X-Message-Number: 9981
From: 
Date: Sun, 5 Jul 1998 12:13:46 EDT
Subject: Recruiting the Rich & Famous

Among the various recent posts on possible recruitment of celebrities, Thomas
Donaldson says he thinks I believe someone who rejects cryonics has lost his
claim to fame and to any special understanding.

No, a claim to fame does not rest on acceptance of cryonics, or any other
criterion distinct from the basis of the claim. I'm not sure what "special
understanding" means, but I have often said that (in my fallible opinion) it
is (generally) a waste of time to make special efforts to recruit the rich
or/and famous. 

Why? First, experience. Failure has been nearly complete--and even the very
few "successes" (sign-ups) have produced nothing (as far as I know) except
another ordinary member. 

Reasons? Simple: 

First, the percentage of recruits in the population is extremely small. Since
the (very) rich or famous are themselves a tiny minority, you are targeting a
tiny minority of a tiny minority.

Second, the rich/famous are "protected" by layers of advisers who find it MUCH
easier and safer to say no.

Third, the rich/famous are too busy and too happy to bother with someone
else's project.

Fourth, they have special psychological problems--e.g. losing relative status,
starting over, etc.

Fifth, the low cost (relative to their cirumstances) will not help us. The
cost is already minor, for millions of people, as a fraction of their estates.

None of this belies the possibility that one special recruitment might have
magical catalytic properties, or that some special salesman might have the
magic touch with a particular potential recruit, etc. But I, for one, will
make no special effort to nab a celebrity.

Nevertheless, I do have one long-shot suggestion for someone else who might
want to try, as follows:

Usually the rich/famous only want to venture (for example in investments)
where others (peers) have preceded or accompany. So maybe one could create a
list of names, and then say to each: "If all or most of the following join,
will you?" If several of them say yes, then you pull it together....As I said,
a long shot, and requiring careful strategy; the details of execution would be
crucial.

Finally, the usual reminder: We will probably do all right if we just keep
doing what we KNOW we can do--work steadily to grow and improve in every
dimension. Don't neglect the good in pursuit of the "best." 

Robert Ettinger
Cryonics Institute
Immortalist Society
http://www.cryonics.org 

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