X-Message-Number: 5745 From: "Joseph J. Strout" <> Newsgroups: sci.cryonics,sci.life-extension,uk.legal Subject: Re: Death (was Donaldson MR and Miss Hindley) Date: Fri, 16 Feb 1996 08:05:42 -0800 Message-ID: <> References: <> <> Greetings -- Although I have not yet jumped into the fray, I'll do so today with just two points. 1. Regarding the issue of waking up in an unpleasant world: I've heard this argument from some friends on occasion, and it always surprises me. They are saying, in effect, that they'd rather die than take the chance, despite the fact that they have no evidence that the future will be unpleasant (indeed, strong arguments can be made that it will be quite benevolent, or one would not wake up at all). Is this not equivalent to committing suicide for fear of what the future may hold? (And, as John tacitly pointed out, one solution is to get to the future, and THEN decide whether to suicide.) 2. Regarding the dispositing of wealth, which is (quite reasonably) Owen's major objection: I can only speak for myself, but I believe most of the people signed up for cryonic suspension are in similar situations. I am paying for my suspension through an increase in life insurance, *beyond* what I would obtain to care for my survivors (though replacing what I would prepare for normal funeral expenses). I am paying for this extra money *now*, by sacrificing an extra $60/month, thereby slightly reducing my standard of living; it does NOT reduce the inheritance my survivors will receieve. I am not wealthy; I'm quite firmly in the U.S.'s lowest tax bracket, in fact, and my estate, such as it is, may never exceed the life insurance payoff; but what there is will be bequeathed to my spouse (and children, if any) in the usual manner. (Why? Because I care about them. And because, as you say, there is no guarantee that cryonics will work at all, or in my particular case.) Sincerely, Joe Strout ,------------------------------------------------------------------. | Joseph J. Strout Department of Neuroscience, UCSD | | http://sdcc3.ucsd.edu/~jstrout/ | `------------------------------------------------------------------' Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=5745