X-Message-Number: 12872 Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 06:57:14 -0500 (EST) From: Charles Platt <> Subject: Re: CryoNet #12865 - #12870 To George Smith: > I am surprised that you find the need to state that I am "ranting" and > "deluded". Sorry, George. But you do seem a bit deluded to me, and your denunciation did seem to qualify as a rant. From my perspective, there are many rants on CryoNet, and many of them are deluded. > Is it not true that at least one major researcher declared current cryonics > a "failure" this year while still promoting funding research instead? If you're responding to the idiosyncratic pulpit-thumping of one particular person, it might help to name that person instead of generalizing. At this point I think this, er, unnamed person speaks only for himself. But even he, so far as I know, has not suggested that anyone should cancel arrangements for cryopreservation and divert the money to research. I believe he is still signed for cryopreservation himself. > My entire statement was taken out of context. My statement was in direct > reference to those IN GENERAL who believe the current state of cryonics to > be poor or unworkable All right, but those IN GENERAL have never suggested diverting cryopreservation funds for research. In fact I believe virtually all donations for research (e.g. for the hippocampal brain slice project which was initiated by Paul Wakfer) come from people who are already signed up for cryonics. I mean, why should anyone who is NOT signed up, give money for research into cryonics? > The word "like" is critical here. I was discussing the effects of public > statements of those IN GENERAL who have a low opinion regarding the > "probability of success with current methods" upon those who have not yet > decided to sign up for cryonics. During the period when Alcor was publishing a monthly magazine emphasizing grim realities as opposed to upbeat speculation, the organization enjoyed faster growth than any other cryonics organization in history. None of the many people who share your beliefs has ever been able to explain this. Your apology is appreciated and accepted, though I hardly think it was necessary. I assume spirited discussion is legitimate here. --CP Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=12872