X-Message-Number: 858 From: Ben Best <> Date: Tue, 26 May 1992 20:00:00 -0400 Subject: reaching for tomorrow Well, I write a few words about the REACHING FOR TOMORROW booklet, sign-on to CRYONET, and read a bunch of messages that make many of the points I have written. What do I do? Send them anyway! A cryonicist doesn't have to talk to non-cryonicists for very long before discovering what anti-life (suicidal) attitudes most people have. This was a profound shock to me. My first essay on the subject of cryonics was entitled "The Sadness of Mankind" -- in which I attempted to explore the boredom, resignation and unhappiness-about-life most people must feel. Most people, in fact, usually turn-around our question "Why would anyone want to die?", and ask (with genuine puzzlement), "Why would anyone want to live forever?" What I conclude is, even with religious and technical issues aside, cryonics cannot hold much appeal for the vast majority of people. What I would NOT conclude, however, is that some amount of colorful images is going to convince these people that it is desireable to extend present or future life without limit. Any attempt to "sell the future" in this way becomes tantamount to new "images of heaven" which are designed to give suffering mortals a glimmer of hope for some future reward beyond this present "veil of tears". I think it is a waste of scarce resources to attempt to sell people on the idea tha life is worth living. Suicide counseling is a luxury we cannot afford until we have saved our own lives and the lives of people who are still striving for more life. What type of person writes to Alcor asking for information about cryonics? Aside from the high-school science projects (probably including most of them, actually), these are people who are already convinced that life is worth living -- who want to explore the idea that more life is a genuine possibility. What this person wants to see is that the idea IS feasible: financially, scientifically, technically, organizationally, politically, etc. Most of all, he/she wants to see that it is feasible for her/him! The biggest complaint I have with REACHING FOR TOMORROW is that it is too rarely read (even by cryonicists). It is probably too much for an "introduction" to cryonics. People would like to see the forest before looking at the trees in such detail. Or so I speculate. The problem with collections of special-interest brochures is that there is no way to know the special interests of a person who simply makes an enquiry. The ideal introduction will cover the subject in a concise, interesting and global manner -- and will provide clear direction as to how to pursue any aspect fo the subject in greater detail. -- Ben Best (ben.best%) -- Canada Remote Systems - Toronto, Ontario/Detroit, MI World's Largest PCBOARD System - 416-629-7000/629-7044 Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=858