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 

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