X-Message-Number: 20203
Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 21:28:31 -0500
From: Trent <>
Subject: reply to Driven FromThePack

<First, I STRONGLY object to your negative
characterization of John Henry: he is a hero of
cryonics and life extension who went stuck with his
principles against a strong tide of public and media
disapproval and (along with Claudia) had his father
cryopreserved.  I think maybe you are actually
believing some of the, ahem, misinformation put out by
the media regarding cryonics in connection with the
Williams affair.>

Yes, he may have good motives, but in this case it is hard to tell WHO has 
good motives if anyone. It really doesn't appear that things were done as 
they should have been - scraps of paper with directives written on them? 
(if this is even true) - so that does make anything suspect. Of course, I 
can only base my opinion on what I read in the news or their own web sites.


<Second, if I were you, I would lay off the perjorative
adjectives directed to a certain litigious party
involved in this affair. It's one thing to give your
opinion, but you should watch what you say here--you
never know who might be reading these messages....>

Well, they've already made themselves public figures, and they are both 
expressing strong options about issues that, while not exactly religious or 
affecting huge numbers of people,  are matters of great philosophical 
controversy, and are being made so by the actions of the parties. You can 
go to court without whipping up the public, starting web sites, and running 
P/R campaigns. It is no different than if I started a web site, and public 
campaign, saying Catholics support child molesting - at a certain point, 
and after certain conduct you begin to loose the protections of a private 
citizen.

As far as someone litigating against me, they would be barking up the wrong 
tree - been on the front page more than once, and I have not only the money 
but very able attorneys that I pay very well, as well as considerable 
ability of my own.  I am used to litigation, very long, very public 
litigation, it is a fact of life after you obtain a certain level of 
success I guess... suing me is not something anybody should take lightly. I 
am not your "average" person.



Perhaps you are correct - John Henry is in the right, and had right 
motives. Or perhaps this is just an example of people who argue over 
everything. I have seen families like that - the issues at hand aren't what 
is important, just the arguing, and money is almost always the root, but 
things take on a life of their own and soon everyone is just fighting over 
anything that can be fought over. Perhaps it is a little of all of the 
above. I doubt we will ever know 100% of the truth, unless mind reading is 
perfected!



There is a very real possibility that the cryonics movement will be hurt 
beyond repair due to this fiasco. I don't see it defending itself (other 
than here - but that doesn't really count, when our attackers are waging 
the war in the NY Times, eh?). I think it is fair to state that this is the 
first time anybody has waged a campaign to destroy cryonics, at least one 
that has gotten any measure of publicity like this.

What I think makes me the most angry is that there isn't an industry 
association of sorts to rebut this whole thing. It just doesn't seem like 
cryonists (?) are coming together to defend themselves, and their beliefs. 
We seem too divided.



Trent

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