X-Message-Number: 8751
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 12:25:22 -0500
From: Saul Kent <>
Subject: Cryonet - Research and Recruiting

        I agree with Thomas Donaldson that the effect of achieving suspended
animation on recruiting is "unknown", but contend that the only thing unknown 
about this effect is how positive it will be.

        Thomas says we should make no assumptions about the effect
of suspended animation on recruiting in cryonics.  I disagree.  I believe a
well-funded professional marketing campaign based upon perfected sus-
pended animation would lead to a huge increase in membership. In fact,
I believe that even today such a marketing campaign would lead to a large
increase in membership, but not nearly as large as after suspended 
animation is perfected.  

        I am well aware that there are people who don't sign up even 
though they believe cryonics will work.  I am also aware, however, of many
people who don't sign up because they think cryonics will  *not* work 
because of the damage caused by today's freezing methods. Moreover, 
I believe there are many people who won't sign up until "authorities" in
science and medicine endorse the idea.  Perfected suspended animation,
which has been documented by scientific papers in eminent medical journals,
as well as in newspapers, magazines, radio, TV and on The Internet may not
change the minds of any of the people in the first group, but will surely
change the minds of many in the other two groups.

        I advance this argument not because I think  that recruiting is the
"only" reason for research; but because I believe that research is the *best*

pathway to recruiting in addition to being the *only* pathway to improved 
methods
of preservation.

        The reason for making assumptions about the future is to help in
making decisions in the present.  If I am correct in assuming that research
is the best pathway to recruiting, it strengthens an already strong argument
for investing as much as possible of today's resources in research.

---Saul Kent

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