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Re:Epstein’s Links to Scientists Are More Extensive Than Pre... by jacknews on Tuesday August 27, 2019 @09:33AM (#20809390)
I agree, this witch-hunt journalism is BS.

It's fine to bag politicians and 'other tycoons' who associated with him. There are legitimate concerns about influence and, you know, who else is a pedo, in those cases.

But I think if I had been a scientist in need of funding, I'd gladly have taken his money, even knowing about the convictions. In fact, I'd have tried to to take as much as I possibly could, and then tell him to FO once I'd done my breakthrough study.

It's different if the scientists were 'bending' their results to his benefit, but I don't think that's the case here.

Re:Epstein’s Links to Scientists Are More Extensive Than Pre... by basilgohar on Tuesday August 27, 2019 @09:45AM (#20809492)
The awkward part of this is that it seems someone like Epstein did not do something for nothing. The suspicious aura around him means that all of these high-profile people around him may have done some kind of tit-for-tat. Yes, barring evidence, this is all very much hearsay and his untimely death closes a lot of doors to confirm these suspicions, but the amount of circumstantial evidence involving shadyvdealibgs with the guy is enough to make this kind of thing notable.

And I absolutely think it matter where the money comes from, because not all money is equal. Funding agencies, grants, and other sources of money all have their own conditions, terms, and obligations. If you think Epstein's was without, then I think that is naïve.

Re:Epstein’s Links to Scientists Are More Extensive Than Pre... by jacknews on Tuesday August 27, 2019 @09:59AM (#20809621)
and that's exactly what I mentioned. If the money comes with terms, or expectations of some kind of reciprocation, of course, it must be rejected.

If it's just money from a bad guy that happens to be interested in AI, medicine, or whatever, and I really suspect he justified himself by funding such 'good causes' - take it all! Ruin him!

Re:Epstein’s Links to Scientists Are More Extensive Than Pre... by msghacq on Tuesday August 27, 2019 @10:05AM (#20809683)
The thing is, high profile business and science people associating and partying with Epstein didn't ruin him, it legitimized him. They didn't just take a check, they invited him into their social and business circles and he intern did the same for them. He went on to continue raping girls during this time period (after his arrest) and the legitimacy these people provided did not help one bit, they basically reintegrated him into power.