X-Message-Number: 17597
From: 
Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2001 12:40:52 EDT
Subject: Platt tat tit; games

Very briefly, again:

Platt admits that the CryoCare fiasco cost Alcor members, and also resulted 
in some so-far permanent drop-outs from cryonics, but huffs and puffs around 
it with coulda-woulda-shoulda.

He also admits that there is not a single known case of someone lost to 
cryonics because of the Visser business, but huffs and puffs that maybe, if 
the media had made a big deal of it, there might have been losses.

He also admits spinning his "journalism" for expediency, hiding Alcor 
problems when it suited him, praising or dumping on the Chamberlains 
depending on whether his personal ox was being gored.

He also defends Alcor's exaggerated "vitrification" claims by citing the 
partial and indirect evidence for its current neuro procedure (which I had 
agreed exists), but he does not deny that there has been not a single animal 
experiment using the current Alcor procedure followed by evaluation of 
results. 

All this is tiresome and mostly inconsequential, but even sand fleas can be 
annoying.

What is realistic and practical? Restraint and cooperation among 
organizations? To the best of my knowledge and belief, CI has almost never 
attacked without provocation, and has no inclination to do so. But if Alcor 
leadership thinks it cannot or should not exert some controls on the likes of 
Platt, it will have to live with the consequences.

As to game theory in general, several studies show that, in competitive 
situations, neither relentless antagonism nor supine flaccidity works best. 
It is usually best to counterattack when attacked, but pause now and then to 
allow the other side to reassess, and to reciprocate when cooperation is 
offered. So be it.

In any event, with or without or in spite of others, CI will grow and 
advance. With or without any existing organization, cryonics in some form 
would necessarily develop and mature. 

Meanwhile, don't forget the effort to save James Swayze. This is real, not 
abstract. Send a check to Cryonics Institute, 24355 Sorrentino Court, Clinton 
Township MI 48035, or use a credit card via Papal.com on the Internet. 

Robert Ettinger
Cryonics Institute
Immortalist Society
www.cryonics.org

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