X-Message-Number: 18416
Date: Sat, 26 Jan 2002 08:17:47 -0500
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: CryoNet #18410 - #18415

Hi everyone!

Will Alcor and the Cryonics Institute eventually be outgunned and buried
by much bigger organizations when the idea that cryonics may actually
work becomes popular? I do not claim to be able to see the future, but
here are some reasons AGAINST that idea.

1. A new organization does not have to establish that it has enough
   money. It must, for cryonics, establish that it is loyal enough 
   and will last long enough.

   This is something that the existing organizations would find easy
   to do, and easier and easier as the time passes between now and
   any time that cryonics looks like becoming popular. On the other
   hand, a new organization would have to establish that it, too, is
   willing to do almost anything to keep its patients in suspension,
   and that it won't go bankrupt (possibly with its principals 
   getting lots of income from that bankruptcy). 

2. Someone who's only in it for the money does not have the kind of
   of motivations of someone who expects one day to be suspended
   him or herself. If you want to be assured of your suspension,
   the first thing you're likely to do is join an existing organization.
   Founding a new one, even with lots of money, isn't obviously the
   most effective thing to do. It's not that you could not hire
   people to freeze you, but that unless they too wanted to be frozen
   their motives would be weak. You find such people in existing
   organizations: people who want to be frozen themselves, and
   show that want in the most and strongest way, by joining a cryonics
   society.

3. Right now the only research directly bearing on cryonics is paid
   for by cryonicists. Even though their organization doesn't officially
   work for cryonics, both Saul and Bill are cryonicists, as are many
   in their organization.

   Essentially this means that the existing organizations will either
   hold patents, or have members who hold patents, to the technology
   required. They will not be happy to give this information to
   any organization or group which proposes to wipe them out by
   being financially stronger. Sure, if this organization or group
   gives, say, Alcor, a major voice in its affairs, that changes 
   the matter. 

   Basically, all the research work on cryonics, even simple research
   on the best tubing to use, makes the existing societies stronger
   than a new one. If they can do nothing else, they can require that
   they, their members, and their patients, be made equal parts of
   this other organization. Suspension just isn't a simple process
   that anyone can do by dipping their patient in liquid nitrogen;
   this means that the longer it takes for cryonics to become 
   popular, the stronger will by the technology patents held by 
   existing cryonics societies.

As I said, I don't know what the future will bring. However we should
not simply assume that large organizations will someday take it all
over. Perhaps the large organizations will be named Alcor and the
Cryonics Institute, or perhaps they will be essential parts of 
the formation of one or more large organizations, even if those
organizations don't carry their names.

		Best wishes and long long life for all,

			Thomas Donaldson

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