X-Message-Number: 1652
Date: 20 Jan 93 11:27:14 EST
From: "Steven B. Harris" <>
Subject: CRYONICS : Initiation to the Mysteries

   Well, Charles, I liked both your reasons for getting frozen,
and the best thing might be to include both, tell people that
both are "true," and that they need to read both.  Start first
with the inspiring one, then go on immediately to the dirt. 
People'll want to know what that horrible old wolf-howling in the
distance is soon enough, anyway, will they not?

   In general, if we're given time to make a presentation of
*anything,* we always want it to be in logical order, so that the
conclusions at the end aren't so unbelievable and shocking.  If
we don't get TIME for an ordered presentation (due to The Media,
who have short attention spans for that kind of thing), and
therefore have to present the bare-naked conclusions without the
logical clothing, then we're just going to have to do THAT.  And
curse.  Cheer up, though: most people do not sign up for cryonics
because they first went though the entire logical infrastructure
and support, subconclusion by subconclusion.  Rather, they do it
because somebody they know and respect did it, and what the hell.
This is actually not too bad a reason, as life is too short to
learn enough about anything, and we are thus ALL forced to do
most things by trusting in other people. (However, all this will
make the old wolf howl, since the stuff he cares about may turn
out not to be so important to the social "Circus Experience" for
many, a situation which would be comical except that the circus
in your parable is not just to entertain).  Again, wait until be
freeze somebody famous, and the *true* nature of how we get
members will become more obvious, I think.

   Meanwhile, we try to keep the shock to the minimum, but
remember that in terms of recruitment it probably is a minor
problem anyway:


Tell all the truth, but tell it slant--
Success in circuit lies.
Too bright for our infirm delight
The truth's superb surprise!

As lightening to the children eased
With explanation kind
The truth must dazzle gradually--
Or every man be blind.

                  Emily Dickinson



(With Apologies)

Tell all the gore; don't sweat the slant
That isn't why they sign--
It's cause their dad or their bosom pal
Has marked that dotted line.

When you try to ease the lightening 
With theory, chart, and book,
You find that children mostly care  
About parents' worried look.


                    Doc Harris



P.S. (Note to all)  By the way, as regards my last essay on
neuropreservation, you all remember that the Legend of Sleepy
Hollow is the one about the Headless Horseman?  I'm told by a
critic that I write obscurely sometimes.  Well, okay.  Thank God
I don't have to make a living at it.

                                  Steve

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