X-Message-Number: 10024 From: Date: Thu, 9 Jul 1998 17:56:29 -0500 (CDT) Subject: Re; Credibility Saul Kent suggests in (10018) that I disagree, however, that scientific credibility is not important. >in selling a product. (in reference to cryonics). May I suggest that most major world religions are most successful, even today, while remaining in opposition to current scientific opinion in many areas. They, too, commonly promise a life after death. They sell their faith via emotional appeal. I applaud your personal commercial success. Now what do you think causes people to want life extension products in the first place? I contend that without an emotional appeal delivered successfully there is no sale. That appeal may be implicit or explicit, but it need be present. The current crop of scientists will probably not live long enough to change their opinions before they die out. When less prejudiced human beings recognize the emotional reasons for embracing cryonics, they will consider it. Never try to convert the Pope nor the cardinals. Using bribes has proven the only successful historical approach of which I am aware. The masses don't need bribes. They do feel a need to believe. That need is emotional. If we look to those who have massively succeeded we will know what has been effective. That is the heart of my argument. Waiting for scientific authorities to approve our gamble on the future is like a prospect for conversion to Christianity waiting for scientific acceptance of religious dogma. Saul Kent is absolutely right. If we gained such scientific credibility it WOULD be easier to sell cryonics. Personally, I don't believe the dogma-bound scientists of this endarkened era will believe it until it is already proven. Again I point to the examples I have already mentioned of such forceful self-imposed blindness: the "Big Bang" belief system, the HIV-AIDS belief system (what are the damages caused by current HIV drugs and how are they different from AIDS anyway?), the hubris "Don't look at Mars (or anywhere else) We already know the Truth" belief system, etc. I am open to being proven wrong. I want to always know what is the truth. I can make mistakes. However, I believe we cryonicists are making a mistake by not paying more attention to what already works in motivating human beings to take action. I will continue to do what I can with those I know. ----------------------------------------------- Peace on Earth ... one mind at a time. THE ANGER CURE (tm) http://www.netcom.com/~smithid/angercure.html ----------------------------------------------- Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=10024