X-Message-Number: 33129
From: 
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2010 13:55:49 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Achievements--# 2

What's what and who's who? Disagreements always include pointing-with-pride 
 to distinguished endorsers of whichever point of view, and detractors of  
cryonics have the numbers on their side, including a majority--but by no 
means  all--of the putative experts, the cryobiologists. But it is a simple 
fact that a  paradigm-changing idea, which challenges ages-old beliefs and 
threatens  long-held loyalties, needs very careful consideration before 
rejection,  especially when survival is in the balance.
 
Supporters of cryonics are in the minority, but to a substantial extent  
they make up in quality what they lack in quantity. Cryonicists have many  
backgrounds, but there is a notable tendency for them to be of higher than  

average intelligence and education. For example, I sometimes say that "Doctors
choose cryonics, nine to one." This doesn't mean that 9 out of 10 

physicians  support cryonics, but that there are about 9 times as many 
physicians in  
cryonics as would be expected on a population-proportionate basis. Similar  
statements apply in other areas, and especially in computer science.
 
(I have a theory as to why we are over-represented among computer  

scientists, namely that they (1) are accustomed to following logic wherever it  
may 
lead, and (2) are accustomed to working in the vanguard of new ideas.)
 
So here's what I suggest for today. Google "Scientists' Open Letter on  

Cryonics." There are 61 signatures on this letter of support for cryonics, many
 of whom you will recognize. There is also a list of journal publications  
tending to support cryonics. No honest person could look af this list 
without  respect. 
 
Robert Ettinger

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