X-Message-Number: 1431 Date: 13 Dec 92 00:23:46 EST From: Charles Platt <> Subject: CRYONICS To: Kevin Brown Scott Herman's recent "open letter" to Ralph Whelan makes some wild accusations in a seeming attempt to smear people publicly. It's tempting just to ignore this; yet we have no way of knowing what impression it makes on readers who aren't closely acquainted with the people concerned. Cryonet is, after all, a (relatively) public forum. Therefore, although I am merely an observer, I feel some need to offer a rebuttal, and I hope others will do the same. Three statements are particularly misleading and (to me) offensive, since they vilify people whom I respect: "Your cohorts on the board are the kind of people who were willing to damage Alcor if they didn't get their way." The "cohorts" are giving their time to Alcor because they deeply believe in it and want to see it soundly managed. What is the "damage" that they are supposedly willing to inflict? If Mr. Herman is going to throw out allegations like this, he should at least define his terms. "These guys are typical politicians and anyone who trusts them more than once is pretty stupid." Ralph Whelan cannot be described by any stretch of the imagination as "pretty stupid." "Saul will have ruined Alcor completely while Steve sits around begging everyone to be nice." Saul Kent is one of the most generous benefactors that Alcor has ever had. He has devoted most of his life, and a large portion of his wealth, to cryonics. He is a very intelligent person. Anyone who knows Saul (whether they like him or dislike him) would surely acknowledge these facts. I'd like to know how might he "ruin" Alcor, and why. But I doubt that Mr. Herman is capable of offering a coherent explanation. Certainly his letter makes no attempt to do so. --Charles Platt Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=1431