X-Message-Number: 31597
References: <>
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 14:30:24 -0700 (PDT)
From: Shannon <>
Subject: Flav / Rudi

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Thank you Greg for your comments, I agree that our community is small and we 
must focus on the positives in order to build it.  We are measured by our words 
and there are some very negative on-line perceptions of cryonicists due to 
various flame wars that have started between members.  


I understand the need for sarcasm or gentle ribbing at times--but outright 
public criticism of others doesn't provide much to our community. I think when 
people post, they inherently feel that others will mostly agree with the. I know
my words will be taken hundreds of different ways by people each time I post.  
Anyone, colleagues, friends--my children, can read them some day.  Studies do 
show that people are more polite on-line in comment fields and forums when they 
use their real names, and one of our problems here at cryo-net is that a few 
people like to hide behind pseudonyms so they can complain about others.  There 
is a need for constructive criticism but often it works better to work with 
leadership in an organization about any problems. Leaders in Alcor, CI, SA and 
ACS will all meet with members, or let people attend their board meetings and 
make a presentation.  The best way to create change in the Cryonics community is
to work with the current

 organizations and supporters.  You can also volunteer and join leadership 
 positions yourself.   


Any of us can be criticized for something in our life, and it would be great if 
all of us who support and advocate for cryonics remember to focus on the 
positives of our fellow volunteers.  Rudi for instance does make some money for 
cryonicsts who set up life insurance through him--he also though, does a lot of 
volunteer work to advocate for cryonics. Rudi works with non-cryonicsts through 
his business and there are many in cryonics who have set up arrangements with 
other insurance agents that he is friends with, I myself did when I joined.  
Years later when I was re-married and looking for a policy to cover my current 
husband I shopped around, met with two insurance agents locally and also 
contacted Rudi.  He found a better deal and helped me save money, while ensuring
that I had what I needed set up.  I've been impressed by how he truly wants to 
help people get cryonics arrangements by making it more affordable.  He has many
friends whom he sends

 holiday cards to that are cryonicists who have set up their own life insurance 
 arrangements.  Personally he is a nice guy, with a refreshingly optimistic 
 personality.  We cryonicists are for the most part a close-knit community, with
 only a few disgruntled members who prefer to complain about what is going on.
 Most cryonicsts wish the best for the organizations they are members with.  
 Many also attend trainings to help with stand-by, write and speak about 
 cryonics to spread awareness, or coordinate volunteers.  Flav has also 
 contributed positives things to cryonics, I understand his frustration with 
 Rudi but wish that he would keep that private and continue posting the more 
 constructive things. If Rudi does inspire some to sign up for cryonics through 
 him, that is all the better as we have new members in our community.  I know 
 I've caused a few people to sign up and that always makes me happy,  I'm sure 
 Rudi has helped many many more sign up.   


As the Chair of Immortality Institute, a quite active forum and as a 
navigator-I've been involved in many discussions of how we should moderate our 
on-line community, generally we give warnings and then a period of banning for 
"cooling off" when a person engages in ad hominem or personal attacks.  Cryo-net
has a reputation for free speech, just as ImmInst does--a lot is put up with 
that would not be allowed at other organizations, but Cryo-net also has in the 
past blocked some posters and for the most part not let them back in.  I hate to
see anyone blocked from contributing to our community, there are often great 
news items that we can share, or coordinating we can do--we need all our members
:-).  

Shannon Vyff
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