X-Message-Number: 6955
Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 12:47:14 -0400 (EDT)
From: Robin Helweg-Larsen <>
Subject: Re: Ventureville Sold

I was sad to hear of VentureVille being sold.  Perhaps it was too early 
to hope that a concentrated community of cryonicists could be formed in 
that way; but it is definitely something that we need to encourage to 
happen again - for several reasons, including:

1) Cryonicists need a supportive community around them, especially if 
they are prone to mood swings, or as their health deteriorates; otherwise 
an individual may fall away from a planned suspension, as in the case of 
Timothy Leary, or Rob Michels.  (Rob died alone in his apartment, 
apparently of an overdose of medication he was taking, which I feel was 
unlikely to have been accidental as he was a constant burn unit volunteer 
as well as "the best teaching assistant I have ever had" to quote his 
prof at UNC Chapel Hill.  He was a very careful person.  He also died at 
a time when he was not scheduled to teach any classes or attend anything, 
had nothing scheduled with friends or work, and was consequently not 
found for a week.  My suspicion is that this may well have been deliberate.)

Who knows what tricks our minds may play on us, as we go through our lives?

2) A community of cryonicists will make suspension preparations and 
processes more effective.

3) A community of cryonicists will encourage research, and also the 
development of ideas which further support the movement.

4) It gives a focal point, with a diversity of personalities and 
opinions, which is useful for the media or for individuals who are trying 
to understand the movement as a whole.

5) By focussing cryonicists within a single municipality and hospital 
region, it speeds the acceptance of cryonics and the development of 
appropriate protocols for dealing with suspensions.

6) Ultimately, those protocols will have to include the option of 
euthanasia, and I for one support the idea of locating cryonics 
facilities and communities in jurisdictions that have liberal medical 
research laws as well as euthanasia-friendly legislation.

Of course, there are already informal communities of cryonicists in 
several locations.  But I will still miss VentureVille, and I look 
forward to the next one.

Always optimistically,

Robin HL


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