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Yes, as usual those of us that told us the risk was low or non-existent were wrong again. How often do we have to be duped by so-called experts before we realiz

Yes, as usual those of us that told us the risk was low or non-existent were wrong again. How often do we have to be duped by so-called experts before we realize that the "experts" have actually no idea how to calculate risk, and that we can't rely on their "assurances"? It goes both ways, where scientists told us that salt and high fat diets were causing heart disease and now both of those have been walked back.

JulianMorrison 7y ago
The experts were working with the facts as they were known at the time. Microplastic wasn't obvious. Most things, when they break down, aren't harmful. This isn't a problem of experts. This is a problem of hubristically creating a never seen before material and assuming it would have no impact.
- yeahitslikethat 7y ago
  Hubris will ultimately kill all of us. We've known that for at least thousands of years, yet still neglect it. Look at all the praise for capitalism despite the fact it has destroyed the planet.
  - lopmotr 7y ago
    > it has destroyed the planet. Using a hyperbole to justify another claim doesn't support that claim, it just sounds poetic to people who already believe it. What evidence do you have that hubris will ultimately kill all of us? Do you have a time frame for that prediction? If not, then it's a meaningless claim.
    - yeahitslikethat 7y ago
      I rest my case.
  - HeWhoLurksLate 7y ago
    > Look at all the praise for capitalism despite the fact it has destroyed the planet. Please, oh please, show me a system that has increased the quality of life for more people than "capitalism" has. I'm not saying that we shouldn't conserve- we should- I do- but there are limits, and things take time. If humanity had never built fires because they pollute, we wouldn't be here today. If coal had been prohibited, people would probably still be burning trees as the main source of their energy.
    - yeahitslikethat 7y ago
      If we weren't here, that'd be a good thing.
      - mooseburger 7y ago
        If we weren't here, there would be no such thing as 'good', as that is an entirely human construct.
  - dang 7y ago
    Maybe so, but will you please not post unsubstantive comments to Hacker News? We're particularly looking to avoid generic, a.k.a. tedious, ideological tangents. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
deleted 7y ago
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guelo 7y ago
Which experts are you talking about? Before 10 years ago or so I don't remember ever seeing a discussion about plastics in the environment one way or the other.
jeromegv 7y ago
Problem is that you're putting all "experts" in one bucket. There has been "experts" talking against the use of plastic and single-use for a very long time, but by attacking all experts like you're doing, you make it sound that they are the same people. Clearly, environmentalist were not the ones promoting plastic?

JulianMorrison 7y ago

The experts were working with the facts as they were known at the time. Microplastic wasn't obvious. Most things, when they break down, aren't harmful. This isn't a problem of experts. This is a problem of hubristically creating a never seen before material and assuming it would have no impact.

yeahitslikethat 7y ago
Hubris will ultimately kill all of us. We've known that for at least thousands of years, yet still neglect it. Look at all the praise for capitalism despite the fact it has destroyed the planet.
- lopmotr 7y ago
  > it has destroyed the planet. Using a hyperbole to justify another claim doesn't support that claim, it just sounds poetic to people who already believe it. What evidence do you have that hubris will ultimately kill all of us? Do you have a time frame for that prediction? If not, then it's a meaningless claim.
  - yeahitslikethat 7y ago
    I rest my case.
- HeWhoLurksLate 7y ago
  > Look at all the praise for capitalism despite the fact it has destroyed the planet. Please, oh please, show me a system that has increased the quality of life for more people than "capitalism" has. I'm not saying that we shouldn't conserve- we should- I do- but there are limits, and things take time. If humanity had never built fires because they pollute, we wouldn't be here today. If coal had been prohibited, people would probably still be burning trees as the main source of their energy.
  - yeahitslikethat 7y ago
    If we weren't here, that'd be a good thing.
    - mooseburger 7y ago
      If we weren't here, there would be no such thing as 'good', as that is an entirely human construct.
- dang 7y ago
  Maybe so, but will you please not post unsubstantive comments to Hacker News? We're particularly looking to avoid generic, a.k.a. tedious, ideological tangents. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

guelo 7y ago

Which experts are you talking about? Before 10 years ago or so I don't remember ever seeing a discussion about plastics in the environment one way or the other.

jeromegv 7y ago

Problem is that you're putting all "experts" in one bucket. There has been "experts" talking against the use of plastic and single-use for a very long time, but by attacking all experts like you're doing, you make it sound that they are the same people. Clearly, environmentalist were not the ones promoting plastic?