Would you be a "Highlander"? - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

brian · 25th August 2003, 10:09 AM

Thinking especially on the first film - which was a classic - how does the thought of living forever sound?

I'm sure there's a necessary appeal in eternal life - but the film nicely touched upon the emotional strains of living beyond your loved ones.

But does anybody here actually think they could cope with that? Or does having to prance around with a fancy sword sound just like too much like a male hormone run?

Would immortality be boring?

And did anyone ever watch the series?

dwndrgn · 25th August 2003, 03:20 PM

First - loved the series (especially Adrian Paul ;D), loved the first movie, could live without the second two.

Second - I think it would be okay to be immortal. Yes, you would outlive your loved ones (but we live with that possibility all of the time - and we even live the reality of it to a lesser degree if we own pets), yes it would suck having to defend your head all of the time...but think of the wonderful things you could accomplish having all the time in the world and being impervious to just about anything.

littlemissattitude · 25th August 2003, 08:21 PM

Yes, I've watched the series. Not on a regular basis, because it kept bouncing around from channel to channel and time to time; often it was on at about two in the morning local time. Now that Spike TV is rerunning it, I hope to see some of the episodes I haven't ever seen.

As far as the question of immortality, that is a question that has intrigued me for a long time. In fact, I am working on a story idea about immortals right now. Personally, I can see the problems inherent in being immortal. But, in the long run, I think the advantages would probably outweigh the disadvantages as long as one could keep on an even keel emotionally.

Foxbat · 25th August 2003, 10:43 PM

I think mortality makes us what we are as a species - driven to move forward. Death creates space within the population and allows room for mutation, change - call it what you will. I believe that to live forever would be to kill that spark within us. I also believe that knowing you were immortal would push you into a form of lethargy where tomorrow would always come....so why do it today?

Simple fact is that death exists for a reason - why it exists, nobody can truely say.

mac1 · 9th September 2003, 01:35 PM

Death is the greatest unknown. Past death is the distinct possibility that we cease to exist, that all spirituality and religion is simply an act of arrogance of the behalf of mankind as a species to perpetuate itself past death through the ignorant misbelief in a soul. If death is the end then eternal life is surely a positive. On the other hand, if we were to live forever as a species we would simply overpopulate our planet. If I chose to live forever and nobody else was able to, how am I to know that beyond death there is not some "heaven" in any sense of the word, that I had denied myself. Those with "faith in God", a concept for with I have little comprehension bar its obviously psychological comforts, would say we live forever in some form anyway, but the only reason they "believe" this is tradition (their great-grandparents believed, and raised their grandparents to believe, who in turn raised their parents to believe, and their parents raised them to believe), and surely a belief acquired through tradition and not an analysis of sense-datum is completely irrational. In short would I want to live forever? I could probably ponder on that question forever and still not come up with an answer. Would I like to run around Scotland with a sword, fighting epic battles, beheading my enemies and becoming stronger? Well - Of Course!!!

Btw - When I was up in Fort William in Scotland last weekend I was chatting to a guy staying at the same B&B as me over breakfast. He was telling me that he was going to the castle where the first Highlander film as filmed that day. I would love to have gone myself, but it was the day we were due to fly back.

brian · 9th September 2003, 07:42 PM

About 3 years ago we had a family holiday near the Isle of Skye - apparently the village we were staying in was the feature in the TV series "Hamish McBeth" (I had barely heard of it, let alone watched it!).

It took us 10 hours to reach Fort William, by which time Hannah had thrown up copiously all over herself and pee'd in her car seat as well. I also had developed a thumping migraine and had to stop and use the car park by the loch to empty my own stomach. I got on the road for just another 15 minutes, when we found a guest house where we could all clean up and rest and stay the night. Quite an experience!

Point being, the place we were staying - Plockton - was another 2 hours drive away, and the Highlander castle was very near it - can't have been more than 30 minutes away from Skye Bridge itself. So you'd have had a long journey to reach it.

It's not actually all the interesting - the scenery is superb, of course, and the castle looks great from the outside - but the castle itself is wee small within - basically, I remember it as like a little glorified farmhouse with spirial staircases. Better from the outside. We didn't know the relevance of the place until we drove past, and I immediately recognised it - the bridge is particularly distinctive.

mac1 · 9th September 2003, 08:42 PM

Nice. I hope you got some pics of yourself in silly poses outside!

brian · 10th September 2003, 11:44 AM

Do you mean Fort William cr park or the Highlander Castle? :P

No pics, I'm afraid - no scanner. Not yet. But one day, oh yes...

mac1 · 13th September 2003, 12:09 AM

Quote:

No pics, I'm afraid - no scanner.

Damn it, had you said to me 3 weeks ago you wanted a scanner I could have got you one from work for £8.11. We had them on a special clearance offer. D'oh!

Omega · 13th September 2003, 08:24 AM

The only difficulty being immortal would be watching your loved ones grow old and die around you, whilst you didn't age at all.

I, Brian · 13th September 2003, 09:37 AM

Besides, think of the amount of taxes you'd end up paying!

And darn it for missing on the scanners - thanks for the thought.

Omega · 13th September 2003, 10:32 AM

Hmm,

Imagine that an Immortality Tax.

dwndrgn · 15th September 2003, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian

No pics, I'm afraid - no scanner. Not yet. But one day, oh yes...

Brian - these days you can buy a one-time use camera from Kodak that will give you digital pictures. You can then upload them at places like Ofoto.com or snapfish.com and share them with friends and family online - for free. You would only pay if you wanted them to print your photos. Or, you can do the same if you have a digital camera (which I would assume you don't have from your note - you wouldn't need a scanner) and for regular camera film, when developing you can get them on disk as well as developed and then do the same thing. I've even got a photo of my house up there so I could share with my family when I bought it.

I, Brian · 15th September 2003, 05:28 PM

I'm sort of hoping to save for a digital camera one day - one that does motion as well as stills. Then I can sooo torment you all with uploads.

As for Immortality Tax - I hear that our great Tony Blair government has decreed for the next budget that longevity is subject to a charge of 7.5% Value Added Tax.

dwndrgn · 15th September 2003, 06:21 PM

Taxes are sooo fun. Soon they will come up with a fun tax, you are not allowed to have fun until your taxes are paid up...
I already pay a poor tax, my bank charges me for not having enough money in the account!

25th August 2003, 10:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
brian Administrator Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 960	Would you be a "Highlander"? Thinking especially on the first film - which was a classic - how does the thought of living forever sound? I'm sure there's a necessary appeal in eternal life - but the film nicely touched upon the emotional strains of living beyond your loved ones. But does anybody here actually think they could cope with that? Or does having to prance around with a fancy sword sound just like too much like a male hormone run? Would immortality be boring? And did anyone ever watch the series?

25th August 2003, 03:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
dwndrgn Fierce Vowelless One Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 3,663	Re:Would you be a "Highlander"? First - loved the series (especially Adrian Paul ;D), loved the first movie, could live without the second two. Second - I think it would be okay to be immortal. Yes, you would outlive your loved ones (but we live with that possibility all of the time - and we even live the reality of it to a lesser degree if we own pets), yes it would suck having to defend your head all of the time...but think of the wonderful things you could accomplish having all the time in the world and being impervious to just about anything.

25th August 2003, 08:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
littlemissattitude Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: California Posts: 3,342	Re:Would you be a "Highlander"? Yes, I've watched the series. Not on a regular basis, because it kept bouncing around from channel to channel and time to time; often it was on at about two in the morning local time. Now that Spike TV is rerunning it, I hope to see some of the episodes I haven't ever seen. As far as the question of immortality, that is a question that has intrigued me for a long time. In fact, I am working on a story idea about immortals right now. Personally, I can see the problems inherent in being immortal. But, in the long run, I think the advantages would probably outweigh the disadvantages as long as one could keep on an even keel emotionally.

25th August 2003, 10:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
Foxbat Haggis Connoisseur Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,353	Re:Would you be a "Highlander"? I think mortality makes us what we are as a species - driven to move forward. Death creates space within the population and allows room for mutation, change - call it what you will. I believe that to live forever would be to kill that spark within us. I also believe that knowing you were immortal would push you into a form of lethargy where tomorrow would always come....so why do it today? Simple fact is that death exists for a reason - why it exists, nobody can truely say.

9th September 2003, 01:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
mac1 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: UK: ENGLAND: Posts: 567	Re:Would you be a "Highlander"? Death is the greatest unknown. Past death is the distinct possibility that we cease to exist, that all spirituality and religion is simply an act of arrogance of the behalf of mankind as a species to perpetuate itself past death through the ignorant misbelief in a soul. If death is the end then eternal life is surely a positive. On the other hand, if we were to live forever as a species we would simply overpopulate our planet. If I chose to live forever and nobody else was able to, how am I to know that beyond death there is not some "heaven" in any sense of the word, that I had denied myself. Those with "faith in God", a concept for with I have little comprehension bar its obviously psychological comforts, would say we live forever in some form anyway, but the only reason they "believe" this is tradition (their great-grandparents believed, and raised their grandparents to believe, who in turn raised their parents to believe, and their parents raised them to believe), and surely a belief acquired through tradition and not an analysis of sense-datum is completely irrational. In short would I want to live forever? I could probably ponder on that question forever and still not come up with an answer. Would I like to run around Scotland with a sword, fighting epic battles, beheading my enemies and becoming stronger? Well - Of Course!!! Btw - When I was up in Fort William in Scotland last weekend I was chatting to a guy staying at the same B&B as me over breakfast. He was telling me that he was going to the castle where the first Highlander film as filmed that day. I would love to have gone myself, but it was the day we were due to fly back.

9th September 2003, 07:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
brian Administrator Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 960	Re:Would you be a "Highlander"? About 3 years ago we had a family holiday near the Isle of Skye - apparently the village we were staying in was the feature in the TV series "Hamish McBeth" (I had barely heard of it, let alone watched it!). It took us 10 hours to reach Fort William, by which time Hannah had thrown up copiously all over herself and pee'd in her car seat as well. I also had developed a thumping migraine and had to stop and use the car park by the loch to empty my own stomach. I got on the road for just another 15 minutes, when we found a guest house where we could all clean up and rest and stay the night. Quite an experience! Point being, the place we were staying - Plockton - was another 2 hours drive away, and the Highlander castle was very near it - can't have been more than 30 minutes away from Skye Bridge itself. So you'd have had a long journey to reach it. It's not actually all the interesting - the scenery is superb, of course, and the castle looks great from the outside - but the castle itself is wee small within - basically, I remember it as like a little glorified farmhouse with spirial staircases. Better from the outside. We didn't know the relevance of the place until we drove past, and I immediately recognised it - the bridge is particularly distinctive.

9th September 2003, 08:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
mac1 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: UK: ENGLAND: Posts: 567	Re:Would you be a "Highlander"? Nice. I hope you got some pics of yourself in silly poses outside!

10th September 2003, 11:44 AM	#8 (permalink)
brian Administrator Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 960	Re:Would you be a "Highlander"? Do you mean Fort William cr park or the Highlander Castle? :P No pics, I'm afraid - no scanner. Not yet. But one day, oh yes...

13th September 2003, 08:24 AM	#10 (permalink)
Omega Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Staffordshire Posts: 212	The only difficulty being immortal would be watching your loved ones grow old and die around you, whilst you didn't age at all.

13th September 2003, 09:37 AM	#11 (permalink)
I, Brian Admin and Tea-boy Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: UK: SCOTLAND: Posts: 5,372	Besides, think of the amount of taxes you'd end up paying! And darn it for missing on the scanners - thanks for the thought.

13th September 2003, 10:32 AM	#12 (permalink)
Omega Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Staffordshire Posts: 212	Hmm, Imagine that an Immortality Tax.

15th September 2003, 05:28 PM	#14 (permalink)
I, Brian Admin and Tea-boy Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: UK: SCOTLAND: Posts: 5,372	I'm sort of hoping to save for a digital camera one day - one that does motion as well as stills. Then I can sooo torment you all with uploads. As for Immortality Tax - I hear that our great Tony Blair government has decreed for the next budget that longevity is subject to a charge of 7.5% Value Added Tax.

15th September 2003, 06:21 PM	#15 (permalink)
dwndrgn Fierce Vowelless One Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 3,663	Taxes are sooo fun. Soon they will come up with a fun tax, you are not allowed to have fun until your taxes are paid up... I already pay a poor tax, my bank charges me for not having enough money in the account!

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