I suppose I belong to that group that would like to see more people signing up for cryonics but have not done so myself. For myself, I am young and expect to live quite a while longer. I expect the chance of dying without warning in a way that could be cryopreserved to be rather low, whereas if I had much warning I could decide then to be cryopreserved (so the loss is my chance of losing consciousness and then dying in a hospital without regaining consciousness). I currently am not signed up for life insurance, which would also mean the costs of cryopreservation are higher for me. I don’t doubt the current or future technology, but I do doubt the circumstances and politics (even if I’m successfully preserved, who will want to revive an obsolete person via an expensive procedure into an overpopulated world?). My current lack of significant accomplishment both increases the relative cost to me of cryopreservation, and decreases the chances people would choose to revive me.
Current spending on cryonics also presents an opportunity cost. There is a possibility that death and aging are solved in my lifetime, but might require money. There is a possibility that with more money I could increase my probabilities later for cryopreservation and revival. The ideal time to get cryopreserved would be to do so now via cryosuicide, so I can maximize my odds of successful preservation and minimize my loss of mental power due to aging, yet this seems like a terrible idea.
As for worries about spending on myself instead of on altruism, that does not bother me. Like pretty much everyone, I value my comfort and future and present life more than that of others. I feel it is right and proper to focus my spending on myself and those close to me genetically, culturally, spatially, morally, etc, as well as those with more resources and skills, over random strangers. Those who feel tempted to donate all they have reducing themselves to the level of the poorest people in third world countries, seem short-sighted and in particular are undervaluing their position in society and the indirect contribution their career makes.
I suppose I belong to that group that would like to see more people signing up for cryonics but have not done so myself. For myself, I am young and expect to live quite a while longer. I expect the chance of dying without warning in a way that could be cryopreserved to be rather low, whereas if I had much warning I could decide then to be cryopreserved (so the loss is my chance of losing consciousness and then dying in a hospital without regaining consciousness). I currently am not signed up for life insurance, which would also mean the costs of cryopreservation are higher for me. I don’t doubt the current or future technology, but I do doubt the circumstances and politics (even if I’m successfully preserved, who will want to revive an obsolete person via an expensive procedure into an overpopulated world?). My current lack of significant accomplishment both increases the relative cost to me of cryopreservation, and decreases the chances people would choose to revive me.
Current spending on cryonics also presents an opportunity cost. There is a possibility that death and aging are solved in my lifetime, but might require money. There is a possibility that with more money I could increase my probabilities later for cryopreservation and revival. The ideal time to get cryopreserved would be to do so now via cryosuicide, so I can maximize my odds of successful preservation and minimize my loss of mental power due to aging, yet this seems like a terrible idea.
As for worries about spending on myself instead of on altruism, that does not bother me. Like pretty much everyone, I value my comfort and future and present life more than that of others. I feel it is right and proper to focus my spending on myself and those close to me genetically, culturally, spatially, morally, etc, as well as those with more resources and skills, over random strangers. Those who feel tempted to donate all they have reducing themselves to the level of the poorest people in third world countries, seem short-sighted and in particular are undervaluing their position in society and the indirect contribution their career makes.