X-Message-Number: 12034 From: "Martin S. Kardon" <> References: <> Subject: The marketing question and a call for unity Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 10:15:45 -0400 The recent discussion regarding marketing of cryonics is interesting and important. My personal interest is much stronger on this topic than on uploading consciousness, turing machines, etc (although these subjects in the right hands can make for a ripping good yarn). It seems to me as a relative newcomer that the marketing concept has been, more or less, "build it and they will come." Get the first suspension and revival completed and the masses will flock to the technology. While that might well occur the problem as I see it is a sort of "Catch 22". In order to get the resources to tackle what is undoubtedly a much more complicated issue than any of us can or want to contemplate a certain critical mass of interested persons (with funding to follow) is essential. While I really don't know I am getting the feeling that if there are 1,000 to 2,000 people actively interested and involved in cryonics that's alot. Maybe I'm wrong, I hope I have underestimated the numbers. Even if I have underestimated them no one can doubt that getting more people interested and involved will help move the cause and technology forward. My day job is in law and I tell you all that I have yet to find anyone that I raise the topic with (though I don't actually prostelyze [sp?] that much) who would take the subject seriously - had enough trouble convincing my family. I think due consideration should be given to spreading the word and allocating some resources to letting those around us know that we're not just talking about a bag of frozen heads and a bunch of wacko pseudo science snake oil salespersons. The best effort, in my personal opinion, in recent years was the publication of First Immortal in mainstream paperback and that was really an individual effort. While it may not rise to the level of War and Peace (apologies to Halperin) it covered many of the issues raised on this usenet in a way accessible to a casual reader. The need to spread the information to others and the paucity of our group is one reason I regret the tone of some of the discourse I see here. While I have read with great interest Dave Pascual's psotings the past few days [please keep it up] I regret the apparent tension between Platt and him. There just aren't enough of us. While I hope I have greater depth of intent than Rodney King ["can't we all just get along?"] I do know that if we splinter too much forget speeding up progress, the ball will just stop. There aren't enough of us here that we can afford to have anyone turn away from the effort. The recent departure of several interested and interesting posters on cryonet is unfortunate. The efforts of Kent, et al. to institutionalize and capitalize the efforts is a step in the right direction in the real world. All beautiful abstract ideas need feet of clay to walk this earth. I'm still a dabbler and a newbie [relatively] but I'd hope that among the plans of those who have dedicated their lives to cryonics would be efforts to build a bigger tent including everyone here now and others yet to heed the call. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=12034