X-Message-Number: 881
From: tolman% (Kenneth Tolman)
Subject: Re: Macroscopic damage and recovery
Date: Sat, 6 Jun 92 16:57:01 MDT

  It seems likely that certain types of macroscopic damage are reparable,
especially if most of the fragments are retained.

  However, it seems that wrongdoers against cryonics members could
deliberately cause damage to prevent restoration, such as through an
explosion.  Perhaps at some point laws will be passed which will have
different penalties for semi-termination murder (death) and total
termination (obliteration of organism altogether)

  This is an extremely unfortunate situation.  Namely, some (probably many)
hopeful cryonic suspendees in the future will lose the ability to come
back because of external events.  As I said before, macroscopic damage
will probably not be the cause of this- but obliteration will.  I am not
sure what can be done about this.  For the person who believes that once
obliterated they are gone forever (like me) it puts one in an awkward
position.  Can one justify taking risks with the possibility of obliteration?
There are not a lot, but some come to mind: taking off in rockets,  travelling
over oceans in any vessel/plane, working near explosives, being a policeman.
Clearly everyone cannot avoid these activities.

  Should a cryonic supporter not join the NRA?  Do guns raise an increased
possibility of obliteration?  Should all cryonic members go to one place
where certain activities don't exist? (no guns, no explosives, fast
emergency response)

Tom T

[ I hope we don't start a pro-gun vs. anti-gun flame war here.  Both
  Libernet and the Extropians mailing list have covered this subject
  in detail already. - KQB ]

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