X-Message-Number: 3294
Date: Tue, 18 Oct 1994 21:06:32 -0400 (EDT)
From: Charles Platt <>
Subject: CRYONICS Salesmanship


I would like to thank Dave Pizer for his explanation and apology. I 
apologize myself if my aggravation colored any of my posts too highly.

Dave now brings up an interesting issue: potentially misleading cryonics
literature. I have seen the original CSNY and Cryo-Span literature (please
note, the company named Cryo-Span in the 1970s went out of business, and
has NOTHING to do with the company doing business under that name today).
I absolutely agree that the literature created an impression of
professionalism that might have exceeded the reality of the operation in
those days. On the other hand, of course, anyone who responded to the
literature would have come face to face with the reality of Curtis
Henderson's garage in a very short space of time, along with the reality
of Curtis Henderson himself, uttering dire warnings in his usual fashion.
The Walter Cronkite TV show dealing with cryonics was, in fact, filmed
partially in Curtis's garage. Thus, the primitive aspect of cryonics was
no secret. 

This isn't really the point, however. The real point is, to what extent 
should cryonics literature go out of its way to create a good impression?

I would suggest that in the past, all cryonics organizations have been to
some extent guilty of trying to look richer and bigger than they really
are. When I wrote literature for Alcor myself, I naturally mentioned that 
Alcor was the richest cryonics organization. I didn't mention the rather 
home-made look of Alcor's old facility in Riverside.

I don't think this is necessarily unethical. I would imagine that anyone
who calls a business for information expects the organization to describe
its positive aspect first. As for the negative aspects of cryonics--I
believe that almost everyone who has ever signed up for cryonics has
become intimately aware of its limitations. And that includes the people
who made arrangements with CSNY. 

It would certainly be unethical to CONCEAL negative information about an 
organization. But with the possible exception of Robert Nelson's group, I 
don't think this has ever happened.

############################################################
Charles Platt, 1133 Broadway (room 1214), New York, NY 10010
      Voice: 212 929 3983      Fax: 212 929 4467

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