X-Message-Number: 32219
From: "John de Rivaz" <>
Subject: Re: Grim Story on cryoniucs
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:53:18 -0000


Whoever wrote that "grim" story about people revived from cryonics starting wars
has probably read all the name calling arguments (instead of debates) on 
cryonet. A discussion has also arisen about "irrational" "violence".


Some people join particular religions because they feel that someone they know 
has become a nicer person since they joined. Cryonics isn't a religion, but it 
has a few things in common. Unlike a religion, cryonics doesn't advise people 
how to behave, although the thought of an indefinite lifespan can influence 
behaviour. I am actually concerned that it can also influence behaviour in a 
negative way, in that it can make people paranoid to the extent of "everyone who
doesn't sign up is a fool". As a group we have to survive on a planet where 
most people accept death, including those who administer civilisation. That is 
why I found the phrase " living on a planet with six billion suicidal maniacs" 
in a recent press article so evocative, but obviously confrontational.


"Irrational" in the sense of "without reason" can often mean that the writer or 
speaker doesn't know the reason. It is a bit like "random" phenomena. Those 
studying science and mathematics don't know the reason. 


Someone may get violent because he has lost his job or home or whatever, but if 
those around don't know of his loss, they may well conclude that his violence is
without reason. I recall reading some years ago that if there was an atomic war
and loads of tank commanders were driving about Europe knowing that they had 
only days to live because of irreversible radiation damage, they would probably 
be using their tanks in acts of apparently senseless violence. 


What I do find amazing, in fact, is how few people get violent when their lives 
are ruined by some consequence of administration, such as the recent failure of 
the financial system, or the failure of the legal and medical systems to deal 
with common personal problems. I conclude that the vast majority of people are 
in fact highly non-violent despite massive provocation. 


I would regard the word "violence" in its broadest sense to include initiating a
lawsuit, and yet relatively few are even willing to initiate this highly 
sanitised form of violence. (Legal action is a bit like dropping a bomb from a 
plane as opposed to killing someone with a bayonet.)


It is only the very few who commit acts of violence even with a reason that is 
obvious to anyone in full possession of all the facts. 


Nevertheless I have seen notices in hospitals advising patients that they will 
be carted off by the police of they get violent, and indeed I have even seen 
such a notice in a computer shop. It would probably also be worthwhile from 
someone to study what circumstances get people riled and see if the system of 
administration can be improved. Some changes would be cheaper than keeping 
people in prisons for years.


Whether study of neurology will help resolve the problem is obviously open to 
debate, but on the basis that the problem isn't as widespread as imagined, then 
I suspect that it will.

-- 
Sincerely, John de Rivaz:  http://John.deRivaz.com for websites including
Cryonics Europe, Longevity Report, The Venturists, Porthtowan, Alec Harley
Reeves - inventor, Arthur Bowker - potter, de Rivaz genealogy,  Nomad .. and
more

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