MORAL DILEMMA: Would you vote for a world in which EVERYONE lives to 60 but NO ONE lives a day beyond that? Zero premature deaths, but no old age either.
Story thread and poll coming up, with illustrations by @_TomMcLaughlin. #OutWithTheOld
Story thread and poll coming up, with illustrations by @_TomMcLaughlin. #OutWithTheOld
OUT WITH THE OLD
The year 2020: an anonymous group hacks into every TV broadcast and website worldwide.
They claim EVERYONE’S LIFESPAN IS PREDETERMINED, that when people are born their details are entered into a global database and every way they might die is factored in.
The year 2020: an anonymous group hacks into every TV broadcast and website worldwide.
They claim EVERYONE’S LIFESPAN IS PREDETERMINED, that when people are born their details are entered into a global database and every way they might die is factored in.
The problem with the database is that people are living too long and the population is out of control. 131M births vs 55M deaths every year.
In 1980 there were 382M people aged 60+, now there are more than a billion. By 2050 there will be two billion. THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE.
In 1980 there were 382M people aged 60+, now there are more than a billion. By 2050 there will be two billion. THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE.
The group proposes rewriting the program and REMOVING ALL OF THE FACTORS THAT LEAD TO EARLY DEATH - war, disease, murder, the lot - rewiring human behaviour and consequence on a global scale.
But, to control population, they will add a code that ENDS EVERYONE’S LIFE AT 60.
But, to control population, they will add a code that ENDS EVERYONE’S LIFE AT 60.
To prove they can do it, the group claims to have already rewritten the program for ten terminally ill children and ten perfectly healthy 59-year-olds on the eve of their 60th birthdays.
They name them all and it works. TEN HAPPY MIRACLES BUT TEN UNTIMELY DEATHS TOO.
They name them all and it works. TEN HAPPY MIRACLES BUT TEN UNTIMELY DEATHS TOO.
The group makes it clear, they will only do this IF IT’S WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT.
They will highlight the potential consequences - positive and negative - before holding a referendum via the ultimate source of democracy: a @Twitter poll.
They will highlight the potential consequences - positive and negative - before holding a referendum via the ultimate source of democracy: a @Twitter poll.
Why vote yes? BECAUSE THE POPULATION WOULD BE SMALLER, YOUNGER, WEALTHIER. The average age would drop by decades, money and property would pass down the generations on an unprecedented scale.
FEWER PEOPLE IN A FAIRER WORLD.
FEWER PEOPLE IN A FAIRER WORLD.
Why vote no? BECAUSE WE’D LOSE SO MUCH.
Statistically you’ll give up decades of your life.
Grandparents will be a thing of the past in a more literal sense than ever, and just think about everything older people have given the world.
ARE YOUNG LIVES WORTH MORE THAN OLD?
Statistically you’ll give up decades of your life.
Grandparents will be a thing of the past in a more literal sense than ever, and just think about everything older people have given the world.
ARE YOUNG LIVES WORTH MORE THAN OLD?
A FIXED LIFESPAN FOR ALL COULD HAVE TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES. Increased recklessness among the young, increased resentment among the old.
But if you knew exactly when the end was coming you could prepare for death accordingly and go out in style. IN NIGHTCLUBS NOT HOSPICES.
But if you knew exactly when the end was coming you could prepare for death accordingly and go out in style. IN NIGHTCLUBS NOT HOSPICES.
The switch would be managed to ensure that while everyone under-60 is saved instantly, we'd say goodbye to the over-60s in stages. 141M over-80s in Year 1, the 124M people aged 76-80 in Year 2, etc.
YOU'D SAVE COUNTLESS YOUNG LIVES but at enormous cost to older generations.
YOU'D SAVE COUNTLESS YOUNG LIVES but at enormous cost to older generations.
POLL: It’s down to you. A world in which EVERYONE lives to 60 but not a day older: yes or no? Please vote now. #OutWithTheOld
