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Question 40

Have you ever considered cryonics? If you have and decided against it, why?

• The science needed is effectively magic. I used to think it was a scam, that somebody somewhere was making money out of it, but several cryonics fans here talked me out of that view.

  Now I think cryonics is a religion, Pascal's wager frozen in liquid nitrogen. (Niall McAuley #36)

• haven't thought about it a _whole_ lot, but my general impression would be: "Nah. . . someone else's turn". . . (Arne Langsetmo #101)

• why would anyone today assume that they'd be brought back to be cured, and then allowed to live a "normal" life? I mean, someone from this day-and-age might be considered to be absolutely "Neanderthal" in future, and could be unthawed only to be studied like some creature in a cage! -- (Rose Downing #1199)

• It's expensive, and it's just putting off the inevitable until later. Yes, one day science will be able to cure all diseases, acute, chronic, and terminal. Aging itself will be conquered, its effects reversed.

  But still, who's to say you won't be run over by a bus? (Rev Chuck #203)

• Nope. Wouldn't do it. Why? Why *should* I freeze myself? I *hate* the thought of waking up in the future when everyone I know and love is dead. I wouldn't want to be alone (relatively speaking.) Besides, the way mankind is destroying the earth's ecology, I'm not sure the earth will be habitable in the future (Isn't *that* a sobering thought ;) (Dan Chaney #1144)

• Other than as a Science Fiction device, no. (And a device that Niven and Heinlein have used quite entertainingly, I must add.)

  Even if I believed there was a reasonably good chance that freezing/thawing would work and that the dead could be revived and cured, the waste of resources to freeze and maintain me would be criminal, and the odds that anyone in the future would get around to reviving me are certainly less than the odds that I will actually read all the old magazines I have stacked up in the attic... (Pat Kiewicz #1154)

• No.

  If the technology had been already successfully tested, and humans were routinely being restored to life and health, I might consider it. With the present state of the "procedure", it seems to be just another "pie in the sky" hope to cheat death. Nobody wants to die. Humans will believe almost anything that gives them the tiniest chance to avoid it whether the perception of that chance comes from having faith in a supernatural being who will "save" them or an unworkable (at this time) medical procedure. To me, understanding reality, including the reality of death, is preferable. (Liz Huth #658)

• Absolutely not. If I'm dead, I'm dead. Too bad. Besides, the planet has enough people crammed onto it without adding a bunch who should have been dead years and years and years ago. I somehow doubt the population will ever be reduced enough for that to not be a problem.

  Mind you, I've always thought it would be cool to bring someone from a century or two ago to the present and see what they think of all this modern stuff. Having my body frozen and reanimated somewhere down the line would give me an opportunity to experience it first hand, but I just don't think a petty curiosity like that is worth it. (Beth Wise #859)

• Yes. I decided against not only because of funds :), but also that the world is likely to be a far different place when I'm thawed. I would have no friends/family unless they were all frozen up with me, and I would have difficulty adjusting to the new world. It's simply not worth it. You live, you die, everyone has, why be afraid of it? (Tigger =^..^= #1109)