X-Message-Number: 14715
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 06:07:42 -0700
From: Kennita Watson <>
Subject: Who goes, who stays?

Lee Corbin wrote:

> Suppose that in some awful future, the last truck leaving Phoenix
> has room for only four dewars. But there still remain five frozen
> patients who need rescue. Who should be left behind? The most
> recently signed up? The eldest? The youngest?

> The correct answer to this question, is, WE WILL FIND A WAY TO 
> TAKE ALL FIVE. PERIOD.

This reminds me of a science fiction short story, The Cold Equations.
Physics doesn't care how well-meaning you are, how determined, or 
even how creative.  Some things can't be done (before the Singularity, 
anyway -- after that, all bets are off :-) ).  In that awful future, 
trying too hard to save all five may result in all five being lost
(say, if the danger is that men with guns are on the way) -- perhaps 
with the added bonus of losing the driver and anyone who was helping.

I occasionally read about a firefighter who got out of a burning 
building, then was killed going back in after one more person.  To
save everyone is a very noble goal, but to refuse to consider or
recognize that it may not be possible can at some point become 
irresponsible.  Yes, it would suck if I were in the dewar left
behind, and yes, if I did the leaving I would probably suffer great
angst over leaving one, but cryonicists are not paying for 
guarantees -- they're paying for a chance.

Knowing that, and if I had more information than time, I would leave 
behind the one with the least chance of survival (the one with the
most ischemia, the most damaging freezing protocol, etc.), or (as
callous as it may sound) the one I least knew or liked.  Age would
not be a factor, as I assume it will be irrelevant by the time
people are being revived.  If I had no other basis for a decision
(which I assume has to be quick), I would roll a die.

To my mind, the correct answer is "Get four on the truck, and try
as hard as I can to get the fifth without undue risk to the first
four." -- where "undue risk" may be both uncertain and dynamic.
Absolutes like "PERIOD." sound simple snd heroic, but now and then 
they're just fatal.  Always exercise judgement.  Please.

Live long and prosper,
Kennita
--
Kennita Watson          |  I vote Libertarian.
     |      Find out why.
http://www.kennita.com  |           http://www.lp.org/intro

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