X-Message-Number: 1609
Date: 13 Jan 93 20:53:40 EST
From: Garret Smyth <>
Subject: CRYONICS Re: media update/ Neurosuspension

>From my experiences this side of the Atlantic, yes, producers do see
guests as commodities, even if only because of the number that they meet.

They tend to be very unhelpful in putting a phone number on the air. We
are endevouring to get promotional shirts produced before further
appearances. This is what a lot of organisations do, and it seems to
work.

Too many guests can be a disadvantage, but if its the type of show that
has got anti-cryonicists on it, then the more on our side the better. The
nature of these shows, and the attention levels given to them, makes it
seem as if the side with the most supporters is in the right. Sad but
seemingly true.

When we first started getting publicity we went straight in with
neuropreservation, in the main because, at the time, anyone signed up
over here was a neuro. I don't know about body parts, but fears snakes
and spiders etc are not entirely innate. The *predisposition* to learn
them is innate ie its much easier to learn fear of small creatures than
say electric sockets which would be a more useful fear in the modern
child. Very often the learning of the fear is vicarious, and interstingly
enough, overcoming the fears can be done by both exposure to the stimulus
with no untoward consequences (the most successful piece of
psychotherapy there is - up to 90% effective) and also by vicarious
learning - exposure to others who are not showing fear in teh face of the
stimulus. So - don't look shifty when asked about neurosuspension, speak
up for it forthrightly, for your feelings about it will rub off on
viewers. Chopping out hearts used to be considered bad for the health,
but people aren't too worried about heart transplants (or having baboon
livers).

We can't hide the fact that neurosespensions are done, so we must make a
virtue from necessity. People are going to have to get used to the idea
sooner or later, so lets get it over with sooner. We may have frightened
new members in the UK because of neuros, but the relative cost advantages
may have also gained some (me?). 

A few months ago I was at a party, and inevitably the subject of cryonics
came up. The girl I was talking to was unphased by hte fact I had arranged
to be frozen and just said "Oh really, whole body, or just your head?" so
the message must be getting through somewhere.

I know I should have sent this before your show but I'm afraid I picked
up my messages rather late.

Garret

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