ending came before but seems likely to me that it came after
but i can't say for sure
that's an interesting theory, however - maybe they found something they thought was worth destroying the world over
it makes sense even if it's still sort of insane

[floret]

Maybe they were always planning to destroy the world, but didn't want to get destroyed along with it, and that's why they had to become immortal. Which is still a little weird (since if you destroy the world, where will you live/keep all your stuff/etc.?), but... it sort of makes it own kind of sense, maybe?

[blacksong]

who the fuck actually wants to be immortal
but anyways

no that sounds stupid no matter what
idk i guess if you lived so long you got bored of everything
and you can't die
ending the world might be the only way to end the boredom??
again tho sounds fucking stupid

[diamant]

i mean i'm not exactly a fan of dying
i would rather like to avoid it for as long as possible actually

that's a thought i hadn't had, honestly
destroying everything so they could finally die maybe?

[blacksong]

most people aren't but on the other hand
getting old forever doesn't sound that peachy
and if not that watching everyone else die sounds just as shitty

maybe
i mean you can get tired of just about anything if you have it long enough
even if it's something good like a food you like
anyone would get sick of it if they had it everyday
immortality might end up the same

[godcards]

Retribution.

Wipe the slate clean and start over.

[diamant]

on the whole world?
i mean that's one way to do it i suppose
though it seems a little like overkill if you ask me

[godcards]

Immortality is a long time to create.
Also to be wronged and to destroy.
So it all evens out.

[yakan]

I think that seems pretty boring.
I mean, maybe the time leading up to the world being demised is fun, but after, it would probably be pretty lonely. Nothing to do and no one to do anything with.
So if you're gonna destroy the world after going immortal and stuff, leave some of it for some future fun!

[odasaku]

Revenge.

Although immortality seems...lonely.

[theveilisin]

I mean, I have to admit that I find no particular part of this entire scenario to be even remotely rational. But could it perhaps be that the person in question might consider this the only possible way of committing suicide? If they were to regret their desicion, that is.