X-Message-Number: 9079
From: 
Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 12:09:31 EST
Subject: new organization?

People relatively new to cryonics, such as Berrie Staring (e.g. #9078) are
valuable, among other things, for their enthusiasms and possible new
perspectives. That enthusiasm must not be squelched and new ideas must not be
ignored, but at the same time they need to be made aware of previous efforts
along similar lines.

The notion of another and more all-embracing organization is one we see often.
Its feasibility and usefulness have yet to be established. Of course it is
always possible that previously failed ideas can work with new leaders, better
execution, and a different stage of history, but we must be careful. It is
true that initial enthusiasms should not be wasted, but it is also true that
failed efforts may result in burnout and a total loss of the individual(s)
involved. Misdirected efforts can even be worse than no efforts at all. 

Making the future seem more inviting was the main reason I wrote MAN INTO
SUPERMAN, first published in 1972, after THE PROSPECT OF IMMORTALITY (first
commercial version 1964) produced smaller results than hoped. It sold
reasonably well, and some cryonicists think it was very important for them,
but for its envisaged purpose it was nearly a total failure. 

For one thing, few people take seriously the notion of radical change; and if
they do take it seriously it scares them, rather than attracting them. If we
look at the nearer term and less radical change, the bait is less compelling.
In any case, both threats (such as lung cancer from smoking) and promises
(such as wealth if you save your money) have very limited effect in the face
of habit, inertia, and defects of character. 

All that said, it remains true that it could all be swept aside by really
gifted, charismatic leaders, with the possible assistance of some trivial but
catchy slogans, silly but effective tactics such as marches and
assemblies…..and the inscrutable underground workings of mass psychology,
previously seeded. But then we get back to the cold reality that a major
effort, finally failing, can be worse than nothing, because of the burnout and
surrender effect. Our present organizations mainly just slog on, struggling
for every little increment--but we do persist, and we do grow, and we can keep
on doing so. 

As for the form of a new organization, Berrie seems to suggest a for-profit
company ("buy some shares") that would "market cryonics in general." This is
not clear. Even if capital is available, through share purchase, where would
the revenues come from? What would the company be selling? 

Absent a convincing scenario for a new organization, I think we will all be
better off if we stick with the existing organizations, using tactics old and
new, seeking what we lack but not risking what we have. We must always
remember that our tide is coming in. Every year, almost every day, brings more
encouragement for confidence in the progress of science and larger visions of
what it can accomplish. Our own specialized research could sooner or later
have an important impact.

Soon people will gradually begin to realize that their grandchildren, maybe
their children, will never die a "natural" death; and then there will be a
profound change in psychology. The idea of going "when your time is up" as
part of the "natural cycle" is one thing; going as one of the last dinosaurs
is another thing altogether.

We still  welcome Berrie's suggestions, and will be interested in relevant
details.

Robert Ettinger
Cryonics Institute
Immortalist Society

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