X-Message-Number: 1872
Date: 02 Mar 93 06:13:06 EST
From: Saul Kent <>
Subject: Who Is Clarissa Wells?

In the last few weeks, Clarissa Wells has raised the ethical question of
whether Alcor's Board Of Directors should have the power to deny
membership in Alcor to individuals who they believe may have harmed the
organization.  Ms. Wells has taken the position that it is both
ethically and practically wrong for Alcor to deny membership to such
individuals and that those who believe differently "...have no business
being on the board of Alcor". 

What's been especially interesting is that several of those who have
opposed Ms. Wells have accused her of being someone other than herself. 
They suggest that Ms. Wells is not a newcomer to cryonics as she says
she is.  Or that she is not even a woman.  

What's more, the speculation about who Clarissa Wells *really* is has
been greater off cryonet than on it.  The Alcor community is buzzing
with speculation, rumors, and accusations that Clarissa Wells is one
person or another, and several people are said to be quite agitated
over the question of Clarissa Wells' *true* identity.

Some degree of curiosity about Clarissa Wells is understandable because
Ms. Wells has not been entirely forthcoming about her identity, but its
widespread intensity suggests that some Alcor members may be more
interested in the political implications of who the messenger may be
than in the ethical implications of her message. 

I don't think it matters all that much who Clarissa Wells is.  What
matters far more is her concerns for ethical issues in cryonics and the
desirability of her continuing to express these concerns.

Saul Kent 

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