X-Message-Number: 8855
Date:  Wed, 26 Nov 97 17:20:27 
From: Mike Perry <>
Subject: Re: CryoNet #8840 - #8849

> Of these, maybe ageria is best.
> 
> Mike Perry
> 
For me personally, though, simple "immortality" is best (agreeing with 
Thomas, #8848).

> From: Robin Helweg-Larsen <>

> That is why I think it is more important to be in the care of an
> organization that will prevent the well from being
> destroyed for as long as possible, than to be in the care of an
> organization that waxes your painting before throwing it
> in the well.

I.e., if you had to choose between investing your resources in 
"waxing the painting" but not "guarding the well," or vice versa, it 
would be better to "guard the well." Yes, I tend to agree. I'm hoping 
we can have it both ways, however--both the research and 
organizational/storage aspects of cryonics have their groups of 
specialists now, with what I think are good prospects for success.


> From: Olaf Henny <>

> I have always assumed, that the aim was to achieve an *indefinite 
> lifespan*.  That is a BIG difference. Even with MNT and 
> perfection in cryonics, we will never achieve immortality.   
 
We've had "some" discussion on this topic before. There are some 
possble, scientific pathways to true immortality, and not just 
"indefinite lifespan," in my estimation. But due caution should be 
observed in presenting such ideas to the public, cryonics itself 
being difficult enough.

> From: Doug Skrecky <>
> Subject: cryonics survey
> 
>     Of those who pass away each year, only about 0.0000000000001% choose
>  to be frozen, instead of being fried in a hot oven, or becoming worm
>  food.

I.e. "epsilon" %--a totally insignificant amount, which has seemed 
very strange to me too. Mathematically speaking, and as a minor  
point relative to your main one, your epsilon looked 
too small--1 part in 10^15, if I counted the zeros right, so I set 
out to obtain a better estimate. There are about 6X10^9 (six billion) 
people in the world. Roughly 1% die each year, or around 6X10^7. Roughly
5 people in the world are cryonically suspended each year, which is 
about 1 person in 10^7 or 10^-5%, i.e. 0.00001%--still plenty small.

>  Y N  Actually I love the idea of becoming a corpsicle when I die.
>       (and I can hardly wait)
> 
Most of us cryonicists would not say "I can hardly
wait"--far from it. Dying 
and being frozen is the second worst thing that can happen to you, 
etc. In general I found the questions too flippant and 
shallow--though it could be wondered whether, if they were more 
seroiously worded, the usual readers would take them seriously.

Thomas in #8848-9 makes many observations I agree with. Again, I 
am optimistic about even today's suspended patients being 
revived (those frozen under good conditions), but strongly in
favor of research too.

Mike Perry   

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=8855