X-Message-Number: 23718
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 16:25:53 -0800
Subject: Re: PR
From: Kennita Watson <>

=?big5?q?kurt2100kimo?= <> wrote:
> The problem with doing something controversial like
> cryonics is that it places a premium on the need for
> professionalism.

Note:  Present myself professionally -- Probably best not to
wear my customary T-shirts, unless they have a particularly
appropriate design on them (and maybe not even then --
cafepress.com does print other forms of clothing).

Summer is coming -- maybe go to some street fairs and see
how various groups present themselves.

Thought:  A shirt or badge with "Ask me about REAL cryonics"
printed on it.  One small step in the direction of "setting
the context", perhaps?

> Many people who joined the cryonics
> scene in the late 80's did so because Alcor was well
> run and the people invloved seemed to have thier act
> together. This is very important, especially for
> newbies who do not want to be associated with
> flakiness.

Possible question for an onsite poll, or labels for jars,
could deal with whether people think Trygve is a flake,
or cryonics is for flakes, or being here makes Alcor
look more flaky.  (Maybe a poll of all the current Alcor
members is also in order:  When did they join, why did
they join, how were they first introduced, what kind of
impression do they think a presence at FDGD will make and
to what extent does it depend on the form and content of
the presence, etc.?)  Maybe we could offer a trivia quiz on
cryonics, with a prize for the winner (or the high
scorers entered into a drawing for a prize),
>
> We need to project a professional image. This helps us
> gain members and supporters in a society that is
> indifferent or sometime hostile to us. It is my
> conviction that the reason why the Arizona state
> government wants to regulate Alcor is not so much
> bacause of the controversy with Ted Williams as it is
> due to the fallout from the larry Johnson alligations.

Quite so, though those allegations were leveled because of
Ted Williams' case.  Were I to believe in such a thing, I
would say there was a special place in hell reserved for
Larry Johnson.  Professionalism is scant defense against
such deceit and disingenuousness.  All it can do from such
a defensive posture is display grace under fire.

> I believe that it is the perceived flakiness in Alcor
> procedures that attracted the attention of the state
> legislatures.

I don't think it was perceived flakiness that attracted
their attention, but perceived gross negligence,
incompetence, and disrespect, all of which perceptions
came from Larry Johnson's reports.  BTW, the disrespect
nut will be hard to crack, science or no science and
professionalism or no professionalism, for as long as we
store our patients head down in group housing or cut off
their heads and store them in apartment complexes.  I'm
open to suggestions for ways to put a positive spin on
that one.
>
> Lots of movies and other aspects of pop culture will
> lampoon us and mis-represent us in various other ways.
> This is fine and it does attract attention to us.

As long as when we get the attention we make good use
of it.

> Receiving residual attention from this stuff is fine
> and useful. To actively associate ourselves with these
> portrayals of cryonics is not only useless, but is bad
> for our image.

The FDGD are, however, unique.  Unlike a movie, they offer
the opportunity for interaction.  Another friend with whom
I discussed my plans noted something he learned from
Anthony Robbins:  If you present something to someone
while they're in an up, happy state, they may not remember
exactly what you said, but they'll remember your having
said it in a positive light.
>
> remember, people watch movies for fun and
> entertainment, not necessarly for political content
> and activism.
>
They don't go to FDGD for political content and
activism, either.  But if they come away from them with
a more positive view of mainstream cryonics, we win.

"Cryonics -- not the living end"

Live long and prosper,
Kennita
--
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
none but ourselves can free our minds.
           -- Bob Marley, "Redemption Song"

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