X-Message-Number: 11404
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: To Olaf, and more possible polls for Scott Badger
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 23:59:37 +1100 (EST)

To Olaf:

It is a pity that those who doubt the current definition of death OUTSIDE
cryonics have failed to notice that we doubt it too. That is our basic
reason for suspending people. Not only that, but I notice that this bit
of news came from Vancouver, British Columbia, which has forbidden
cryonics firms from acting in their state --- one of the few political
entities, so far, which has done that, at least explicitly.

I am dubious, too, that any flood of letters from cryonicists (or even a 
small number of polite letters) will change anyone's opinion on this
issue. After all, death is death, yes? Such a clear idea should not be
obscured by technology ;). 

To Scott Badger:

If Jeff Davis can truly convince any celebrity to join a cryonics society,
more power to him. I have occasionally written letters such as he
describes to various celebrities, only to find that I have not been alone.
And the celebrity basically has stored all those letters in his/her round
file.... otherwise known as a wastebasket. But perhaps it will work this
time. Or perhaps Jeff Davis will get that urge out of his system and
do something else more useful, such as try to get people he knows
personally to join. (I myself cannot claim great success with that,
either, but I have certainly had more than when I tried to convince 
celebrities).

And yes, perhaps the general attitude to cryonics has changed, and such
pleas will receive a better hearing. There has been a slow change: some
fictional stories involving cryonics are actually in favor.

In any case, I remain interested in polls which ask the questions which
I suggested in my last posting, or questions similar to them. And it would
also be interesting to know how many cryonicists have ALREADY tried to
recruit a celebrity, and what happened when they did. I strongly suspect
that I am far from alone.

			Best and long long life to all,

				Thomas Donaldson

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