X-Message-Number: 4695
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 1995 08:49:10 -0700 (PDT)
From: Joseph Strout <>
Subject: uploading and cryonics (reiteration)

In Message #4690, Brian Wowk wrote:

> 	Forgive me, but after years of being told
> that cryonics is obsolete and uninteresting because
> we are going to have uploading *real soon now*, I'm
> starting to develop a real disdain for uploaders.
> 	I do agree with you, though, that uploading (when
> it becomes available) will mostly likely be done with
> the brain in some kind of biostasis.  This is of course
> yet another argument in my opinion for cryonics. :)

I haven't posted lately, but I felt a need to jump in at this point.  
Brian, I agree with you that uploading is way off in the future -- 
probably comparable to non-uploading revival -- and more a reason to 
SUPPORT cryonics than to discount it.   (For those new to the list, 
please check out my Mind Uploading WWW pages at: 
http://sunsite.unc.edu/jstrout/uploading/MUHomePage.html)

But I think the original poster's question was in good faith -- not
intended as "uploading propaganda".  It may turn out that uploading is a
far easier way to treat a frozen patient, or it may not.  (Your argument
is that rewarming is much easier than the rest of the repair process is
undoubtedly true, but the latter may prove impractical or intractable.) In
either case, the way to get from here to there is to get your condition
stabilized (read: frozen solid) when your body can no longer support
itself.  We should strive to minimize damage during suspension, and
simultaneously pursue BOTH lines of research for reanimation. 

-- Joe

,------------------------------------------------------------------.
|    Joseph J. Strout           Department of Neuroscience, UCSD   |
|               http://sdcc3.ucsd.edu/~jstrout/    |
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