I’ll have my own obituary up at Pajamas Media tomorrow, but he’s an interesting example of a man who lived (and perhaps continues to live) by his own beliefs, never relinquishing them even as he approached deanimation.
Many more men are interested in cryonics than women (though there are many of the latter as well), and generally the explanation for this is that women tend to be less individualistic, and define themselves in terms of their relationships, particularly family. I recall, almost forty years ago, when a friend of mine and I were discussing this, and his mother said, “Oh, I wouldn’t want to live forever, or wake up in a future in which I didn’t know anyone.” That has never bothered me, and I have never had trouble meeting new people and establishing new relationships. I’d rather do that than give up my individuality and memories. But Ettinger got around it partially by persuading his loved ones to get aboard the ambulance with him (though as he noted himself, it will be interesting times if he gets revived with both wives).
Women have a tougher time making new friends than men do.
I think expats would make the best market for cryonics. Expats have a sense of adventure and do not feel bound by the fixed web of relationships that stay at home types do.
For some reason, I occasionally get criticism for talking about the expat lifestyle and how those who are into it are likely to be more interested in cryonics and radical life extension than most other people. Having lived as an expat for 10 years, this worldview makes intuitive sense to me. I fail to see why it would upset anyone else.
As I noted on another site, he was fortunate to have found two different women (perhaps through this common interest?) that were supportive of cryonics. It’s not always so…
http://www.depressedmetabolism.com/is-that-what-love-is-the-hostile-wife-phenomenon-in-cryonics/
Interesting timing — I just became an Alcor member. The years *are* getting on, and I didn’t want to be caught off-guard. Boy Scouts: Be Prepared. And now I am.
Still not a woman, only female…
Seriously, maybe in her secretest thoughts the woman is not so happy about immortality because she looks at her husband and thinks “what do you mean I have to see your freaking face forever??”
Yeah, I’m cynical.
We discussed the hostile wife phenomenon on Robin Hanson’s blog about a year ago. BTW, Robin Hanson will talk about cryonics on “Good Morning America” tomorrow.
Wait, I thought he wasn’t dead…just resting…
“We discussed the hostile wife phenomenon on Robin Hanson’s blog about a year ago.”
Joke meets wall at 100 mph.
Yes, I should have put the word “obituary” in quotes…
From there discussion board…
The next Alcor Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for Saturday, August 6, 2011 at 11:00 AM (PDT). The meeting is at the Alcor facility (7895 East Acoma Drive in Scottsdale, AZ). Members and the public are encouraged to attend.
My partner is associated with this company, but currently is not listed under staff. Better do my due diligence.
“…what do you mean I have to see your freaking face forever??”
In an environment of radical life extension I suspect lifetime pair-bonding would be a statistical outlier. If only because of the homicide rate elsewise. 😉