Agnes Harcourt is the pseudonym of a Cryonics Institute patient who was dearly beloved by her large family as well as by her many friends and associates.

The following telephone conversation was recently overheard between a CI staff person and an unidentified caller:

Caller: May I please speak to Agnes Harcourt?

Staffer: Agnes is currently in biostasis, would you like to leave a message?

Someone has written me a very nasty e-mail message accusing me of fabricating this whole story for the sole purpose of pulling the collective leg of the cryonics community. I challenge anyone questioning my veracity to come to CI and examine the cryostat in which Agnes is being stored. It is covered with post-it notes.

Ben

From: Thomas Donaldson <73647.1215@compuserve.com>

Hi everyone!

It would take a pretty warped imagination for any cryonicist to believe that Ben Best's story wasn't true. I conclude that this person wasn't a cryonicist, and am not at all surprised that non-cryonicists sometimes access Cryonet. Whoever you are, if you really wish to learn about cryonics most of us can help you do so.

Best wishes and long long life to all,

Thomas Donaldson

From: "IGGY & Svetlana"

Subject: Leaving a message for a cryonic patient

Why not have fun on the one hand? And on the other hand, this should get us all thinking about the legacy we are leaving behind? Otherwise, life will be dull.

I thought originally it was a very nice and elegant and tasteful cryonics joke. How many Catholics tell jokes about the Pope? :o)

Now, if there is an "Agnes" in cryonic suspension with lots of "Post-it" phone messages on her container, it's even more elegant and thought provoking. This person should be proud that she's on the minds of people after her death. What can be better than that? - just the future reviving she has taken a chance on accepting?

Ben, great story, joke or not... Boy, cryonics requires some balls and I know how that biologically it's tough for a woman to get those :o)

IGGY Dybal

From: "Billy H.Seidel"

Subject: Agnes Harcourt

Hi Ben,

Please put up a post-it note for me along with all the others. I do not expect her to return the message soon, but I do expect her to return the message someday. Since it will probably be a last one in, first one out, I will be out before her, so I am looking forward to hearing from Agnes Harcourt.

By the way, I am Calling ALCOR and asking them to leave a message for Ted Williams. I would like his autograph.. . . someday.

Billy H. Seidel

From: Randolfe Wicker

Subject: Notes on the cryostat.

Ben Best reports:" I challenge anyone questioning my veracity to come to CI and examine the cryostat in which Agnes is being stored. It is covered with post-it notes."

This is very a very effective means of "humanizing" cryonics. Reading notes from loved ones is always moving. During the early years of the AIDS epidemic, people would write notes on large mats, etc. Reading them was very touching. I know notes on a cryostat would be somewhat different in nature. However, they are touching testimony nevertheless.

I wonder what notes we might put on a loved one's cryostat? "Hurry back! I miss you!"

Cloningly yours,

Randy Wicker

And From Ben,

A number of intelligent people have not understood that my posting was a joke, and I hope that they are excused for this and do not suffer embarrassment. Jokes told in person are more effective because facial expression and tone of voice can make a big difference. And hints can be given if the message isn't coming across.

It is also a deadly risk, because it has happened several times in the past that imposters have posted messages under the assumed names of notable cryonicists for the purpose ruining their reputation and credibility. I must prepare for this, and doing spoofs as I have just done will not make it easier for me to defend myself.

Having written these spoofs, now I must be serious (hoping that people will believe me) and admit to my prank. I thought it was a great joke, but being lighthearted when holding a position of such responsibility is not easy. This probably explains why so many politicians are humorless bores – irony can be deadly when people take you seriously.

So again, I apologize if I have made anyone feel foolish -- there are no grounds for such feeling. My humor is often more subtle than I realize, and all the more so when it is in written form. A position of responsibility is empowering, but it can also be a prison.

-- Ben Best