This film was the last straw.
Indeed, xEva, follow thy gut! If he creeps you out, you're not alone. I've engaged in this sort of (polite) discussion many times before with people whom I very much respect. Many think AdG isn't any good for longevity science, and others like you believe he's all about amateur shock value and false hope.
I respectfully disagree. For example, with regard to the scenes in the film that panic you, I am more disturbed personally by examples of hated between people than expressions of love. Gratuitous violence and hatred creep me more out than love. Even if that love isn't in my own style, I'd rather see people loving than see people fighting, hating, killing. I'm positive you agree.
I'd rather see people seeking to cure pain and suffering than make money off others' misery. This pharma company that just jacked up the price again for T1D patients, how about directing your considerable wrath at those fucktards?
And by that I mean De Gray wants to medically conquer aging for common people. For everyone! How fucking cool! Look what Calico is doing for comparison. Wut? Hiding inside a black box? When you look out across the net and into your own personal life, who else do you see with such a lofty, heroic visions as AdG's SENS?
I can tell you what I see. But what do you see? Other than SENS and their various offshoot labs, what else exists? I'll gladly stand behind anything seeking to cure suffering and disease, and you will, too.
When your time comes to require the treatments that they are working hard to find solutions to cure, what then will you care about AdG's choice in romantic partners? Will you say -- no -- I'm not taking this cancer cure because I have moral quibbles with its creator.
You'll only care about saving your hide. Or your Grandmother's. Once upon a time, That Bearded Weirdo sparked interest in getting research organizations involved in solving the diseases of aging. Those solutions will be all you and I and everyone care about.
De Gray's central thesis is to repair bodily damage as fast or faster than it naturally awry. How can you NOT stand behind that? That's all any of us really care about. The rest? Bullshit Sideshows. It's only the medical conquest of aging that matters here in this context.
Meanwhile, in other contexts, let's get the fucking plastic out of the world's oceans. And let's refreeze the arctic before the goddamned ice melts -- refreeze is gonna happen even if the scientists involved are moral retards. Plant trees. Figure out how to get us onto Europa. We need to get the fuck off this planet, and elongating human lifespan is one pretty solid method toward that goal, and many others.
Enjoy the film, people, it's really great. Hard to believe it was made in huh 2011?!