X-Message-Number: 22955
From: "John de Rivaz" <>
References: <003701c3b531$f1f9a2c0$>
Subject: Re: [Venturists] So you don't want to die......
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2003 17:58:02 -0000

> Donate as much as you can afford and as often as you can afford to.
> Contribute as if your life depended on it.

Although there is obvious logic here, Chrissie and I are concerned that this
message gives the idea that if someone joins the cryonics movement, the
movement will be a constant sink of his funds, just like any other cult. We
think some words of caution are not out of place.

Many people have already degraded their standard of living in order to pay
their life insurance premiums. I know cryonics isn't a cult, and presumably
most people who have read these lists for some years know that. But there
are
newcomers to these lists all the time -- educating newcomers is one of their
major functions.  We don't want to drive them off.

Cryonics could be seen as just another set of organisations howling for
money alongside small charities for unheard of endangered species right up
to huge organisations that sincerely believe that they can solve world
hunger if only they were given enough funds.

We also know that there is no guarantee that cryonics will work, and a
balance needs to be obtained - this could be the only life you get. The
same, of course, applies to the promises made by some religions or political
parties demanding sacrifices for future generations, such as communism.

Many couples have only one partner interested in cryonics. If cryonics is
*seen as* the reason (it doesn't have to *be* the reason) they never go on
holiday, have new things or experience the extravagances of life, the
pro-death partner is likely to feel even more hostile.

I don't know what the answer is, but I don't think the Bob Geldoff school of
fundraising is going to help much.

If it wasn't for bequests, the cryonics organisations would be in a lot less
strong a position than they are now. Maybe it is bequests, and spin-off
organisations like Bio Time Inc. that can be floated on public markets, that
should be the main sources of funding. Or maybe something completely new.
There are enough bright people on these lists to make constructive
suggestions that do not involve "shaking the tin."

I do know that the legal advisors of cryonics organisations are not keen on
alternative sources of income. They are used to putting people in positions
where large sums of money can be demanded, and the client has no option but
to pay. Therefore strongly worded "begging letters" seem an obvious and only
course of action to them - they are legally safer than running another
business.

But the degree of force is less obvious with cryonics compared to people
threatened with litigation. People decades away from the average age of
death can say "That's enough" and transfer their insurance to benefit a
relative (or stop paying the premiums) and leave the movement. Admittedly
they will be annihilated as a
result and they will lose the use of every cent they have when this happens.

But losing them has not helped the movement. It is demoralising for all
of us when someone leaves, especially if they have been with the movement
for a long time (as noted in other recent messages). It is also demoralising
for those who have worked educating people about cryonics to the extent that
they sign up, having been told that it
isn't really that expensive.

-- 
Sincerely, John de Rivaz:  http://John.deRivaz.com for websites including
Cryonics Europe, Longevity Report, The Venturists, Porthtowan, Alec Harley
Reeves - inventor, Arthur Bowker - potter, de Rivaz genealogy,  Nomad .. and
more

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