Author: Mati Roy | Creation: 2020-03-19 | Updated: 2020-06-09 | Version: English clean version | Other versions: original version, French clean version
If you know older people, now might be a good time to talk to them about cryonics.
I will present the main objections I hear from my friends to justify not talking about it to their (grand)-parents (and/or elderly friends) as well as my answers. My answers are not generalized to everyone, but I do think they are applicable to many. I know it’s difficult to broach this subject: it can be embarrassing and harm your image. But, generally, I think these are trivialities in the face of the issue. Please allow me to challenge your view 🙂
Objection 1) Surely they will not want to register
My answer: This excuse bothers me. It is often the same people who say that elderly people do not adapt quickly enough. It doesn’t help if we stop sharing this kind of information with them. I find it condescending to make such an important decision on their behalf. And even if they don’t register, at least they will have been in control of their destiny.
Objection 2) I want to work less / buy more things with their inheritance
My answer: They love you enough to bequeath their wealth to you, so it seems to me like the least you could do in return is to give them this chance for a “second” life.
Objection 3) It will harm my relationship with them
My answer: You can bring it up indirectly; like, “Hey, I read that some people froze their bodies when they died hoping to be reanimated in the future.” Stay cooperative and support their choice. Aim to inform, not persuade. Consider starting with those who are most open to new ideas.
Objection 4) It is too improbable that cryonics will work
My answer: They potentially have not many years left. Let them decide if they prefer to be “buried with their money” or take this chance.
Objection 5) I don’t think it’s good for humanity
My answer: The more people register for cryonics, the more affordable cryonics will become for everyone because of economies of scale (see: Cryonics as Charity). There are more effective ways of being selfless than letting your (grand)-parents die.
Also more generally, as I often say: Good friends tell each other about cryonics.
The safest would be to move near a cryonics facility to reduce response delay, and to use assisted suicide before a neurodegenerative disease destroys their brain; but that’s a much more delicate topic.
Someone wrote to me in private (sharing with permission, anonymously) (the text in quote was zir paraphrasing me)
> “this is an opportunity and if you were a good person you would tell all your friends about this opportunity, so that AT LEAST they get to decide on their own about the opportunity” hinges on it being a good opportunity, and sounds like a classic multilevel marketing pyramid scheme tactic
> not even touching on the subject matter, I would label this as a dark pattern and avoid it in general
> thought I’d share the perspective
> other than that, you do you 🙂
my reply below:
> hinges on it being a good opportunity,
It hinges on it not being completely crazy. I think anything in the category “I can see why that might provide a huge amount of benefit” should be shared with closed friends. If you think cryonics is completely crazy, then sure I won’t advocate for you to share it. For example, I don’t go around telling people about religions because I think they are incredibly less likely.
> sounds like a classic multilevel marketing pyramid scheme tactic
There’s no monetary incentives.; it’s just sharing an idea. Also, I would prefer a direct critique of the approach instead of pattern matching it with something else.
> not even touching on the subject matter, I would label this as a dark pattern and avoid it in general
I guess it’s true a lot of people will just reason from vague pattern-matching instead of thinking from first principles, which is good to know. But I hate it. I hate not doing X because I don’t want to be associated with other people doing X; I prefer evaluating X on its own merit. *shrug*
> you do you
The main part of this I would label this as part of my identity is my desire to speak the truth and be direct.
Perhaps this not only applies to grandparents, but this wait but why article has convinced many readers to sign up for cryonics.
Good arguments and also touches on the cost of cryonics, which is less than what people think (as little as 30 bucks a month with life insurance).
https://waitbutwhy.com/2016/03/cryonics.html
Take care.
Although much more expensive for old people. But yeah, that’s the best general intro to the topic, so good to link it here.