Yes, you're right, I should have put it plainly as "would press the button and A" and "would press the button and non-A". Fixed.
NOTE: Initially proposed alternative to a "no QM no matter what" option. So that it does not interfere with the new improved poll I moved it here and left it only as a reminder that while there are exceptions to the "anyone who chooses to commit quantum suicide fails at life - literally" rule they are nothing to do with perfect implementation.
Upvote this if you would press the button AND you would not be willing to commit quantum suicide EXCEPT when you are particularly desperate and would also consider playing a simple Newtonian Russ...
I have been trying to absorb the Lesswrong near-consensus on cryonics/quantum mechanics/uploading, and I confess to being unpersuaded by it. I'm not hostile to cryonics; just indifferent, and having a bit of trouble articulating why the insights on identity that I have been picking up from the quantum mechanics sequence aren't compelling to me. I offer the following thought experiment in hopes that others may be able to present the argument more effectively if they understand the objection here.
Suppose that Omega appears before you and says, “All life on Earth is going to be destroyed tomorrow by [insert cataclysmic event of your choice here]. I offer you the chance to push this button, which will upload your consciousness to a safe place out of reach of the cataclysmic event, preserving all of your memories, etc. up to the moment you pushed the button and optimizing you such that you will be effectively immortal. However, the uploading process is painful, and because it interferes with your normal perception of time, your original mind/body will subjectively experience the time after you pushed the button but before the process is complete as a thousand years of the most intense agony. Additionally, I can tell you that a sufficient number of other people will choose to push the button that your uploaded existence will not be lonely.”
Do you push the button?
My understanding of the Lesswrong consensus on this issue is that my uploaded consciousness is me, not just a copy of me. I'm hoping the above hypothetical illustrates why I'm having trouble accepting that.