X-Message-Number: 29112
References: <>
From: Kennita Watson <>
Subject: Re: [CN] Cryonics Q&A in FDGD Program Book
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2007 07:55:13 -0800

> From: Gareth Nelson <>
>
> Perhaps something explaining why putting "grandpa" on dry ice in  
> the shed
> isn't cryonics is a good idea?

Good point.  I make a big deal about it at my booth, and my
entries in the schedule will read:

 REAL CRYONICS: BEYOND BREDO , FILM/PRESENTATION ON THE STATE
OF THE ART IN HUMAN CRYOPRESERVATION.  FDGD THEATER, FREE

but it might be good to toss a brief bit about it into the
souvenir program lest someone who doesn't make it to the
booth or the presentation should read it.  I do have a line
to walk (how fine is debatable) -- asserting the infeasibility
of the procedure without undermining the appeal of the event.
People have no problem with my saying "Grandpa's mind is gone";
but we really don't know exactly what _is_ in there -- there's
probably plenty of DNA (more than in those mammmoths that have
been found in permafrost, I'll warrant), but exactly how much
more than that is unclear.  That's why I consider it a point on
the cryonics continuum -- permafrost and dry ice are right near
the bottom, many of the preservations of current patients are
at miscellaneous points in the middle (depending how long it
was before they were preserved, whether and how extensive an
autopsy there was, whether the preservations was done with or
without cryoprotectant perfusion and with what, etc.), and the
latest vitrification techniques and cryoprotectants are at the
top.  Somewhere in there is the "memories/identity irretrievable"
line; being certain which side of the line something is on
doesn't mean the data point can automatically be thrown out.
There's a sense in which cryonics is a matter of intent; there
were lots of "flying machines" before the Wright Flyer that
didn't fly.

I won't belabor this further unless somebody insists on giving
me a hard time about it.  Let me see about adding a clarifying
statement to the Q&A.  Note that I don't get much space.

Live long and prosper,
Kennita

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