X-Message-Number: 9777
Date: Mon, 25 May 1998 13:07:44 -0700 (PDT)
From: John K Clark <>
Subject: Donaldson's mysterious complaint

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In #9767 On Sun, 24 May 1998 Thomas Donaldson <>
            

        >While I too am optimistic that "information-theoretic survival" will
        
        >usually happen in present and past suspensions, I must point out
        
        >that most of what Dr. Merkle provides to indicate that remains
                >irrelevant.
           

Irrelevant?! I've been trying to think of something more relevant but so far 
no luck.      


        >The real issue is that of the survival of memory and identity.
              

Yes, but how can you interpret anything Dr. Merkle wrote to be in even the 
slightest conflict with that?
                   


        >If memory and identity survive, I think we'd all agree that there
                >was information theoretic survival. 
                   

Obviously, and if there was information theoretic survival then there is 
memory and identity survive, unless of course we have a soul and if we do 
then all of Cryonics and most of Science is pointless.
                   

        >I think that the current attempts to produce reversible brain         
        >suspensions should take first place.
                   

Also obvious, just as Dr. Merkle pointed out in considerable detail in his 
post. I don't understand exactly what you're complaining about, unless you 
just think it's your duty to complain about every post and every idea.
                   

        >it would allow us to really talk about "information-theoretic       

        >survival" rather than throw around some impressive but meaningless
                >numbers.
                   

Perhaps I'm missing something but his numbers seem pretty damn meaningful to 
me. I first read Dr. Merkle's post [#9762] back in 1993 and I thought it was 
brilliant, it's what made me start to think Cryonics might actually work, the 
last 5 years have only increased my admiration for his ideas. If you can 
prove what you say, if you can prove that Dr. Merkle's numbers really are
meaningless then I wish you would do so immediately so that I don't waste 
another 5 years on an activity that's doomed to failure.

                                             John K Clark     

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