X-Message-Number: 9627
Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 01:38:53 -0400 (EDT)
From: Charles Platt <>
Subject: Fraud

Belatedly I must echo others who have complained about the Ettingerian
tendency to paraphrase and/or misconstrue people's statements.

I have never stated or implied that cryonics is fraudulent. I happen to be
the president of a cryonics organization. Plus, I pay money myself for
insurance and membership dues. Therefore, OBVIOUSLY I do not think, and
would not say, that cryonics is fraudulent.

I have said many times that I feel some misgivings about promoting a
product that causes damage and may not work. This is rather the opposite
of perpetrating fraud, wouldn't you agree, Bob? In fact this kind of full
disclosure is a highly ethical policy to ensure that our members are
properly informed about the shortcomings of our state of the art. 

Bob argues that "emphasizing the negative" discourages members. I see it
merely as telling the truth, and if I didn't do so, *then* I would feel
guilty of fraud. 

I have pointed out already that Alcor enjoyed its most rapid growth during
the presidency of Mike Darwin, who has always made a point of emphasizing
the problems and inadequacies of cryonics. Clearly, we don't have to
downplay the defects of our procedures in order to sign up new members. 
In fact, so far as I can tell, Bob is the only person who seems seriously 
concerned about this.

--Charles Platt

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