The feelings of a person who ages slower than normal - Writers Forum

Creator · 09-29-2007, 11:33 AM

I am just wondering what are the feelings of someone who ages slower than normal....

Cause in my tale of Alpha Omega, there are people who age much slower than the normal populations. They were dubbed, demi-gods and genetic vampires for those with the longer canines...

But I want to know how is it like and how can they be victims of a genetic-narcissistic society.

Mike C · 09-29-2007, 12:35 PM

How much slower?

mammamaia · 09-29-2007, 08:20 PM

and how would any 'normal' human be able to tell you that?... have you studied the many novels about vampires who live hundreds of years, to see how they handle it?...

Jeff Colburn · 09-30-2007, 02:41 AM

All of their family and friends would die before they did. Their life would see more change than others, so they would have to be able to embrace change. They would also experience more turmoil, political change, natural disasters and more.

I would suggest that you look into the past and see the changes that would happen in 80-100 years as a normal person, then see the changes that your long lived characters would have experienced. And realize that changes is happening much paster now.

In my life I saw the the creation of the space program with Sputnik, we were the first family on the street to own a color TV, Plate Tectonics were discovered and accepted, computers were created and much more. All of this in just 51 years. I expect to see more changes arrive at breakneck speed in the next 51 years.

Have Fun,
Jeff

Mike C · 09-30-2007, 05:39 AM

There have been hundreds of stories exploring this theme, and the conclusion that most of them reach is that immortality, or anything approaching it, sucks. Expect a lot of suicides amongst the 200+ set.

Ilasir Maroa · 09-30-2007, 08:57 AM

Lol, yeah, a lot of stories end up saying immortality sucks... it's easier to relate to for the reader, and they feel better becuase they think that their shorter life is better.

If you want to know about how people might feel if they age very slowly, I suggest reading "The Boat of a Million Years" by Poul Anderson. It's actually about not aging at all, but I think it might have the ideas your looking for. You could also try "Vampire Chronicles" by Anne Rice, if you're into that sort of thing.

Faustling · 10-03-2007, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

There have been hundreds of stories exploring this theme, and the conclusion that most of them reach is that immortality, or anything approaching it, sucks. Expect a lot of suicides amongst the 200+ set.

That's the usual conclusion, yes. What I don't get is why. Sure, an immortal or very long-lived person would see a lot of loved ones die (though this could be avoided if he spends most of his time with other immortals) and probably experience a few unpleasant changes in society and those things would suck. I'm not as sure about immortality in general though, most people in their 80s have experienced the same thing on a smaller scale but if given the choice I bet most of them still would like to live to be a hundred.
Some would suffer from their immortality and some would commit suicide but I would like to hear why most would. There are quite a few advantages with a long life as well.

Athlynne · 10-03-2007, 02:26 PM

I think, given enough time, such a person might go through stages - for a time convincing himself that it's better to age slowly and have so much time, sneering at those who age normally and die before they do everything they wanted to...then, for a time, bitterly envy the same people, who don't have to see all their friends die, who don't grow weary of their lives before they're over, who don't have time to grow bored.

Good luck!

Mike C · 10-04-2007, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faustling

There are quite a few advantages with a long life as well.

Possibly, depending on the cost. What if, say, you couldn't die - but still aged the same way. When you hit 120 with cancer and a decomposing body, but with the prospect of another 1000 years? Or what if you see your children, grandchildren, etc die? Even without that, just how much new experience and stimulation can you get before life itself just gets passé?

There was a documentary on British TV a while back about Britain's oldest people, all over 100, and all remarkably active considering. The one common thing that tied them all together was that they'd had enough. They were ready to die, and generally sooner would be better than later.

When I was a teenager I thought I'd live forever. Now, at 45, I don't feel any need to. My four score and ten (or whatever I end up with) suits me fine.

Mike C · 10-04-2007, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Creator

But I want to know how is it like and how can they be victims of a genetic-narcissistic society.

I missed this bit. I read a story many years ago (I think called Plague Dogs) about a society where one could easily alter one's own genetic make-up. Bigger boobs, nice nose, cure cancer, all through a bit of meditation. The story revolved around a group of disaffected kids, future punks or whatever, who use it to create in themselves the symptoms of leprosy, bubonic plague, etc - much like kids today use tattoos, piercings and clothing to stand out from the norm.

Faustling · 10-04-2007, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

Possibly, depending on the cost. What if, say, you couldn't die - but still aged the same way. When you hit 120 with cancer and a decomposing body, but with the prospect of another 1000 years? Or what if you see your children, grandchildren, etc die? Even without that, just how much new experience and stimulation can you get before life itself just gets passé?

I agree about the aging part, I've actually thought of that myself while discussing immortality. My reasoning regards long youth as well as a long life (which should be the case here considering that they age slower).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

There was a documentary on British TV a while back about Britain's oldest people, all over 100, and all remarkably active considering. The one common thing that tied them all together was that they'd had enough. They were ready to die, and generally sooner would be better than later.

I haven't seen it so I can't say anything about that. But do you really think they would have the same attitude if they didn't suffer from the various problems of old age?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

When I was a teenager I thought I'd live forever. Now, at 45, I don't feel any need to. My four score and ten (or whatever I end up with) suits me fine.

While I'm no longer a teenager I admit it'll be a while before I hit forty so I guess we're looking at it from different perspectives. Still, while I accept that I'll probably die in about sixty years or so I don't see any reason why I wouldn't keep enjoy life if I lived much, much longer (as long as I didn't suffer from health problems of some kind).

Creator · 10-08-2007, 12:13 AM

Sorry but I think I should clear this up.... MY genetic vampires do not suck blood; they are just an offshoot genetic variation of the Caucasion stock, with slightly longer canines and a 150 yr lifespan.... They are not immortal just slightly long lived.

So Luna at forty would be physically about 25 or 30 years old.
This age deceleration ability only starts after puberty. And these guys and girls have their puberty near to grade school age at 10 to 13 so...

I read an article about some scientists trying to mutate a p21 gene which cause yeast to have a double lifespan...

Faustling · 10-08-2007, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Creator

Sorry but I think I should clear this up.... MY genetic vampires do not suck blood; they are just an offshoot genetic variation of the Caucasion stock, with slightly longer canines and a 150 yr lifespan.... They are not immortal just slightly long lived.

So Luna at forty would be physically about 25 or 30 years old.
This age deceleration ability only starts after puberty. And these guys and girls have their puberty near to grade school age at 10 to 13 so...

I read an article about some scientists trying to mutate a p21 gene which cause yeast to have a double lifespan...

If they only live around seventy years longer then normal humans I doubt they would be very effected mentally as they would neither experience much of the loved ones dying/life gets boring part nor the physical problems of growing old (no longer then a normal human at least).

Truth-Teller · 10-08-2007, 07:26 PM

Disgruntled.

Always having to show ID at a rated R movie.

JHB · 10-13-2007, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Creator

I am just wondering what are the feelings of someone who ages slower than normal....

Cause in my tale of Alpha Omega, there are people who age much slower than the normal populations. They were dubbed, demi-gods and genetic vampires for those with the longer canines...

But I want to know how is it like and how can they be victims of a genetic-narcissistic society.

I suggest you read R.A. Salvatore's Forgotten Realms novels. He deals with a lot of this stuff.