Signing up for cryonics is ridiculously complicated. There should be a one-click group life insurance policy for funding it, and a notary that comes to you to complete the paperwork. It should take less than 10 minutes to get the ball rolling, and less than an hour time commitment total (albeit in chunks at a time as the paperwork is processed), and a single auto-billed monthly payment. Upgrading to a cryonics trust should be of similarly little complexity.
Also there should be late night basic cable channels showing cryonics infomercials. I’m quite serious about this.
It’s not the most useful thing I could be doing with my skillset, connections, and limited time. But if someone were to take up the torch (like the OP), I’d do what I can to support it.
In case it wasn’t clear, my “it should...” statements were my own evaluations of how simplified the process could become with some process design optimization, not baseless “I want a pony!” whining. I am signed up for cryonics with Alcor and am familiar with the legal hurdles they require and why. I think those requirements can be met with a much more streamlined process, however it would require scaling up faster than word of mouth (hence, infomercial territory).
“there should be late night basic cable channels showing cryonics infomercials” is the sort of thing that sounds like a joke. Presumably they want to make it clear that that was not a joke.
What I’m about to say is within the context of seeing you be one of the most frequent commenters on this site.
Otherwise it sounds like entitled whining.
That is really unfriendly to say; honestly the word I want to use is “nasty” but that is probably hyperbolic/hypocritical. I’m not sure if you realize this but a culture of macho challenging like this discourages people from participating. I think you and several other commenters who determine the baseline culture of this site should try to be more friendly. I have seen you in particular use a smiley before so that’s good and you’re probably a friendly person along many dimensions. But I want to emphasize how intimidated newcomers or people who are otherwise uncomfortable with what is probably interpreted-by-you as joshing-around with LW-friends. To you it may feel like you are pursuing less-wrongness, but to people who are more neurotic and/or more unfamiliar with this forum it can come across as feeling hounded, even if vicariously.
I do not want to pick on people I don’t know but there are other frequent commenters who could use this message too.
Well, first of all I don’t think I determine the baseline culture of the site. I’m more of an outlier here and I was just a lurker when the site was in its heyday.
Second, as opposed to some, I don’t want just more people. I want more interesting, smart, competent people and yes, this implies that I prefer a certain class of people to not be here—preferably by not showing up here at all. Relative rarity of idiots is a BIG advantage of LW—if you want broad participation Reddit, etc. are there for you.
Third, “hounded”? This is the ’net and though a particular technology has been desired by many, it hasn’t been invented yet. Close the browser or switch to a different tab and hey! you’re free and safe.
I agree that signing up for cryonics is far too complicated and this is one of the things that needs to be addressed. My friend and I have a number of ideas how that might be done.
While I’m not sure about late night basic cable infomercials, existing cryonics organizations certainly don’t carry out much if any advertising. There are a number of good reasons that they are not advertising. Those can and should be addressed by any future cryonics organization.
Signing up for cryonics is ridiculously complicated. There should be a one-click group life insurance policy for funding it, and a notary that comes to you to complete the paperwork. It should take less than 10 minutes to get the ball rolling, and less than an hour time commitment total (albeit in chunks at a time as the paperwork is processed), and a single auto-billed monthly payment. Upgrading to a cryonics trust should be of similarly little complexity.
Also there should be late night basic cable channels showing cryonics infomercials. I’m quite serious about this.
Are you? Well then, go make it happen.
Otherwise it sounds like entitled whining.
It’s not the most useful thing I could be doing with my skillset, connections, and limited time. But if someone were to take up the torch (like the OP), I’d do what I can to support it.
In case it wasn’t clear, my “it should...” statements were my own evaluations of how simplified the process could become with some process design optimization, not baseless “I want a pony!” whining. I am signed up for cryonics with Alcor and am familiar with the legal hurdles they require and why. I think those requirements can be met with a much more streamlined process, however it would require scaling up faster than word of mouth (hence, infomercial territory).
So when you say you’re quite serious about it, what exactly do you mean?
“there should be late night basic cable channels showing cryonics infomercials” is the sort of thing that sounds like a joke. Presumably they want to make it clear that that was not a joke.
Maybe they said it ironically :-P
Philh is correct.
What I’m about to say is within the context of seeing you be one of the most frequent commenters on this site.
That is really unfriendly to say; honestly the word I want to use is “nasty” but that is probably hyperbolic/hypocritical. I’m not sure if you realize this but a culture of macho challenging like this discourages people from participating. I think you and several other commenters who determine the baseline culture of this site should try to be more friendly. I have seen you in particular use a smiley before so that’s good and you’re probably a friendly person along many dimensions. But I want to emphasize how intimidated newcomers or people who are otherwise uncomfortable with what is probably interpreted-by-you as joshing-around with LW-friends. To you it may feel like you are pursuing less-wrongness, but to people who are more neurotic and/or more unfamiliar with this forum it can come across as feeling hounded, even if vicariously.
I do not want to pick on people I don’t know but there are other frequent commenters who could use this message too.
Well, first of all I don’t think I determine the baseline culture of the site. I’m more of an outlier here and I was just a lurker when the site was in its heyday.
Second, as opposed to some, I don’t want just more people. I want more interesting, smart, competent people and yes, this implies that I prefer a certain class of people to not be here—preferably by not showing up here at all. Relative rarity of idiots is a BIG advantage of LW—if you want broad participation Reddit, etc. are there for you.
Third, “hounded”? This is the ’net and though a particular technology has been desired by many, it hasn’t been invented yet. Close the browser or switch to a different tab and hey! you’re free and safe.
I agree that signing up for cryonics is far too complicated and this is one of the things that needs to be addressed. My friend and I have a number of ideas how that might be done.
While I’m not sure about late night basic cable infomercials, existing cryonics organizations certainly don’t carry out much if any advertising. There are a number of good reasons that they are not advertising. Those can and should be addressed by any future cryonics organization.