X-Message-Number: 14556 From: Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2000 11:24:28 EDT Subject: Re: SETI off topic? Maybe not SETI discussion may have more direct relevance than indicated by posts I have read so far. Considerable thought over the last few years and a passing knowledge of current SETI activity leads me to this conclusion. I believe that the very first messages we receive after contact may well tell us how to suspend human animation in such a way that reanimation without damage or loss is certain. The main reason: it buys us time so that a subsequent stream of enlightening life-saving messages can be absorbed and implemented by us in an orderly manner. If I am correct in this conjecture, 'contact' would immediately elevate public interest in cryonics and at the same time give us the know how as well as the credibility we have so long sought. In brief, my theory rests on these assumptions: [1] life is a reasonably common occurrence throughout the universe; [2] life inevitably evolves toward human-like intelligence on its way to something much more amazing; [3] there already exists a universe-wide interconnected intelligent culture containing millions of worlds which are more advanced than we are right now; [4] more advanced human cultures have a highly developed sense of caring for a collective universal humanity which, fortunately for us, includes us; [5] this collective sense of caring has led to the establishment of powerful light house beacons located at various point throughout our galaxy; the purpose of these beacons is to bring new cultures into the collective through the dissemination of their advanced knowledge in a carefully shaped sequence of messages; and [6] within the last decade we may have reached a level of sophistication in our electromagnetic wave receiving capacity to passively locate and connect to such a beacon. Implications for cryonicists: [1] we should do whatever we can to encourage, support, and promote SETI. [2] We should make SETI advocates more aware of the relevance of cryonics to their enterprise. [3] We should make SETI advocates who have thought through the aftermath of "contact" [as many have not] the desirability of suspended animation by current methods so that they can be around later to appreciate the benefits of contact, assuming that it does not occur in their own lifetimes. I have strong reasons for giving credence to such a scenario, but a full exposition would be too long to be contained in this post. However, I can e-mail a draft of my paper to anyone interested. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=14556