X-Message-Number: 6857
From: Brian Wowk <>
Date: Sun, 8 Sep 1996 23:48:39 -0500
Subject: SCI.CRYONICS Silent Majority

        It is indeed unfortunate that the recent bout of rancor has
turned so many people off cryonics.  It's unfortunate because for  
every combative cryonicist on the Net, there are ten others who
keep their nose to the grindstone, and their focus on the task at hand.  
Two of the four major cryonics organizations didn't even participate in 
the recent ruckus.  All of cryonics (and all people in cryonics)   
shouldn't be written off because of the disruptive behavior of a
few individuals.
 
        What to do about this problem?  Two tactics have worked in
the past.  The most straightforward is simply to ignore provocative
postings (difficult if outright lies are being told).  The other is 
for lurkers (or infrequent posters with no axes to grind) to come 
forward and provide negative feedback to stabilize the system. 
(Nothing worse, when you're trying to impress lurkers, than to be 
denounced by one.)  The problem with blanket "you know who you are" 
criticisms is that people really don't know who they are; unless you 
name them, they'll always think you're talking about the other guy.  
 
        Finally, IMHO, the last thing the world needs right now is
yet another company promising to freeze tissue and then repair it
with future technology.  "Technology" with no feedback is a recipe 
for mischief.  What's really needed is a cryonics technology 
that demonstrably WORKS.  More than anything else, THAT will bring
fresh minds, new money, and new companies into cryonics.  THAT will
clean up the silly "mine is bigger than yours" debates.  THAT will bring 
real scientific discipline to the field.  Support the Prometheus Project
 
        http://www.prometheus-project.org/prometheus
 
(which, incidentally, is proof that existing organizations CAN work
together toward common goals).
 
***************************************************************************
Brian Wowk          CryoCare Foundation               1-800-TOP-CARE
President           Human Cryopreservation Services   
   http://www.cryocare.org/cryocare/

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