X-Message-Number: 30475
References: <>
From: Kennita Watson <>
Subject: Re: What makes people take action?
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:22:22 -0800

On Feb 12, 2008, at 2:00 AM, CryoNet wrote:
> even though the religious people in
> Badger's (1998) data set said they "agree" that "chances are zero if I
> am buried or cremated", they also state they wouldn't change their
> attitude about cryonics "under any circumstances". It appears that as
> long as there is any doubt about the immortality of the soul, people
> will resist even exposing themselves to information about cryonics.
> Therefore, a change in life philosophy seems to be a precondition for
> effective promotion of biostasis. A new institutional framework seems
> essential, if this is to be accomplished.


Fear not.  When thousands of people have been
cryopreserved and reanimated, these tunes will
change.  Even bedrock can crack when there is a
powerful earthquake.  There will always be doubt,
because the immortality of the soul cannot be
disproved.  Religious people will still sign up
if we can communicate (assuming you want to play
their game) that any immortal soul is not in
jeopardy through cryonics.  If you *don't* want
to play their game, don't waste your time or
mental energy.

Basically, life philosophies are VERY hard to
change; let's reach out to the people whose
life philosophies don't need changing.

Interesting -- this thread might as well be called
"What stops people from taking action?".  Perhaps
better, since it can be easier to remove barriers
than to try to push people over them.

Google "The Authoritarians" -- first hit leads
to an online book that explains *a lot* about the
problems in the world today, including the
problematic mindset that David describes.
home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/

Also Google "Enlightenment 2.0" -- first hit leads
to a marvelous series of Google videos covering a
3-day symposium on the topic and what we (she says
presumptuously) have to deal with.
http://thesciencenetwork.org/BeyondBelief2

Live long and prosper,
Kennita

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