X-Message-Number: 13605 Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 08:21:34 -0600 From: Fred Chamberlain <> Subject: Brook Norton's "What are the odds?" Date: 4/20/2000 From: Fred Chamberlain Subject: Brook Norton's "What are the odds?" (Brook pointed out the small probability of death before old age, saying:) "I feel funny arguing this side of the argument because I promote cryonics to friends and family and try to get folks to sign up. But I believe harm is also done in overstating our case. A sense of overzealousness is communicated when one says "You must sign up now. Don't wait!" when to all appearances there is no urgency." Brook Norton A couple of thoughts: (1) If you wait until you find you have a terminal illness, insurance will be unobtainable, so buy insurance now (I'm sure Rudi Hoffman will endorse this point of view, right, Rudi?) (2) Auto insurance is likewise much less than the cost of an acual accident, particularly if there are large claims of damages for medical or "loss of life" reasons. The chances of an auto accident are low, but we still buy insurance. We still wear safety harnesses. (3) If you find that your light plane is about to crash, however unlikely that might be, either you have a parachute along, or you don't. If you don't, jumping out is not much of an option. Alcor just had a "last minute call" from someone who contacted us about 3 months ago, saying that "It might be months or weeks". Since then, no action was taken. Now, the person who contemplated suspension is reported to be unconscious. Informed consent on the part of this person is not possible, at least at the moment. Should you sign up now? That's an individual choice, to be sure, but those who cannot overcome procrastination and sign up while in good health are unlikely to manage to make arrangements at the last moment either. A long time ago, someone remarked that knowing about cryonics and not signing up was, in fact, a "choice". It was a choice not to be suspended if death caught the person concerned by surprise, or under unfavorable circumstances. All of us have different ways of weighing values and priorities. We each have to choose. Weighing the odds is certainly important. A cave explorer of the 1950's remarked that he wanted to have about as much safety in his vertical rope as was necessary to reduce the odds of the rope breaking, to the odds that he would be hit by a car when crossing the street after looking carefully. This ushered in the era of climbing on 9/16" manilla, back before nylon ropes were in vogue. Each of us must weight the odds, and take our chances. Fred Chamberlain, President/CEO () Alcor Life Extension Foundation Non-profit cryonic suspension services since 1972. 7895 E. Acoma Dr., Suite 110, Scottsdale AZ 85260-6916 Phone (602) 922-9013 (800) 367-2228 FAX (602) 922-9027 for general requests http://www.alcor.org Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=13605