X-Message-Number: 10745
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 07:45:58 -0500
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: CryoNet #10734 - #10744

Hi everyone!

About fitness for revival in future century X: Clearly this question 
wasn't asked in terms of whether or not we would survive biologically,
but about the "mental upsets" some of us might feel upon revival.

The very first thing I'd say about this issue is, hey, look here. Nobody
ever has claimed that cryonic suspension is a lark. It's something you
do rather than simply die and be buried (or cremated). So just what are
you willing to put up with in order to remain alive? Living is HARD.
Lots of bad things happen to you psychologically while you remain 
alive right now... not to mention the physically bad things that 
happen to you, too. So what's going on with this notion that on revival
you might not feel totally happy?

And there is a second thing, too. I'm sorry to repeat myself, but 
at one time I visited New Guinea, up in the mountains, where the people
were only contacted during WW II. And I got to meet a number of people
who experienced this. It's the closest thing to the kind of shock we
might feel on awakening into century X. And guess what: not one of 
these people went mad or even felt terrible. I'll risk a small bet
that anyone who is suspended now (or in the past) won't be disturbed
at all by Century X. Sure, we'll probably have to learn a lot, even
learn another language if our suspension has been long enough, and learn
lots of more science (fascinating to wonder just where all the current
leading scientists will turn out to be wrong) and lots more technology.
But nobody ever said that revival would be a lark, anyway. So hit the
books (or their likely Century X equivalent) and get to work.

And if this bothers you still, reflect: you'll have a long long time to
learn what you need to learn. And adjust to what must be adjusted to.
So you'll be far ahead of the old Chimbu men of New Guinea that I met:
you'll be at least as new as a 20 year-old, and have thousands of 
years ahead of you. Not that the Chimbu men had any trouble understanding,
broadly, about the world outside their mountain valleys.

			Best and long long life to all,

				Thomas Donaldson

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