There’s a final filter in rationality where you take your ideas seriously, and a critical sub-filter is where you’re willing to take ideas seriously even though the people around you don’t.
Going to a group where cryonics was normal was a shift of perspective even for me, and here I thought I had conformity beat. It was what caused me to realize—no, parents who don’t sign their kids up for cryonics really are doing something inexcusable; the mistake is not inevitable, it’s just them.
I dunno, I think that we smart people have a tendency to look for perfectionism in ourselves, and demand it from others. I have spoken to many ordinary people about cryo, some quite smart, and their brains just go walla-walla-bonk crazy. In this regard, I see them as being rather like children who cannot help but eat the nice marshmallow in front of them.
Strong negative emotional reactions, lots of psychological defense mechanisms activate, smart people say silly silly things. I’ll never forget my best friend’s girlfriend, a Cambridge medical student, saying that whilst cryonics, might save you from death, she said it was not certain to work and therefore “too risky”.
There’s a final filter in rationality where you take your ideas seriously, and a critical sub-filter is where you’re willing to take ideas seriously even though the people around you don’t.
Going to a group where cryonics was normal was a shift of perspective even for me, and here I thought I had conformity beat. It was what caused me to realize—no, parents who don’t sign their kids up for cryonics really are doing something inexcusable; the mistake is not inevitable, it’s just them.
I dunno, I think that we smart people have a tendency to look for perfectionism in ourselves, and demand it from others. I have spoken to many ordinary people about cryo, some quite smart, and their brains just go walla-walla-bonk crazy. In this regard, I see them as being rather like children who cannot help but eat the nice marshmallow in front of them.
Anything specific you can share?
I’m thinking about mentioning cryo to a few people, and am curious to know what kind of reaction to expect.
Strong negative emotional reactions, lots of psychological defense mechanisms activate, smart people say silly silly things. I’ll never forget my best friend’s girlfriend, a Cambridge medical student, saying that whilst cryonics, might save you from death, she said it was not certain to work and therefore “too risky”.
I second Michael’s question
I blame the education system.