X-Message-Number: 19619 Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2002 11:51:03 -0700 (PDT) From: Jeff Davis <> Subject: Re: Ted Williams wanted body frozen From the extropians list: Thu Jul 25 2002 - 15:54:25 MDT, Hal Finney () wrote: >News on the Ted Williams front: Reuters is reporting that his son has exhibited a note signed by the famous baseball player indicating that he wanted to be cryonically suspended upon his death. http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=topnews&StoryID=1253495 The note, co-signed by Williams, his son John Henry and daughter Claudia, dated November 2, 2000, reads, "JHW, Claudia and Dad all agree to be put into Bio-Stasis after we die. This is what we want, to be able to be together in the future, even if it is only a chance." ------------------------- I find the content and phrasing of the note very interesting. One thing is the motivation for the suspension: "to be able to be together in the future". Non-cryonicists, who see into the matter only very superficially, narrowly and critically perceive the goal as one of individual survival (sometimes characterizing this as selfish), and characterize the outcome as filled with negatives. Their prejudice shows. It precedes and inspires the negative features of their view. They typically imagine recovery in a too-strange future populated only by strangers, friends and kin long dead. The prospect of maintaining and extending family unity is a notably more sophisticated view. This is the very first time I have seen this in print in the mass media, and is of some value to the wider promotion of cryonics. Though it might slip out of public perception were it to be mentioned once and then disappear, it's presence on the crucial note, almost certain to be central to the legal case, suggests that the public will hear it at least several more times. This may give it some degree of memetic durability. Then there is the term "Bio-Stasis". Very unexpected to see this. Frequently we see the term "cryogenics" mistakenly substituted for cryonics. I'm going to guess that John Henry got "Bio-Stasis" from the Alcor literature. But I also wonder if perhaps it means something more. Is it possible that John Henry may have been lurking about in "our" neighborhood? He's been very tight-lipped so far, keeping us in suspense. This story has more unfolding to do. Best, Jeff Davis "My guess is that people don't yet realize how "handy" an indefinite lifespan will be." J Corbally __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better http://health.yahoo.com Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=19619