X-Message-Number: 838
Date: 21 May 92 00:47:32 EDT
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: Re: cryonics: #831 - #833

Hi again.

I have some sympathy for the statement, whether by KQB or someone else,
               [ Bob Smart gets the credit for his thoughtful post - KQB ]
that Alcor material looks too "slick". I refer particularly to the latest
version of CRYONICS: REACHING FOR TOMORROW. In my own experience I tried
once to get a bookstore to carry it and they refused; after reading it
while trying to think like an outsider I believe I can see why.

It's interesting that CRYONICS (the magazine) is much less slick and 
seemed to be quite acceptable to the very same bookstore. CRYONICS, of 
course, tells all about our failures and goof-ups, as well as our 
successes. And it contains debates on cryonics matters.

I hope that this is taken into account by the next revision of CRYONICS:
REACHING FOR TOMORROW. (I personally would be willing to take on that 
job --- but I'm not sure I'd be accepted). 

As someone who came to cryonics before the current nanotechnology craze,
I may have a different perspective than some. And in fact, I am among those
who contributed to early ideas about repair, and so ended up being cited in
Drexler's first book. Personally, I don't see cryonics as depending on any
particular technology, so much as it depends on an understanding of two 
issues. One is how very minor even "major" freezing and ischemia damage 
are, when looked at in terms of the structure (rather than ongoing ability
to function) of a patient. The other is a simple observation: it is absurd
to believe that our medical technology, or even our medical understanding,
has reached such a complete understanding that any sane person could 
honestly say that suspended people would NEVER be repaired. And after all,
the worst we face if we arrange to be suspended is a POSSIBLE death, while
if we do not we face a CERTAIN death. This bargain seems very much in 
favor of cryonics.
			Best and long life to everyone,

				Thomas Donaldson

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