In some societies through history the ideal death was that of a powerful warrior in battle. In others - that of an old monk in a solitary cave. In our society the most prominent pop idea of a good death seems to be that of dying as a very old person, in the hospital, surrounded by friends and family.<p>But I'm not sure that's how all of us would actually like to go. Personally I'd quite like to die alone on a remote mountain trail. What is your dream death?
I am propped up on pillows in a sumptuous bed. A doctor, well dressed in a suit and tie, stands by. We call each other by first names, so obviously we know each other well somehow. I can hear the upstairs maid sniveling gently out in the corridor. My family, also very well dressed, look on lovingly with barely suppressed emotions. In front of me through the tall windows I see in the far distance a wisp of smoke rising from old Jake the gamekeepers cottage. "Someone should inform the king and the prime minister" says a whispered voice. "No" I say, "they have important work to do." - my last words ...
Phenytoin aka the coma drug which shuts down reflexes, but still unable to determine how much of the brain is still functioning. Pentobarbital which seems to relax muscles.<p>If ventilated, its possible from to recover from attempted suicide using this drug combination mainly because the reflexes from the nervous system shut down by Phenytoin become operational after about 150hours. Havent been able to read any debriefs of people/patients who have suicided themselves using these drugs to find out how much of the brain was still functioning whilst in a hospital's intensive care ward and bought back to "life".<p>I suspect this drug combination alone is why there is no legal definition of death and consciousness because it highlights we are just complex chemical reactions and we don't really know what it is that amounts to or makes consciousness.<p>Ergo AI developers can carry on making wild claims about their code.<p>Dont really care where I die, how I die ie with little to no trauma of any sort is what I would consider more important than location or activity.<p>Likewise until people realise they cant end their life in a dignified non traumatic manner at will, is when you realise you are part of an intelligent slave system propped up by useful idiots and so called pillars of society who claim to know best, whilst living off of you in a variety of ways. Think religions, govt's, financial systems, even scientists.
As a character in _Man of Steel_ says, "a good death is its own reward." From that perspective (to which i subscribe), the exact death is not so important as that it be a "good death." It is my sincere hope to (A) be able to recognize when that moment comes and take full advantage of it, and (B) get such an opportunity at all.<p>It'll presumably be one of those "you'll know it when you see it" things.
When we were 14 years old, we (two buddies an me) "dreamt" of dying by rolling off a high-rise building in our neighborhood, sitting naked in shopping carts and crashing in a hilarious manner. Now that I'm more than 30 years older, my view has changed. I think, when my time arrives, I just want to die peacefully and without pain.
Either to see the end of human world, no matter what it is going to be,<p>or at least being videostreamed online (Leary style) with no worries about possibility of get banned before the EoL moment.
Something quick, painless, and which leaves as little mess as possible. Aside from my corpse, of course. But I will leave a little note apologizing for the trouble ...