X-Message-Number: 1605
Date: Wed, 13 Jan 93 14:26:49 CST
From:  (Micheal B. O'Neal)
Subject: CRYONICS  Neurosuspension, immortality, and the marketing of cryonics.

There has been much discussion on Cryonet recently concerning the best 
way to present cryonics.  Two examples have been how to present the 
concept of neurosuspension to a naive audience and whether or not we 
should use the word "immortal".  Perhaps one way we can approach this 
problem is for each of us to post how we felt about these issues when 
we first became interested in cryonics. (Not necessarily the same as 
how we feel now.)  Maybe some kind of consensus can be reached.

Take neurosuspension as an example.  My first reaction to the neuro 
idea was quite negative.  Even after I understood the technical 
arguments and became convinced that a technology capable of reviving 
anyone suspended with today's techniques would probably also be able 
to revive a neuro patient, I still did not feel comfortable with the 
idea.  Over the years, I have warmed to the neuro idea. :-)  For 
example, while I plan to remain a "whole-body" member of Alcor, I think 
Alcor's "conversion to neuro" policy is an excellent idea that provides 
me with a good fall back position in case of crisis.

Acceptance of the neurosuspension argument is not a prerequisite for 
signing up.  So, I believe it should be presented strictly as an option 
that some members elect and as a reasonable fall back position for others.  
Perhaps official spokespersons for Alcor should even be encouraged to 
sign up as "whole-body".   That way they may appear more "acceptable" 
and "reasonable" to the general public.

I believe that cryonics and the pursuit of "immortality" are also 
separate but related issues.  I agree with Thomas Donaldson that most 
of us Alcorians are striving for immortality.  But, I also agree with 
Charles Platt that we should not throw up additional road blocks in our 
path (a path that is already incredibly difficult).  I have no problem 
with cryonicists who talk about immortality, but it took me a long time 
to fully understand what they mean when they use the term.

When I first became interested in cryonics, immortality was the farthest 
thing from my mind.  I was fascinated by the concept of forward time 
travel and seeing what the distant future holds.  I associated the word 
immortality with religious types -- strictly to be avoided.

My first introduction to Alcor was an ad in the back of Free Inquiry that
began with the phrase "Physical Immortality Now" or something like that.
I smiled and almost passed it by, except that I saw the word "cryonics"
and so decided to investigate. 

For me, in a sense, cryonics has come to fill that spot normally held 
by a religion meme (as Keith Henson might say), but it does not have to.  
This process of exploring the possibility of an open-ended lifespan 
happened very slowly over a number of years and seemed to occur mainly 
after I signed up, not before.  In fact, one of my biggest problems with 
the whole idea of cryonics early on was the religious feel it seemed to 
have.

What we must keep in mind is that cryonics is a reasonable form of 
"life" insurance, which does not have to compete with any religious 
memes a person might have.  I think that this is especially true of 
younger people.  In our society it is considered a tragedy to die young 
-- hence there is no "striving for god-like status" stigma related to 
young people signing up.  In fact, I have successfully used the "life" 
insurance approach to convince a family member to join Alcor.  I can 
honestly say that for him, both Alcor and his insurance company have 
about the same level of religious significance (i.e., none). 

While it is true that members of this type will probably not work hard 
for Alcor, their very presence makes us stronger.  I also think that 
eventually the bulk of Alcor membership will be people who see themselves 
as contracting for a service, nothing more.  This must become true if 
cryonics is to gain mass appeal.

Now, eventually many of these people will come to view cryonics as a 
stepping stone to physical immortality.  But since this world view is not 
a prerequisite for joining, and is a turn off to many, why should we play 
it up?

Mike

Micheal B. O'Neal                           Dept. of Computer Science
                        Louisiana Tech University
                                            Ruston, Louisiana   71272

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=1605