X-Message-Number: 32037
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 10:47:56 -0400
Subject: Bravo to this community, and an observation
From: Rudi Hoffman <>

--001636426befded0660475455047

Hello, fellow cryoneters,

I wanted to add my endorsement and respectful comments to the thoughtful
observations made by Pizer, Vyff, Plus, Perry, and others on this list,
regarding the "recent unpleasantness."  (A euphemism my wife's grandmother
utilized to describe the civil war, btw...rather more serious than that of
populist grandstanding fraud figuring out how to sell books.)

Pizer's "Remain calm, utilize this as a springboard to explain real
cryonics," seems like appropriate advice.  And Pizer's description of
actually living through, and participating in, a much more serious PR
debacle than this, and seeing how it wound up benefiting cryonics in the
long run, is perspective developing.

My observation is similar to one identified on today's cryonet regarding the
"Bodies" exhibits circulating throughout the country. (Btw, I saw the one in
Las Vegas...tremendously worthwhile, astounding and educational.)  But my
observation might be summarized thusly:

"The observation that it might even MATTER if a suspendee were "mishandled"
PRESUPPOSES that the basic premise of cryonics is at least credible.  Do we
care about the more gory and disgusting components of the body preservation
that funeral homes use?  Are people shocked that subcutaneous fat is moved
around, body "filler putty" applied, and anal plugs utilized to prevent
leakage of liquid feces?  Do these gross disgusting images become shocker
headlines and sell tabloid and unsubstantiated books?

Not really.

Why?

Can we as a society take a moment to appreciate the distinctions here?

Mishandling of patients, which is alleged, presumes that it may make a
difference to Ted's resuscitation if he were handled differently.

Actually, as I write this I realize that this is probably not hugely
compelling to the average Red Sox baseball fan who is looking for further
fodder to bewail the fate of the "beloved Ted Williams."  Logical discourse
will not sway those "whose minds are made up already, don't wish to be
confused by the facts, and only pause periodically to rearrange their
prejudices."

But, to more thoughtful people who comprise our potential market, and
hopefully to more carefully thinking individuals whose behaviors could
impact cryonics, an observation something like this may be compelling.

In closing, I hope it won't dilute this main observation to provide an
additional "absolutely" and copy Arcturus's post here because the ALCOR
board needs to hear this loud and clear.  And so far they have not.

Board members, members of the CEO selection committee, please re-read this
and consider the wisdom displayed:
(Copy follows)

"In my opinion, one lesson I wish Alcor's Board would draw is never to hire
non-cryonicists.
Yet it is even now bent on looking for a new chief, none of whose minimum
qualifications include being a cryonicist.
If someone doesn't believe in cryonics enough to sign up for it when they
can, their only possible attitude toward it, whether they would confess it
to their employers or not, is disbelief, and thus their working on behalf of
it is fraud and their attitude toward cryonicists is somewhere between
amused condescension and fierce contempt. A really awful combination which
explains some of the employee turnover and betrayals."

End copying of Arcturus Gregory.  Well said.  The Pope needs to be
Catholic.  The CEO of ALCOR needs to be, first and foremost, deeply
committed to the IDEOLOGY embraced by the cryonics community.  Is it too
much to ask the board and search committee to agree with this?  Let's agree
that we need to get this CEO decision right this time...starting with a CEO
who understands and agrees with the basic premise of cryonics.  Can we agree
this is a pretty reasonable foundation for discussion?

Warmly and Sincerely,

Rudi
-cc to ALCOR board, because some don't read cryonet-

Rudi Richard Hoffman CFP CLU ChFC

World's Leading Cryonics Insuror rudihoffman.com
Former Board Member Financial Planning Association fpafla.com
Board Member Salvation Army salvationarmy.org
Member Alcor Life Extension Foundation alcor.org,
Member Cryonics Institute cryonics.org
Certified Financial Planner(TM) CFP Board of Standards
Member World Transhumanist Association http://transhumanism.org/

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