Re:The Next ‘Lab Leak’
by inter_netuser on Tuesday November 23, 2021 @09:02PM
(#29326199)
and why shouldn't the responsible be liable?
Reparations are OK for some things, but not for causing worldwide pandemics?
Re:The Next ‘Lab Leak’
by davisoneee on Wednesday November 24, 2021 @04:53AM
(#29328447)
..the point of the grandparent post is that if we emphasise _liability_, it's less likely we'll get any information.
This is a common understanding in industries dealing with safety. If you want to _punish_, focus on blame. If you want to focus on _helping ensure the problem doesn't happen again_, remove the threat of blame.
Also, mentioning reparations brings up ideas of ...current US political discussion... and is likely to polarise this discussion. Please try and keep this productive.
Re:The Next ‘Lab Leak’
by inter_netuser on Wednesday November 24, 2021 @06:33PM
(#29336488)
We are WAAAAY past the industry problem. It's not a faulty Boeing or improperly constructed nuclear plant.
This a problem of global proportions. We've had protracted wars over much smaller things in the past.
If one or more parties are "responsible" then public sentiment (amplified by social media) will bring the pitchforks.
That translates to political support and basically guarantees the election or increased support for certain types of politicians and response, which in turn will impact diplomacy.
It would take some supreme social engineering to get society at large to accept the idea of a blameless post mortem. It's really not part of the broader cultural lexicon. Even companies struggle and they are much smaller and simpler systems.
Responsibility and liability are intrinsically linked in the public mind.