X-Message-Number: 26462 From: Subject: Sue Religion? Date: Sat, 2 Jul 2005 07:17:16 GMT Speaking personally (not for CI), I want to voice my opposition to Dave Pizer's suggestion to sue religion over promises of immortality. I have previously expressed the opinion that presenting "physical immortalism" as an alternative to religion is the equivalent to wearing a "Kill Me" sign. Now Dave wants a huge "Kill Me" sign with flashing neon lights that can be worn in the center of an al-Qaeda training camp. Worse, at the center of the bullseye is not Dave Pizer, but cryonics -- all of our patients, members and supporters. Cryonics has recently avoided a brush with death at the hands of the governments of Arizona and Michigan. We are a tiny minority struggling to survive. We desperately need friends & allies, not more enemies. Our best chance of survival at this time may well be to remain unworthy of serious attention. Where would a cryonicist with a death wish look to find the fiercest potential enemies? Do most cryonicists not know from personal experience that the most vehement opposition and hostility we face comes from people who imagine that cryonics is in conflict with God's will? Should we not make efforts to convince these potential opponents that there are no real grounds for this presumed conflict -- or at minimum not to inflame them? Does a chipmunk improve its chances of survival by attacking a bear and biting it on the leg? There are certain experiments which prudent people do not perform. I will not drive a long nail through my head in order to study the effects. If Dave were totally dissociated from cryonics he could bear the full responsibility for his actions. But instead he presents himself as a spokesperson for cryonics, despite the fact that CryoNetters have overwhelmingly repudiated his spokesmanship. To so recklessly endanger the lives of our members and patients is criminal negligence. Dave, if you've got money to blow on a lawsuit, why not use it for something constructive like a hospice or retirement community for cryonicists. Those were great ideas for which you had our admiration and support. I cannot think of a way to convince you that the risks of your lawsuit are great and the probability of a positive result is minuscule. -- Ben Best, speaking for himself Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=26462