X-Message-Number: 12868
From: "George Smith" <>
References: <>
Subject: Reason, ranting and misrepresentation.
Date: Sun, 28 Nov 1999 12:37:11 -0800

For Charles Platt:

I am surprised that you find the need to state that I am "ranting" and
"deluded".

It is unworthy of someone of your standing to attack a person's character
instead of addressing the issue as expressed by that person.

"Ad hominum" is the name of this classic propaganda ploy.  It is used to
avoid the issue at hand.

Now, for you to claim that "no one in cryonics" has suggested that signing
up for cryonics should not take priority over earmarking funds for research
requires a careful rewriting of history it seems to me.

Is it not true that at least one major researcher declared current cryonics
a "failure" this year while still promoting funding research instead?

What would you call that?

Oh, yes.  You also state that to your knowledge no one has diverted their
funding for cryonics for research.  You may very well be correct.

But we do not know how many individuals reading the all too often
pessimistic opinions expressed as facts here chose to not sign up in the
first place.  That is my entire point.  Period.

Oh, yes.  Almost forgot.  I never mentioned 21CM by name in my post you
referred to, as you claim I did.

Does the shoe fit?

George Smith
www.cryonics.org

> Message #12860
> Date: Sat, 27 Nov 1999 09:19:37 -0500 (EST)
> From: Charles Platt <>
> Subject: Re: CryoNet #12846 - #12857
>
> On Sat, 27 Nov 1999, George Smith ranted about 21st Century Medicine:
>
> > Yes. And they want YOUR MONEY for research.
> >
> > Not some of it.  ALL of it.
> >
> > They don't want you to spend the precious few dollars you might "waste"
on
> > YOUR cryonic suspension when you could be giving to research, THEIR
> > research.
>
> I believe the last time 21st Century Medicine offered stock was more than
> six years ago. Since then, so far as I know, no one at 21st has asked for
> money. Indeed, it would be difficult to find a way to give it to them,
> since they are a for-profit company. The only other appeals for money for
> research have come from Paul Wakfer (for a very specific effort that was
> pursued separately from 21st Century Medicine) and from Robert Ettinger.
>
> No one in cryonics, at any time, has suggested or implied that any person
> should sacrifice cryonics funding in order to support research. Nor has
> this occurred inadvertantly. Nor has anyone engaged in research proposed
> that people signed up for cryopreservation should divert their funding
> elsewhere, so far as I am aware. I'm afraid Mr. Smith is uninformed and
> deluded.
>
> But what else is new?

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