X-Message-Number: 29073
From: "Chris Manning" <>
References: <>
Subject: Re: CryoNet #29063 - #29071
Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2007 21:49:49 +1100

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "CryoNet" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 9:00 PM
Subject: CryoNet #29063 - #29071

> Message #29064
> Date: Sun, 4 Feb 2007 06:41:13 -0800 (PST)
> From: un person <>
> Subject: growth and bustin' outta da ghetto....

> See the graph above? I direct your attention in
> particular to the red curve on top. This curve
> represents one of the most common physical phenomenon
> in the universe.

This grammatical error seems to be becoming more common. It should be 'one 
of the most common physical phenomena in the universe.' It really means 'one 
phenomenon (singular) of (i.e. out of) the most common physical phenomena 
(plural) in the universe', i.e. you are describing the phenomenon in terms 
of a set of phenomena of which it is a subset (actually an element).

>
> Cryonics membership is primarily composed of a certain
> personality type--uber-rationalist,
> iconoclastic, alienated, poorly-socialized,
> steeped-in-science-fiction, quasi-aspergian "internet
> dork." And that is a very small subset of the
> population. (Among them being people who can use the
> word "subset" on any appropriate ocassion...)

I have to admit that most of those labels apply to me, or have been applied 
to me. (Also, regarding use of the word 'subset', see above!)

> Another possible way out of the ghetto is to re-brand
> cryonics as a Grand Adventure to the Future and To The
> Stars. This approach would appeal to 15 to 25 year old
> males, which is a likely target demographic, anyway.

Something that doesn't seem to have occurred to anyone is that a person now 
aged 15 to 25 will likely live into the late 21st century, by which time, 
the medical advances that we (mostly older people) are hoping to reach 
through cryonic suspension may have been achieved. It would of course still 
be a good idea for young people to sign up, since they can't be *sure* of 
not dying prematurely, e.g. in a car accident.

I am not suggesting of course that most young people have looked that far 
ahead, but that is what they might think if they did.

> A large segment of this demographic seeks out a group to
> join, a grand purpose for their lives, some entity to
> mold and shape them, and the more challenging,
> ardurous and risky, the better.  See for example the
> armed forces advertisments which sell military service
> as a coming of age endeavor. This drive/desire to be
> part of this sort of endeavor is hardwired into young
> males of 15-20 years of age or so.

Is it indeed? As a teenager I was dreading the prospect of doing National 
Service and possibly going to Vietnam. Fortunately for me, Gough Whitlam was 
elected Prime Minister of Australia in 1972 (when I was 16) and he abolished 
it. I have recently reached the age of 50 without having served a day of 
military service in my life, and although you may call me a coward, I can't 
say that I regret it. 

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