X-Message-Number: 10802
From: 
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1998 11:34:10 EST
Subject: 48 hr, 21 CM

"James Y."  thought the CBS "48 Hours" segment on cryonics--subsegment of the
program on aging etc.--was not positive, because Linda Chamberlain didn't get
a chance to refute the standard-issue negatives.

My guess is that the net effect of the program will probably be a very mild
positive, simply because of the exposure, despite its quality. However, when
we were approached some months ago by CBS, Cryonics Institute turned down the
opportunity to participate, because we have found that such programs do not
yield noticeable results that might justify our time and effort. 

As for James' suggestion that the cryonics spokesman on such programs should
preempt the hamburger and other standard negatives, that is not realistic.
Linda could have said anything she wished--and perhaps she did address that
question--but the producers will only use what their format and stance
dictates. They are in the entertainment business, with education a distant
second. The biggest share of the Nov. 12 program went to a smarmy and
meaningless gushing over a 103 year old man.

On a more important topic: The reports from Twenty First Century Medicine,
before and after their recent seminar, have been extremely optimistic.
Naturally, we hope this is justified. But one consequence is that some (not
all) of the research planned by other organizations, including the Cryonics
Institute and the Immortalist Society, will have to be put on hold until we
know more about the 21 CM work. There would be little point, for example, in
proceeding with work on marginal improvements in procedures, if 21 CM now has
drastically different and hugely superior methods, even if these are not ready
for field work or for licensing. We hope for earliest and maximum
clarification.

Robert Ettinger
Cryonics Institute
Immortalist Society
http://www.cryonics.org

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