I have been convinced on Cyronics, that much is clear. However, as Eliezer Yudkowsky points out, at least one-in-ten people fail the conscientiousness filter. That is, they die planning to have signed up for Cryonics but never signing up.
I have a trick, however. I can commit to the readers of this blog that I will sign up. I am thus binding my future self to the embarrassment of having to admit that I did not sign up and therefore showing myself not to be very conscientious. Since conscientiousness is a high status trait, I will try to avoid this.
And, yes I have been reading a lot of Robin Hanson.
No, I am not sure that I will return to normal.
Side Note: Tyler Cowen says that Cryonics Proponents are trying to signal a strong interest in futurism or science fiction. I am not particularly interested in science fiction. I am interested in the future to some extent but nothing like the level of Robin or Eliezer.
I was convinced more by the “shut-up and multiply” argument. That is, look at the costs. Look at the potential benefits. How is it not the deal of a lifetime even if you think there is only a very small chance that it could actually work?
So what does Tyler think I am signaling here?

3 comments
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Wednesday ~ January 20th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Adam Ozimek
How long do you give your future self to fulfill your commitment? We need to know when to commence with the shaming if you don’t follow through.
Thursday ~ January 21st, 2010 at 2:08 am
teageegeepea
Curse you, Adam, you beat me to it. We’re not very well going to badmouth you if you snuff it before getting around to signing up. And even if we did, how is it any more skin off your nose than being dead?
Thursday ~ January 21st, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Karl Smith
Lets say Six Months