X-Message-Number: 1444 Date: 14 Dec 92 23:02:56 EST From: Charles Platt <> Subject: CRYONICS Dissent To: Kevin Brown As a relative newcomer, I still see cryonics from two perspectives: inside and outside. My outside perspective tells me that Dave Pizer is right, and people must be reaping some pleasure from conflict. It is, after all, a seductive form of drama. My inside perspective, however, tells me that this is only half the story; that there were issues that urgently needed to be raised and resolved, and shouting loudly seemed the only way for some people to be heard. It seems to me that in this community, dissent is inevitable; and dissent is not entirely a bad thing, because it insures that actions and issues are examined critically. I agree with Dave, however, that there is a point beyond which the fighting becomes destructive. And good manners don't hurt. Therefore the question is, how to find a compromise. I will state again the solution that I already suggested a month ago. A small newsletter could be circulated to the entire Alcor membership at intervals, as a forum for dissent and replies to the dissent. How does Dave feel about this? I have received various letters in favor of the project (and Courtney Smith has said he would donate $100 to help it along). I have also discussed it with Ralph Whelan, who is willing to propose it at the next board meeting. There are several advantages: 1. A newsletter that reaches the Alcor membership and is open to all contributions should act as a safety valve for activists who otherwise may feel that people aren't paying attention to their views. This would help to reduce tensions. 2. The print medium encourages a more careful, considered style of discussion than email. 3. A newsletter dedicated to discussion of internal issues would take a burden off Cryonics magazine. Right now, Cryonics has to do double duty: as a publication promoting cryonics in the outside world, and as an in-house publication where people air grievances. Ralph does not always have an easy time trying to balance these demands. So, let's take the in-house stuff out of Cryonics magazine, so the magazine can be angled more to nonmembers, as a recruitment tool. This would also make newsstand distribution a possibility. 4. A newsletter of the type I have previously defined would be extremely cheap to produce. I have already volunteered to do all the work of gathering and formatting the text. The only real problem with the newsletter is that it would cost some money. Ideally, members should receive it free; but as we all know, "free" is a deceptive concept. A subscription of just $5 a year per person would cover most of the costs, assuming 8 issues per year. Should people have the option of paying for it and getting it, or not paying for it and not getting it? Bear in mind that the newsletter has to have a wide circulation, otherwise it won't function as a really open medium for discussion. Should one free issue be sent to ALL members once per year, to remind them that it exists, while the remaining issues are only available by subscription? What's the best way of dealing with this? If anyone has suggestions, now's the time to make them. --Charles Platt Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=1444