X-Message-Number: 29195
From:
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 16:41:04 EST
Subject: Cybersilenced by the Googleminder
Let's change the subject for a few minutes, then back to cryonics financial
matters...
Meet Marty:
_http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22marty+kardon%22&btnG=Search_
(http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q="marty+kardon"&btnG=Search)
I believe he was silenced from further CryoNet posting by prominent Internet
search engines results for his name. Self censured "to CryoNet extinction"
by the all powerful "Orwellian Googleminder" overseeing his postings. Too
bad. He's a good and thoughtful writer. Over his two-year span of postings he
brought forth some valuable insights including on the decision making process
for cryonics as a member of the mainstream middle class, himself and his
family. (Fifteen short posts in all from 11/1998 to 02/2001, I recommend
reading
them all by clicking the first hyperlink of the above Google search URL, and
saving the last post for last.)
One of his concerns was for family members "left behind" Here's an excerpt
from a post:
"To propagate these ideas we need to address and answer intellectual,
interpersonal and emotional concerns of members, prospective members and
their families. I'm sure some of the people involved are doing so. I would
love to hear more real life stories about what has actually transpired in
cases of cryonic suspension (obviously names and specifics of identities are
neither appropriate or relevent for this purpose.)"
While cognizant of privacy concerns due to the liability of being affiliated
with what some still considered "the province of the weird and misguided"
(his words), as he grows in comfort and trust over the months, he shares
additional professional and personal information with CryoNetters. For
instance, we
know that he, his wife and four children were ready to sign up from this
post of his in late 1999 (Message Number 12799):
***** QUOTE *****
"Notwithstanding my hand wringing about 'survivors'...
My family and I are on the verge of completing a sign up for post 'mortem'
preservation/suspension. For me this is more than a financial, scientific
exercise. There is a significant personal/emotional aspect to it. In a way
its similar to the egyptians who mummified [preserved] their bodies for use
in the next life. They had no guarantee it would work but those who could
did it anyway. With the wisdom of 'modern' hindsight we now see how
undoable their plans were. What will they think of us in 1,000 years. We
may be fodder for future museums.
Ultimately cryo-preservation is act of myopic, if not blind, faith when we
hope or expect revival.
In any event we all have our opinions. George Smith and Prof. Ettinger are,
for me, always uplifting in their postings. Mike Darwin can be down right
depressing. Charles Platt, as a journalist I suppose, expresses more of a
middle ground point of view. One or the other, or just as likely none of
them are right. For anyone to elect suspension at this time is ultimately
an act of almost religous belief in the god of science. Of course the
alternative is guaranteed extinction so why not give it a shot?
My fingers will be crossed in the dewar."
***** END QUOTE *****
("...an act of almost religous belief in the god of science" -- I like that
line.)
A year later, like many of us, he is still wrestling with some issues, one
of which has been discussed, at least indirectly, as recently as today on
CryoNet:
"Unfortunately for a family of six which does not have a software mandarin in
the mix the Alcor 150K is just simply out of reach. I am still undecided
about this issue of socking away personal funds for use upon or for
resuscitation."
I do not know if he and/or his family ultimately signed up or not. I know
that he quit posting. I suspect others have been unintentionally
cybersilenced by the Googleminder. I was. Where is George Smith these days? I
always
looked forward to his posts. Others likely decided never to post in the first
place -- other "real mainstream guys." The ones operating in the "real world"
-- those who daily perform amongst the memed masses of mainstream white
picket fence society. The ones cryonics needs.
I hope to inspire a discussion of possible options. I can think of a few
right off the bat. But it may be a tough sell. I view this as A Perfect
Blindspot -- in fact, that was the alternative title of this post. The people
on
this list who would be the most excited by the issue, Don't Post. The ones
that
DO Post don't share the concern (or at least not to a significant degree for
any number of legitimate reasons including the use of "aliases" for some).
Kevin has helped me recently. The immediate issue is that I will be doing
some "marketing" to Consumer Reports where their research staff will be
searching my company name. He electronically mended my posts with
"Biologist501" and
Google spiders (and others) will likely "mind me no more" eventually by
dropping my prominent CryoNet group listings -- they'll be elsewhere instead.
Like others, I don't mind my past posts -- I rather like a few of them. It's
just that they were intended for CryoNet, not my prospective new banking
clients, Consumer Reports staffers, or my nephews. This could probably be made
a
choice issue for current and future CryoNet posters. And all automated even --
just follow the directions. And adaptive after the fact. Not in changing
post text, just their "findability" on search engines. But there's no sense in
him doing all the work to customize and improve the format for the 21st
Century if there is no perceived need for such a change. I perceive such a
novel
innovaton to be vital for both CryoNet and cryonics by making both more user
friendly. But maybe that's just me.
Is this post itself an intrusion of Marty's privacy? Minimally and
negligibly. It has the upside potential of ultimately fixing an irritating and
costly
problem in the long run. Even though his posts are fine. Again, his
"privacy concerns" are financial in nature involving the routine Googling of
his
name by potential legal clients (and his partners' existing and potential
clients) who will necessarily and unavoidably happening upon old posts never
intended for them in the first place and might spend their time there rather
than
at his law firm's website _http://kbklaw.com/attorneys.html_
(http://kbklaw.com/attorneys.html) ; his concern might be for a bashful
teenage daughter's
mercilessly teasing little friends who all Google at the drop of a hat several
times a day; or a wacky neighbor down the street just looking for a way to
discredit him at the Homeowners' Association meeting next month (even if
cryonauts are already "over 1,000 strong", according to UnPerson's video); or a
saddened parent and an embarrassed adult sister with her minister husband who
rejects cryonics as a sacrilege for some reason; or about the upcoming high
school reunion -- where he might have seriously broached the subject of
cryonics to a few old friends -- but instead can expect to be "Popsicle Man"
again
all weekend long thanks to the ever drunk classroom stooge, who has not
changed a bit.
(http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q="marty+kardon"&btnG=Search)
Give it some thought.
Thanks.
D. C. Johnson
<BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> AOL now offers free
email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at
http://www.aol.com.
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