X-Message-Number: 7517
Date:  Thu, 16 Jan 97 11:12:12 
From: Steve Bridge <>
Subject: Brian Wowk's PR post

To CryoNet
>From Steve Bridge, Alcor
January 16, 1997

In reply to:

Message #7508
From: Brian Wowk <>
Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 22:44:31 -0600
Subject: PR vs. Research

     I want to thank Brian for his extremely thoughtful post.  I 
really like that, instead of merely extending a debate and shaking 
fingers at other cryonicists, he has laid out a new idea.  I haven't 
decided yet whether I think it is a *better* idea; but I have been 
impressed with Brian's past exercises in communicating ideas.  This 
new paradigm requires a close look and probably some experimentation. 

    When Brian wrote "The Death of 'Death' in Cryonics" a decade ago, 
I began testing some of his ideas with groups.  I found that they 
worked pretty well.  Perhaps I will be able to do some testing here, 
also.  

>  However I am becoming increasingly uncomfortable
>with the intimate association between cryonics and esoteric
>future technology.  The image of cryonics as speculation on
>way-out far-future technogy, instead of near-term goal-directed
>science, has cost us enormously in terms of respectability
>and appeal to biomedical scientists.    

>By conventional standards of medical research funding,
>we are an infinitesimal distance away from having cryonics
>technologies that DEMONSTRABLY WORK.  We need a greater 
>emphasis on the specifics of why this is so, and to deliver
>these specifics with a flourish that will inspire the people
>and resources needed to get the job done.

     I'm not quite clear, though, on how Brian's new paradigm will 
work to make scientists more interested.  It seems that he has 
shifted the hopeful future from a century away to 20 years away by 
changing the telescope's aim.  In practical results, how does this 
change the participation?  It still seems to promote speculative 
technology, but shifts to biological speculation.  I hope Brian will 
elaborate on this as he develops the ideas further.

Steve Bridge


Stephen Bridge, President ()
Alcor Life Extension Foundation
Non-profit cryonic suspension services since 1972.
7895 E. Acoma Dr., Suite 110, Scottsdale AZ 85260-6916
Phone (602) 922-9013  (800) 367-2228   FAX (602) 922-9027
 for general requests
http://www.alcor.org


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