X-Message-Number: 4243
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 1995 20:58:15 +0700 (TST)
From: Robert Horley <>
Subject: Desperately Seeking Respectibility

Hi,

It has become apparent while following this list that
sometimes the group goes a little overboard in criticizing
non-mainstream ideas.  I think that a little more tolerance=20
could be called for, and perhaps what is needed is a spirit=20
of critical acceptance rather than critical rejection.  By
this I mean, that while it is positive to point out logical=20
or scientific errors, a spelling mistake does not render an=20
idea incorrect and a logical or factual error does not
necessarily render a whole concept worthless.  The fact of
the matter is that even cryonics itself is not on the most
solid of grounds, with its faith in a technological fix for=20
its problems at an unknown time in the future.

Also, I=FEve noted that there seems to be a deep seated belief
among many participants in the cryonics movement, that in
order to succeed, cryonics must be made as acceptable as
possible to mainstream public opinion and the scientific
establishment.  While it is a good idea not to overly
antagonise the forces that be, I think that when
communicating with other =FEtrue believers=FE on the list, it is
not necessary to be so zealous in our rejection of any idea=20
that has not come out of mainstream research (except for
cryonics of course).

In fact, in =FEmy opinion=FE, cryonic suspension will not only
never be accepted by today=FEs establishment, it will also be=20
actively opposed by them if it ever looks like succeeding. =20
In its heart of hearts the establishment knows that the
success of cryonics would be deadly dangerous to the
stability of the present social order.  Cryonics and related
longevity research is one part of a looming paradigm shift
that will shake the very foundations of society more than
anything that has come before.  Its triumph will probably
mean the destruction of all those cultural systems and
beliefs that have been built up over thousands of years to
help mankind deny of the reality of death and extinction.=20

Into the garbage can of history with traditional religion
based around the idea of an afterlife; into the garbage can=20
of history with state supremacy over the individual as
people stop worshiping their nations as immortality
fetishes; into the garbage can of history with the military=20
as people cease to see the heroic glorification of death as=20
a route to immortality; into the garbage can of history with
ritual human sacrifice through capital punishment and war;
into the garbage can of history with indifference to the
suffering and death of others as people cease to see death
as inevitable;...

I could go on and on with examples here, but I won=FEt.=20
However, I think we need to realize that everything that has
been achieved so far by cryonics has occurred in spite of
the establishment, and that the real battle will begin on
the day that cryonics looks like becoming a viable option
for the average man.

Robert Horley


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