X-Message-Number: 12526
From: 
Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 23:13:19 EDT
Subject: personalities

No doubt the variety of opinions about the relative number of oddballs in 
cryonics reflects the variety of experience, as well as the small sample 
size. 

Personally, I have of course attended a great many CI meetings, several Alcor 
meetings, and a couple in northern California (BACS, ACS), as well as a 
couple on the east coast many years ago, and of course the CSM meeting in Ann 
Arbor many years ago. At that latter meeting, I think I complained to Harry 
Waitz (now Dr. Harold Waitz) that his hair was too long. Somewhat later than 
that, while in college, my son David sported long hair and a 
not-too-neatly-trimmed beard for a while. Some people might translate such 
items into a notion that we attract hippies. Far from it (even if there still 
are hippies).

Dr. Badger and others have made attempts at statistical profiles of people in 
cryonics. These have produced mildly interesting information, such as the 
relatively large numbers of males, libertarians, computer people, and 
physicians. (Doctors choose cryonics, nine to one.) There are also the 
observations (recently, as I recall, by George Smith) that someone in 
cryonics is necessarily unusual in the sense of refusing to run with the 
lemmings. But as far as I know no one has succeeded in locating the crucial 
psychological pivots.

The fact (in my observation) is that CI people, by almost any criterion, are 
pretty ordinary in most dimensions of values and attitudes. They are also 
better educated and informed than average, by the usual objective criteria of 
degrees and professional titles. At the same time, quite a few seem near the 
U.S. median in almost everything, and it is a total mystery as to what 
distinguishes them psychologically from the vastly more numerous other, 
similar people who have not chosen cryonics. 

The occasional really peculiar person was to be found mainly in the early 
days; those people tend to drop out rather quickly.

Based on more limited experience, I can say the same about Alcor 
people--mostly  (apparently) very ordinary in values and social attitudes.  
If they have many who are really strange, most of them have not been visible 
or audible when I have been present. My impression is just about the same for 
ACS people.

On the subject of local meetings to draw in potential members, more social 
gatherings, etc. We tried this in Michigan off and on, in various ways, over 
the years, although not recently. It was never worth the effort. It didn't 
attract many potential members, and it was a bore for the busy members 
already signed up. Of course, a bad old idea could be a good new idea, with 
new blood and different circumstances. In any case, we have the Internet now.

But what must be remembered is that the typical member--again, in my 
experience and interpretation--is not an evangelist and not in need of group 
support or a place to go or something to do. There is too much to do already. 
(S)he joined for the very simple and practical reason of trying to keep on 
living, and is not an "organization" person. Our membership is too diverse 
and scattered for much socializing to be very practical or attractive.

At the same time, we do need some members willing to do volunteer work, and 
we have them. They don't complain that they carry an unfair share; they don't 
whine about justice or berate others for slacking. We just do what we can, 
always from enlightened self interest but also because (or including the fact 
that) we care about our friends and relatives, and others who might one day 
be friends.

Yes, we preach a bit now and then and make requests for more help--for the 
simple reason that you are usually more likely to get something if you ask 
for it than if you just wish for it. ("You can get more with a kind word and 
a gun than with a kind word alone." We don't use a gun but we sometimes nag a 
little.)

If you send a donation to a political party you will almost immediately begin 
to receive a mailbox full of begging letters from a dozen other related 
organizations. We don't do anything like that. If you join and then don't 
want to do anything more to help us operate and grow, we won't pester you, 
except just a little now and then. And if you come to our meetings with 
guests, I am sure you will not be embarrassed. 

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

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