X-Message-Number: 30027
From: 
Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2007 13:50:58 EST
Subject: fear of death & choices

Mr. Erhardsson is right. There are many people who don't fear death, for a  
variety of reasons. (Any normal person may fear the process or  circumstances 
of dying, but that's a different matter.)
 
In particular, relatively large numbers of people are  indifferent to the 
prospect of death, or even welcome it, because their lives  are miserable and 

without prospect of improvement. That is both commonplace and  rational. (I 
leave 
aside the possibility, exemplified by a few exceptional  people, of finding 
satisfaction even in continuing lives that most would  consider intolerable.)
 
From the standpoint of cryonics recruitment, the general loss  of vitality 

and optimism with age works against us. Those who have lost some of  their zest
for life are less likely candidates, and those who only want surcease  are 
very poor candidates. 
 
The only practical lesson I see here is in selling cryonics to  the next of 
kin for those who haven't arranged it but have not explicitly  refused it. 

Parents make decisions for children who are incapable of a well  reasoned 
choice, 
and children should make decisions for aged parents in a  similar way, or one 
spouse for another.
 
Robert Ettinger
 
 



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