X-Message-Number: 23441
From: "John de Rivaz" <>

References: <> 
<>
Subject: Why so few
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2004 11:53:05 -0000

One of the problems with cryonics is the slow uptake of new members.

This is surprising because humans go to enormous lengths to prolong the
lifespans of individuals. Healthcare forms a large part of most nations'
expenditure. On a purely logical basis, it would only be worthwhile to
preserve an elite of the most educated and useful people, but any country
which did this would soon become a pariah nation.

People sick with incurable diseases are willing to spend lots of money to be
cut burned or poisoned in what is often a futile attempt to ward off the
disease. Yet they are not willing to be cryopreserved on (legally defined)
"death" so that there is a chance (however small) that future doctors and
surgeons can apply an effective and permanent cure to not only their disease
but also ageing itself and any other underlying deficiency in the body what
gave rise to it in the first place.

There may be several reasons for the reluctance of people to get interested
in cryonics as a means of a "last ditch" attempt to preserve life.. Most
people cite "the cost" but really you can't take it with you when you die,
so as long as the cost of making provisions for cryopreservation is not a
major part of your expenditure then "the cost" is not an issue.

Another reason may be the arrogant remarks between some people who have
already signed up, or some people who have not signed up but have sufficient
interest to post articles to cryonics mailing lists or newsgroups. "My
cryonics provider is better than yours" is a frequent argument to be seen.
It is just the same as "my car is better than yours" -- yet most makes get
you form A to B within the legal speed limits. "My computer is better than
yours" or even "my operating system is better than yours" are all arguments
that appear on mailing lists and newsgroups. It is human nature.

However cryonics itself requires a major shift from conventional modes of
thought and behaviour, so it is hardly surprising that many people new to it
see all this nit picking and think "on no, not again" and move onto to
something else.

The web site www.youniverse.net tries
to give a new angle to the human condition, and as such is indeed very
relevant to the question of "why so few?"

-- 
Sincerely, John de Rivaz:  http://John.deRivaz.com for websites including
Cryonics Europe, Longevity Report, The Venturists, Porthtowan, Alec Harley
Reeves - inventor, Arthur Bowker - potter, de Rivaz genealogy,  Nomad .. and
more

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