X-Message-Number: 7306
Date: Sun, 15 Dec 1996 17:52:50 -0800
From:  (Olaf Henny)
Subject: How Important Is The Endocrine System

I ran into your below posting on <sci.cryonics> only belatedly.  It 
brought back to mind some of the concerns I have had for some time about 
cryopreservation, and have mentioned in varying contexts, but never 
received any comments on.

From: Joseph Strout <> (sci.cryonics Article 3252)

>Of course, there may be a choice between
>living in an artificial reality, and living in the real world using an
>artificial body.  The former is likely to be cheaper in the long run, but
>I'd do odd jobs for decades in order to buy myself a nice physical body.
> 
>On a related thread that popped up on CryoNet -- namely, the cost of
>social adjustment & rehabilitation -- I say, forget about it!  If you have
>just enough money to revive me, with none left over to do anything except
>turn me loose on the street, then do it (assuming I have a good chance to
>survive).  Perhaps that would be a rude shock, but it beats being dead.
>I'll adjust, and if I have to reclimb the social latter from the bottom
>rung, so be it.  There will be no rush at that point.

This aggressive (in a very positive sense) attitude reflects exactly what my 
own would have been maybe ten or fifteen years ago.  Although it is still 
there, it is in a milder version, tempered by more desire for comfort.

I suspect, the reason for this more tempered drive is hormonal and lies at 
least partially in the reduced production of such 'accelerators' as 
testosterone and adrenaline.


My concern is, that if the personality of your future 'self' is limited only to
the data contained in your brain, it will be strictly governed by mechanical 
logic, and the drive, risk taking and positive determination to succeed will 
not be there to stimulate you to "adjust, and if I have to reclaim the social 
latter from the bottom rung, so be it."  Rather the ..."There will be no rush 
at that point."... may prevail and keep you on the bottom of that ladder.

Your actions are not solely governed by brain and logic.  Ask any woman, 
who has 'survived' the emotional upheaval of menopause.  While a few
do not register any effects, most will tell you, that it is as if a stranger 
is domineering them, driving them to actions or reactions, over which they 
can barely exercise control.  Malfunctions of the thyroid glands can lead
to substantial behavioural modifications.

Maybe we would be functioning better without all that emotional burden, 
but I like mine and am sure I would miss the joyful aggression, which 
drives me to the outer edge of my ability, when I ski down a mountain, or 
quit my safe job to pursue something more challenging or outrageous, 
which does not 'compute' as prudent.

I really miss the input of an endocrinologist in the cryonics group.   While 
I truly believe, that the brain is the prime component of my 'self', I am 
convinced, that my glandular system is a close second in determining my 
personality.  I fully support Paul's approach of concentrating on cryopre-
servation of the brain, but after that the endocrine system should be 
given top priority.





****************************************************************************
Greed is a very positive motivating force.  Without it (the desire to 
possess) man would still not have captured the fire, and would probably 
still be swinging from the trees in some of the warmer regions of this globe.
****************************************************************************


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