X-Message-Number: 31248 From: "Chris Manning" <> Subject: Re: Bill O' Rights -- a long shot but a chance Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:26:58 +1100 An interesting idea. Presumably it would need the consent of the people who donated the money (which includes myself) as well as Mr O'Rights himself. I'm not sure whether I support the idea, but I will think about it. Regarding my own donation, I have indicated that if it can't be spent on Mr O'Rights then I want it applied to Marce Johnson. That would not be possible if it were gambled and lost. It is indeed a logical idea, as was my suggestion a few months ago that a raffle be held, which went down like a lead balloon. > I have a suggestion for the Bill O' Rights situation. It may seem harsh > but it is logical, and I'd use it myself if I were in this situation. > > It appears Mr. O'Rights is nearing the end, and there is only $13,000 in > his fund, whereas $28,000+ is needed for a CI suspension. If it becomes clear > that no more will come in in time, and if he is within hours of death, > then his representative should gamble. > > For convenience let us suppose he has half enough. So his representative > goes to Las Vegas and puts the full sum on the red on a roulette table. The > bet is double-or-nothing. Red, he's preserved, black he is permanently dead. > > It seems an awful thing to do, but consider the alternative: He dies with > half the needed funds and is not preserved, so he is permanently dead, > 100% probability. The money remains in his account does him no good at all. > By gambling he has a 50-50 chance. And cryonics itself is a bet on future > technology, and no one knows whether any of us will win. We all place our > bets and hope. > > If he decides to go with this he should make it clear to anyone who might > possibly come up with the extra money required, so they make it clear whether > they will or not. It would be terrible if his representative bet $14,000 > and lost it, and an hour later a contribution of $14,000 arrived. So a > potential contributor should not wait until the last minute. > > I don't like to write this. We all wish he had the full needed amount. We > all wish he could just be cured. But he can't be cured and the money > isn't there. And if the idea is not broached now it will be too late. > > I hope others will discuss this plan. I hate to suggest it alone. > > Alan Mole > (Disclosure: I am a CI Director, which might in some way bias me, and > readers should consider this in pondering the idea.) Content-Type: text/html; [ AUTOMATICALLY SKIPPING HTML ENCODING! ] Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=31248