X-Message-Number: 12049
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: a comment on Paul Wakfer's messages
Date: Sat, 3 Jul 1999 23:36:02 +1000 (EST)

Some comments on Paul Wakfer's messages:

First of all, I do not disagree with the notion that many cryonicists have
simply taken up a "religious" approach to cryonics: they simply hope for
the best and try to propagate the faith. Since we're not supposed to be
a religion in any shape or form, this remains a distortion.

But there are cryonicists who have done their best, by financial
contributions or actual work, to actually improve both suspensions and all
the other technical and social machinery that cryonics requires to be
successful. It is the existence of these people, and not that of those
who have simply decided (in one way or another) that "Nanotechnology will
save us" which keeps me personally a member of a cryonics society. 

And I remain a member, even though Nanotechnologists (Nanotechnology is
the religion; nanotechnology consists of all those attempts to find ways
to work on a nanoscale) seem to have taken on prominent positions as
advisors to my very own cryonics society, Alcor. 

Yes, it is hard. And I sympathize with Paul's decision to leave cryonics;
yet at the same time it remains the only hope we have. Not only that, but
I suspect that even many cryonicists haven't yet understood cryonics
itself: their behavior toward cryonics still resembles the behavior of
others to their religion. Sure, we attend the services, and give a small
amount of money to the cause. Rather than God saving us, it will be Our
Friends in the Future who will do so. And Our Friends in the Future will
know all that is needed to know for revival, and have all the tools needed
for revival, and will bring us back even if we've been suspended under
very bad conditions.

It's still up to US to do the work and provide the money needed. That
point needs to be understood by every cryonicist.

			Best wishes and long long life to all,

				Thomas Donaldson

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