X-Message-Number: 15158
Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2000 07:01:28 -0500
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: about long term storage

Hi!

Another assumption I wish to question! I would certainly agree that 
at some time it will become highly favorable to store patients on
the outside edge of the Solar system. It is (in a sense) absurd
that we must use liquid nitrogen and other more involved cooling
methods just to keep our patients at a temperature which fills
virtually all of the Universe except near stars (a very small 
volume indeed).

However such storage definitely does NOT mean simply leaving 
patients there to be discovered or rediscovered by unknown parties
in the future. Just as now, SOME living people must be there to
direct what to do with them. Cryonics societies are IMPORTANT,
they aren't just a side issue. It is cryonics societies wich
would have the greatest motivation to work on revival and to revive
people when it's possible; and as I've said before, the method
of storage may change, but the basic idea of a society responsible
for those in storage will remain. It is cryonics societies which
finally protect those in storage, no matter where they are.
Others have no special reason to care, but cryonics societies DO
have reasons to care.

So no matter how it's done, we should very much NOT be content
with leaving ourselves lying about. Whether we do so in orbits
near that of Neptune, or in special centers on the planet Earth,
we'll still need living people to defend our interests. 

I have explained already why I think that cryonics will go on
indefinitely, but I'll point out here that even this does not
support the need for cryonics societies. We now have relatives
and friends who are cryonicists too; and it is because of these
people that we can reasonably expect to be revived if our revival
is possible. That expectation will continue into the indefinite
future, too .... what do you think our cryonicist relatives and
friends will be doing with themselves? So in a special sense,
cryonics societies will be needed until everyone who can be
revived has been revived.

			Best wishes and long long life to all,

				Thomas Donaldson

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