From: "Ted White" <twhite8 at cox.net>
To: "WSFA members" <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: 'genius' disses SF fans at Alcor conference?
Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 01:32:50 -0400
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

----- Original Message -----
From: <ronkean at juno.com>
To: <WSFAList at keithlynch.net>
Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2002 12:50 AM
Subject: [WSFA] 'genius' disses SF fans at Alcor conference?

>
> Libertarian self-described genius Michael Cloud popped up
at Alcor's
> annual Cryonics Technology Festival in Scottsdale, Arizona
on the weekend
> of February 1st, 1997, and gave a speech in which he
equated the
> intelligence of science fiction fans with that of Mensans.
The
> impression I get is that he did not necessarily mean that
as a
> compliment.
>
> http://www.cryocare.org/ccrpt10/alcorfes.html
>
> Excerpt:
>
> This talk of money led naturally to the last speaker,
Michael Cloud. The
> lectern was dragged aside to provide space for him to pace
restlessly to
> and fro as he gave the kind of relentlessly dynamic
presentation that's
> more normally seen in infomercials on late-night TV.
>
> He began with a basic proposition: a cryonics organization
runs a greater
> risk of failure if it remains small. He received a
powerful round of
> applause when he proposed doubling the membership of Alcor
within a year.
>
> How can this be done? He began by summarizing "What
doesn't work," and
> placed free information at the top of the list. "We waste
our time
> courting reporters. They will present our story their way.
Free media is
> really very expensive, because it takes a lot of your time
and doesn't
> generate new members."
>
> Next he suggested that presentations at science-fiction
conventions also
> don't work. Science-fiction fans, he said, are "people
with a rich
> fantasy lives, no jobs, and the intelligence level of
people in Mensa."

That's not dissing us; it's close to the truth.  At one time
(when the median age in fandom was 18) it was completely
true.  These days an increasing number of fans not only have
jobs, they have good jobs.

Me, I have a new job, working afternoons at Old Town News in
Alexandria (King St between Washington and Columbus) -- one
of the most complete newsstands in the area, usually has the
SF mags in stock and a great deal more.  Come in and see me.
While you're there, buy something.  There is bound to be a
magazine you want, no matter what the topic is.

--Ted White