X-Message-Number: 7445 Date: 07 Jan 97 23:33:45 EST From: Paul Wakfer <> Subject: Re: The solicitation for the upcoming co In Cryomsg #7436, Steve Jackson wrote concerning Alcor's posted Technology Festival reminder: >I found this, to put it briefly, very disturbing. The whole style and tone >of the advertisement was inappropriate for any legitimate organization - >let alone one already fighting against perceptions that it is a nut cult >or a scam. With the repeated arm-waving about "Don't be left out! Only 120 >places!" this package looked like junk mail designed for suckers. I see >this kind of thing in the trash that I get every day from pyramid >marketers, stock touts and other such bottom-feeders. I didn't expect it >from Alcor. Since I have been criticized for some of my own "marketing" efforts with respect to the Prometheus Project, I was interested to re-examine this particular piece objectively, particularly as I had *not* been 'disturbed' or otherwise bothered by its tone when I had read it. I believe that this is another one of those times when the bad guys (the dishonest, junk mail, hucksters) have spoiled it for the good guys. In my view any potential problem here is *not* with the content, or even the method of emphasis of what is said, but is with the *honesty* of such statements. Since the statements were made by a person (Steve Bridge) with a long record of integrity, I took them at face value: as being made for the sincere purpose of helping to ensure that any tardy cryonicists (are there any non-tardy cryonicists?:) would not miss out and be disappointed. I ask Steve Jackson and others who are 'disturbed' by such honest, vigorous, urging statements: Are sincere people now to be restricted from making such true and useful statements, just because there are hucksters and con-artists out there who make similar *dishonest* statements? Must we all from now on, always refrain from being enthusiastic, and from stressing and emphasizing those things which it is important for others to be clear about, just because scam artists may use the same choice of words and emphasis techniques? Do you really wish to let the scum-bags make honest salesmanship and emphatic communication impossible? -- Paul -- Paul Wakfer email: phone:909-481-9620 pager:800-805-2870 HELP TO ACHIEVE - PERFECTED SUSPENDED ANIMATION WITHIN 20 YEARS! Check out the Prometheus Project web site at URL: http://www.prometheus-project.org/prometheus/ Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=7445