X-Message-Number: 3203
From: 
Date: Mon, 03 Oct 94 17:58:18 EDT
Subject: CRYONICS merkle/hayflick

Ralph Merkle (#3199) finds encouragement in the page devoted to cryonics in
Hayflick's new book--despite the author's ignorance, stupidity, and negative
bias. I think this is reaching a bit.

In fact, it isn't far from the old "I don't care what they say about me, as
long as they mention my name and spell it right."  Or "Any publicity is good
publicity."  If that were true, we would be sitting pretty right now.

Ralph thinks any "discussion" in the "standard literature" is bound to help
us, and that the vacuity of arguments like Hayflick's are bound to become
obvious. Well, maybe--in the long run. But in the long run, as Keynes said,
we are all dead (or suspended). In any case, Hayflick's comments hardly
constituted "discussion"--just the usual irresponsible negative sound bites.
The only way any "discussion" will emerge from this is if WE manage to get
responses published where they will be noticed--and we have been trying to do
this for many years, with very limited success. 

So why do I post these trivial thoughts? Just possibly,  repair of my frozen
brain will be easier if there is an extensive record of my thoughts and
writings--the more spontaneous the better. Mae keeps a diary. These brief,
hurried postings are not as spontaneous or intimate as that, but more so than
writing that has been edited and polished. So KQB bears the burden. Thanks.

Robert Ettinger

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