X-Message-Number: 8818
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 18:33:26 -0800
From: American Cryonics Society <>
Subject: Reason not to join cryonics; Softening Up Resistance

Resistance to signing up to be frozen, or agreeing not to oppose the
cryonic suspension wishes of relatives, may be overcome by first discussing
life extension and even immortality.  My own experience supports Colin
Martel's approach of pre-qualifying or else "warming up" (or should it be
"cooling down?") potential recruits by first introducing life extension
topics.

In message #8809 Colin Martel wrote:

>	Usually, before mentioning the idea of cryonics to someone for the
>first
>time, I bring about the idea of radically increased lifespan, immortality,
>etc...If they are completely uninspired, uninterested or hostile to the
>idea, I stop it there and avoid wasting my time. One of the reasons I
>sometimes here for lack of interest in the future is the belief that the
>world as we know it will somehow come to an end e.g. world war,
>environmental cataclysm, etc...

For many years the American Cryonics Society regularly provided speakers to
High School Sociology Classes as part of a rotating speakers program
conducted by a Mr. Holland at Pleasanton High School, Pleasanton
California.  As a speaker, I would use the opportunity to conduct various
"surveys" by asking students to respond to questions by raising their hands.

I found that if students were questioned on whether they would like to be
part of a cryonics suspension program, few would respond favorably.
However, if the students were first asked "who would like to live forever"
usually more than half the class would raise their hands, with about half
that number then indicating that they would like to use cryonics to aid in
"living forever."  If the scenario was presented that they could "live
forever" just by taking a pill a day, and could stop taking pills anytime
they wanted, the favorable response was about 2/3 of the class.


>	I am surprised this wasn't mentionned, haven't you all hear statements
>like: "There won't be anyone left on Earth in 200y anyway" or "Human will
>eventually annihilate each other" or "The Earth will be destroyed be then".
>These may be bad excuses, but I suspect a significant number of people
>really believe that.

Sure have heard those statements, Colin.  In fact a lot of people have a
long list of "what if's" to justify why suspension is foolish.

If the earth is not destroyed, then it might be a bad place to live because
we will not have an ozone layer, and we won't know anybody, and we will not
be able to get a job, and mankind will have evolved leaving us behind.  My
answer to such nay-sayers is to acknowledge that all of their dark
scenarios are indeed possibilities, but to add that there is another "what
if."  What if you are suspended, then are revived to live in a nice world,
with nice people,  and have a great "forever?"



Have a great forever,

Jim Yount


=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+American Cryonics Society
(650)254-2001
                      FAX (650)967-4444
P.O. Box 1509
Cupertino, CA 95015
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=8818