X-Message-Number: 23466
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 08:46:31 -0800 (PST)
From: Scott Badger <>
Subject: Response to recent posts

David Verbeke wrote:

> Dying should also be seen as a relief from life and
> all it's worries.  

Excuse me, but it is highly unlikely that one feels
"relieved" when one is dead. It's more likely that one
feels nothing at all.

> Although I think ideal 
> would be a suspension every time I have enough of
> it, to wake up a couple of 
> decades or centuries later in a new world.  But I
> suppose I'm wishing too much.

?? You do understand that it would be as though no
time had passed to you, right? The world would just be
a bit different and you'd have a poorer and poorer
understanding as to why.

______________________________________________________


Thanks to Thomas Donaldson for writing something in
the subject line. He makes an interesting point about
refereed journals. His comments along with Charles
Platt's makes me wonder if the time may be right for
an International Journal of Cryonics? ...
peer-reviewed and published twice a year perhaps?
Might the existence of such a journal actually
stimulate useful research? I'm currently the editor of
an online journal and might be able to help if there's
sufficient interest.
______________________________________________________

Tim Freeman writes:

> This might explain why fewer of us exercise than
> you might expect

I'm curious how you determined that cryonicists
exercise less than might be expected (however much
that represents). Can you support such a
generalization or are you speaking for yourself and a
few cryonicists you know?

> The two traits I would look for in potential
> cryonics member are 1) desire for adventure and
> 2) desire to be free from a "set life" (i.e. 
> get married, settle down, have kids, grow old 
> and die; in a set pattern).

I have to admit, this does describe me. But again,
it's hard to generalize to all cryonicists. For
example, I am a non-exemplar of Ettinger's claim that
we are less risk-averse than normal. Since becoming a
cryonicist, I have personally adapted my life style in
order to avoid situations that might be life- or
health-threatening. I really look both ways now when I
cross a street, everytime. No more sky diving either.
I don't miss the adventures. Having a much longer
lifespan is a goal that encourages me to exercise more
than might be expected so that I'm here to take
advantage of any anti-aging breakthroughs, and be more
risk-averse than might be expected to avoid a
disastrous accident that might cause irreversible
damage. I would say I have a healthy fear of dying.
______________________________________________________


Kurt also tried to describe the type of person that
might be attracted to cryonics.

> 1) Sense of adventure
> 2) Desire to be free of "set" life
> 3) Quasi-libertarian world-view
> 4) Some knowledge or interest in science and
> technology

Well, maybe. But how do you find enough of these kind
of people to make a marketing campaign worthwhile? I
never see anyone mention Suspended Animation's
apparent marketing strategy. Establish a facility near
lots of old people near death who have money. I'll be
interested to see where they locate now and how they
approach the market.
______________________________________________________

Best regards to all,

=====
Scott Badger, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Idaho

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