X-Message-Number: 8907
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: Re: CryoNet #8897 - #8902
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 1997 00:56:21 -0800 (PST)

Hi again!

More on experimenting with human beings.

First of all, I'd be willing to accept that something would work with my
brain if we got it to work with one of the lower apes (not the bright ones like
gorillas or chimps, but a dumber one. Maybe orangs, but there is also an
even dumber one. AT a pinch I'd even accept rhesus monkeys.

The thing is, there's a lot more commonality between us and other animals than
most people are prepared to admit. We differ very little genetically from
chimpanzees, for instance --- and the difference slowly increases as we move
away.

I would prefer, in terms of working out damage to human patient brains, that
we use more indirect means. I've had a biopsy taken of my brain, and that's
the kind of thing we could do.

As for out and out using noncryonicist human beings in fatal tests of our
methods (fatal in our terms, not in theirs), this disturbs me not just because
it would tell others that we were exclusive --- the opposite of the immortalist
idea, that everyone deserves immortality BY RIGHT. But what doing this would
do to US. Will it tell us that those who are not cryonicists deserve the
same treatment as lab animals? I myself admit to sometimes feeling that way,
but I hardly wish to act on it. Ultimately it is the effect upon me that
I don't like. Society can go and do what it wants -- and will. 

			Best and long long life,

				Thomas

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