X-Message-Number: 6245
Date: Wed, 22 May 1996 12:29:49 -0400 (EDT)
From: Charles Platt <>
Subject: Cryo equipment

On Wed, 22 May Keith Henson wrote:

> Charles, oh Charles.  You don't expect Tim to *beg* you to leave the
> equipment do you?  Arel was *there.* 

This is misleading; Arel was not there when we visited the Leary house.
She had left two days previously. (Her last visit was on the Wednesday; we
visited on the Friday.)

If I were in TL's position, a few days or weeks from death, and I was
COUNTING on cryonics, I would at least ask a few questions or express some
surprise if people came and told me the situation in the house made it
impossible to provide an optimum standby. TL and his entourage did no such
thing. He wished us well, warmly thanked Mike, and literally applauded
him, much to our confusion and surprise.

As has already been pointed out, Mike made it very clear he would still be
"on call" if Leary wanted help. I don't think he did want our help,
though. He was more interested (as always) in having a good time than in
boring stuff like taking his medicine or eating meals, let alone
discussing how to arrange a standby. 

> Tim was explaining how it was going to be used to visitors on a daily
> basis.

I have no doubt he enjoyed the idea of the equipment. I just don't believe
he had much personal faith in it. While Arel was in LA I asked her for a
short on-the-record interview, which I taped. She said that TL told her at
some point, it was more important for him to make a big statement about
death than to get a high-quality cryopreservation. (TL told Mike the same
thing.)

> I appreciate you and I especially appreciate Mike for who you are and
> what you have done.  But neither one of you has much sense for dealing
> with cross cultural situations such as Tim and his household represents.

Thank you, Keith, but I once lived in a household similar to TL's, for a
period of about 2 years. I think I understand the mindset fairly well.
Among other things it tends to value immediate gratification more highly
than delayed gratification. Careful long-term planning is rare or
nonexistent. This of course is antithetical to the cryonics mindset, which
(as you know all too well!) often entails making some sacrifices today in
order to plan for something bigger in the future. 

In my experience the cryonics organization member is typically a dreamer 
who questions authority, has faith in technology, is excited by the 
future, and doesn't have much money in the bank. Timothy Leary fits this 
profile perfectly.

BUT a serious cryonicist is willing to forego some jam today in order to
get more tomorrow. TL seems not to think that way. 

--CP


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