X-Message-Number: 1637
From:  (Thomas Donaldson)
Subject: Re: cryonics: #1627-#1633 (2/2)
Date: Sun, 17 Jan 93 18:53:45 PST

Hi again:

Re Charles Platt's comments. The first thing I would say is that I was focusing
solely on 2 propositions: that we should not mention "immortality" and that
we should not mention "neurosuspension". OF COURSE we want to put our message
in persuasive terms, etc, etc.

Now if Charles wants to talk to people privately, he has far more control over
what they hear and see. And yes, in that case he may well be able to get to
the "hard parts" later. HOWEVER I was not focusing on that kind of case (though
I would be the first to say that it can be the most effective). I was focusing
on the case of someone -- YOU --- asked to give an interview about cryonics.
And in that case you have to deal with someone else who has every ability to
bend the conversation to THEIR will, not your own. And its been my experience,
both here and in Australia (where I gave a great many interviews when I lived
there) that these 2 issues will inevitably come up.

All psychology aside, a certain sensitivity to the person with which you are
talking becomes important. I hardly claim perfection in that respect; but I've
met people who need to be eased into cryonics, and others who want the "whole
truth and nothing but the truth", at once. And if I raise those issues of 
immortality or neurosuspension, I never do so BALDLY, without explanation.
Yes, we AIM at immortality, but that is an asymptote that we will by definition
never reach; and yes, we do arrange for neuropreservation, I am myself signed
up for neuropreservation-- because it costs far less, has turned out less
risky, and we have very good reasons to believe (here I mention studies of
development) that someday, before we even awaken, our revivers will know how
to make our head grow another complete body.

And I too would like to hear from Brenda about her own ideas --- and not just
on this particular issue.
			Best, Charles, and a long long life,
				Thomas
-- 

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