X-Message-Number: 1566
Date: 09 Jan 93 22:57:28 EST
From: Charles Platt <>
Subject: CRYONICS Why live forever?

To: Kevin Brown
 
 
 
Garret Smyth asks for a 30-second sound-bite explaining why 
he wants to "live forever." My answer would be as follows:
 
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Cryonicists do not want to live forever. True immortality is 
a religious concept which seems implausible in a universe 
full of unexpected threats and potential disasters. Rather, 
cryonicists want to live for AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. 
 
There is nothing unusual in this. People who take vitamins or 
wear seat belts when they drive their cars are also trying to 
live longer, in their own way. The difference is that 
cryonicists are more serious about it, and try harder. They 
are willing to take a little extra trouble and pay a little 
extra money to secure themselves the chance of a lot of extra 
life. 
 
-----------------
 
Steve Harris has written a very good piece on the 
inadvisability of using the word "immortality" in conjunction 
with cryonics. He posted the text here on the net, and I have 
been careful to avoid the I-word (or use it in quote marks) 
ever since. Unfortunately, the editors at Omni have no such 
compunctions, which is why the cryonics contest ended up 
being called an immortality contest. 
 


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