X-Message-Number: 7355
Date: Thu, 26 Dec 96 11:29:30
From: Steve Bridge <>
Subject: Re: Synthetic Pleasures
To CryoNet
>From Steve Bridge
December 26, 1996
In reply to: Message #7350
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 1996 15:43:28 -0500 (EST)
From: "Henry R. Hirsch" <>
Subject: Synthetic Pleasures
> I was very much disturbed by the presence of the cryonics segments in
> the movie "Synthetic Pleasures". The presentations in themselves were
> fine, but the context was terrible. According to one school of thought,
> any publicity is good publicity. "Just spell my name right." I don't
> think that is true. The old adage that you are known by the company you
> keep is much more to the point. In "Synthetic Pleasures", the rational
> idea of cryonic suspension is presented as equivalent to such escapist
> activities as body piercing and entertainment through virtual reality.
>
> The reaction of many viewers may be the one given by my wife. She felt
> that the movie made cryonics look like a religion. She is not a cryonics
> supporter but, having joined me in a visit to the Cryonics Institute, is
> much more knowledgeable about the subject than most moviegoers.
>
> I don't mean to initiate another internet flame war. I am only writing
> in the hope that, in the future, we will all try to avoid giving cryonics
> the appearance of a pseudoscientific cult.
First, I should point out that neither "Synthetic Pleasures" nor
"Immortality on Ice" nor ANY of the other 200 or so media appearances
connected with Alcor in the past 4 years were *controlled* by Alcor.
That's not the way journalism and entertainment work.
I often talk with a reporter or filmmaker for 6-7 hours about cryonics
and its concepts. I NEVER make any statements indicating that cryonics is
a cult. In fact, this false conception of cryonics often comes up, and I
specifically say WHY it is not a cult.
However, once the writer or TV producer or filmmaker is back at their
home or office, they can think and write and say anything they want. All
we can do is to influence them to think of us favorably as friends and to
seriously consider that our ideas and goals might be real. The "friends"
part should not be underestimated. I have had several occasions where a
writer came in with the specific command from his editor (of course, they
only told me this *later*) to write a satiric or savage expose of these
frauds or nuts at Alcor. In almost every occasion where they came to Alcor
to MEET us, they dropped that concept and wrote a serious, thoughtful
article.
In the particular question of "Synthetic Pleasures," Iara Lee
interviewed Bob Ettinger of Cryonics Institute and Max More of Extropy (and
an active Alcor cryonicist); but she did not come to Scottsdale to visit
Alcor. We arranged instead to let them use our footage. This was done in
1994, I believe; and I had little knowledge of what the context or style of
the movie would be. Today, with more experience, I would probably have
tried much harder to get Iara to visit us. I agree that the portrayal
of cryonics in "Synthetic Pleasures" is less than ideal (although I
would label it more as "confusing" than as "cultish"). And if this were the
ONLY cryonics media piece out in front of the public, I would probably be
more concerned. However, the entire Discovery Channel schedule is peppered
with cryonics (a total of six or seven different pieces, showing over and
over) and many other articles and programs have been done to provide many
people with balance.
Has your wife seen the Discovery Channel special, "Immortality on
Ice?" Most people think this is well done, and the filmmakers did not
think cryonics was cultish at all. [BY THE WAY: Alcor has professional
copies of this program available now. $20.00, including postage and
handling. Send a check to Alcor at address below or call 602-922-9013 with
your Visa or MC number.]
Finally, the one place where the cryonicist has some control of the
subject matter is on live radio interviews. The interviewer can ask you
any question; but you can give any answer, and he can't edit you. OTOH,
in our experience, radio programs result in the fewest number of actual
member sign-ups; so the effect of being edited may be better than the
effect of "being ourselves."
And in reply to:
> Message #7351
> Date: Tue, 24 Dec 1996 15:51:36 -0500 (EST)
> From: "Henry R. Hirsch" <>
> Subject: Finding a local group in or near KY
>
> Where is the nearest local cryonics group to Lexington Kentucky? What is
> their name, address, e-mail address, and phone number? Help on this from
> either individuals or one of the cryonics organizations would be very much
> appreciated.
I will be returning to Indianapolis in mid February. At that time I
will begin getting midwestern cryonicists together. I'll be sure to let you
know. Snow being what it is (I *think* I remember snow after four years
in the southwest), we'll probably wait until April before a first
gathering.
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
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