X-Message-Number: 7159 Date: Mon, 18 Nov 96 14:06:02 From: Steve Bridge <> Subject: Cryonics and Science Fiction To CryoNet >From Steve Bridge, Alcor November 18, 1996 In reply to: Message #7153 Date: Mon, 18 Nov 1996 11:35:27 +1030 (CST) From: Sundance Bilson-Thompson <> Subject: Re: Broadening the base of Cryonics + Sci-fi In my personal opinion and experience, Sundance and Olaf Henny may be somewhat off-base in assuming that the science fiction fan community is a good place for finding cryonicists. It is true that the general category of "people who like to read science fiction" is one sorting method for finding "people who might sign up for cryonics", but it is a coarse filter at best. Only by combining that with other filters such as "owns computer," "understands the difference between science and fiction," "works at a meaningful job," etc. can you even begin to narrow it down. Most people who are part of SF fandom -- the people who go to conventions, collect thousands of paperbacks, dress up funny, and talk Trek-speak -- are interested in the future only as entertainment. They don't want to *be there.* Of course, this is not true of everyone. Brian Shock, Hugh Hixon, and I have each attended many SF conventions over the years, and I see other cryonicists there. But even the more serious readers and science-oriented people are not in "serious mode" while at the conventions. I have concluded that attending SF onventions to find cryonicists is probably a poor use of one's time and money. You may find one or two new members; but they would probably have run across you anyway in their science circles. SF on-line discussion groups may be a slightly better filter, but I suspect only marginally so. Yes, you may find a higher percentage of literacy there and by definition there is a "computer-owner filter;" but from my limited perusal of such groups, the attitude is still the same. They are watchers, not doers. They fantasize about the future; but they take no actions to influence it or to get there themselves. The future is not a *real* place to them. I will be curious to know if you guys get anywhere with discusions on SF on-line groups. If you bring in some cryonics members -- as opposed to merely having lively discussions with people who look upon *taming you* as an intellectual challenge -- I will be deeply impressed. This approach is NOT one I will place any emphasis on here at Alcor, however. >From Sundance: > There are probably plenty of people in the world who are not actively > opposed to the idea of cryonics, who would like to live the longest, > healthiest life possible, but who are sufficiently well educated to be > aware of the difficulties facing cryonics, and who have not been exposed > to the plans for how to overcome those difficulties. Absolutely true. I merely submit that most of these people have better things to do than type discussions of science fiction into news groups. > Science fiction fandom is full of people who want to see the future, and > people with sound scientific knowledge. Very few people in SF fandom want to SEE the future. They just want to read about it or see movies about it. It is an escape from real life for them. Unfortunately, understanding cryonics means understanding and accepting this life (*your* life) and the future which proceeds from it -- or the death that obliterates it -- as *real.* Steve Stephen Bridge, President () Alcor Life Extension Foundation Non-profit cryonic suspension services since 1972. 7895 E. Acoma Dr., Suite 110, Scottsdale AZ 85260-6916 Phone (602) 922-9013 (800) 367-2228 FAX (602) 922-9027 for general requests http://www.alcor.org Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=7159