X-Message-Number: 20310
Date: Mon, 14 Oct 2002 23:08:37 -0700
From: James Swayze <>
Subject: Reward murder?
References: <>

CryoNet wrote:

>
> Message #20296
> Date: Sun, 13 Oct 2002 08:35:52 -0400
> From: Thomas Donaldson <>
> Subject: CryoNet #20289 - #20294
>
> What ABOUT freezing murderers etc?

<snippage>

> And there is an optimistic side to this idea, too. Suppose
> that the opinion leaders in society decided to suspend such
> criminals rather than kill them.

> Message #20305
> Date: Sun, 13 Oct 2002 22:58:12 -0700
> From: Mike Perry <>
> Subject: Criminals and Retards

<snippage>

> Another thought, though, is that cryonic suspension, if it were ever widely
> accepted, could itself be used as a kind of sentencing, the object being to
> keep a dangerous criminal "locked in place" until such time as his/her
> problem would prove treatable.

For Mike and Thomas,

What happens to our credibility and public opinion, should freezing murderers
become actual sentencing practice, the minute some selfish bastard figures out
that though he personally might not be able to afford cryonics and longevity
methods, he could just kill someone, pay his penance and enjoy immortality?

The price, however great, would be tiny in face of the infinite reward. What's

one stranger's life and some freeze time, maybe a few lifetimes imprisonment and
even a brain rewire? Nothing!

I wouldn't do it, but some people would. I find the act of taking another life
indiscriminately so disgusting I feel those that do it should forfeit their own
lives. Suppose the person this selfish bastard kills is destroyed beyond repair
or even suspension? Should one get the reward of eternal life for the act of
ruining same for another?

You know how the public would see this. They'd be outraged. That outrage could
spread to legitimate cryo patients.

On another note, this whole concept of who should or not be allowed to be
suspended brings to mind something I've pondered a long while. In light of the
terrorism threat we are in danger of certain events that could lead to serious

loss of freedoms, namely the freedom to freeze. Precisely I refer to the 
scenario
in the movie "Outbreak" where Hollywood had the government ready to firebomb an
entire American town off the face of the Earth in order to stem the spread of a

deadly hemoragic virus. Maybe a bit much but who does have say over a deadly bug
infected body?

What happens if we have a bio weapon attack and a cryonicist is caused to die
from something under jurisdiction of the CDC? I have an idea that Uncle Sammy

won't want a bio weapon soaked body put in long term storage that could allow 
for
it's being set loose on folks in the future. For that matter they surely would
see that body as a perennial security risk. This would of course endanger the
other patients of the provider should terrorists seeking a source of bugs get
wind of where to. Any thoughts?



--
Cryonics Institute of Michigan Member!
The Immortalist Society Member!
The Society for Venturism Member!


MY WEBSITE: http://www.geocities.com/~davidpascal/swayze/ While there follow the
links to photos of me and some of my artwork and a radio interview on Dr.  J's
ChangeSurfer Radio program with me and the father of cryonics Prof.  Robert
Ettinger, author of "The Prospect of Immortality".
A RELIGION I actually recommend: http://www.venturist.org
A FAVORITE quote: Last lines of the first Star Trek the Next Generation movie.
Capt.  Picard: "What we leave behind is not as important as how we've lived,
after all Number One, we're only mortal."
Will Ryker: "Speak for yourself captain, I intend to live forever!"

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