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If Asimov was still living, what do you think he would say about younger Asimov? The Civil Rights Act of 1991 happened the year before he died. There was a big

If Asimov was still living, what do you think he would say about younger Asimov? The Civil Rights Act of 1991 happened the year before he died. There was a big change in the way people saw this behavior between the 80s and now. How many celebrities, who lived through that era, would now say that behavior is okay? I honestly think had he lived, he'd say he was wrong.

rbanffy 7y ago
I'd like to believe he'd be deeply ashamed. I don't have many reasons to believe that, however. People are flawed. Some people are deeply flawed and fame has been for far too long an enabler foe behavior that should never be tolerated from anyone.
ianai 7y ago
Great point! The dead may never change. Is it fair to eternally damn them from a modern perspective? One of the reasons I left religion was principally this eternal damnation practice. It’s extreme. The variety of life and even the universe requires nuance and forgiveness.
- roca 7y ago
  There's plenty of nuance and forgiveness in traditional religion. Speaking of which, Asimov was certainly aware that "thou shalt not covet" and "whoever looks at a woman lustfully..." had been preached for a couple of thousand years, so it's not like he had no idea what he was doing could possibly be wrong.
roca 7y ago
What do you think Asimov's father would have said about Asimov? I reject the idea that before the 1990s it was always acceptable to grope women in public. In older, more traditional and more conservative societies it was not acceptable.
kangnkodos 7y ago
One possible data point is to look at the half-hearted apologies of Robert Crumb. He lived through the 80's and treated women in a similar manner. Now, as an old man in a new era, he has issued some vague apologies. And yet, he also leaves so many transgressions out. My guess is that Asimov might have done something similar if he were alive in the #MeToo era. Some vague apologies, but no true reckoning of everything.

rbanffy 7y ago

I'd like to believe he'd be deeply ashamed. I don't have many reasons to believe that, however. People are flawed. Some people are deeply flawed and fame has been for far too long an enabler foe behavior that should never be tolerated from anyone.

ianai 7y ago

Great point! The dead may never change. Is it fair to eternally damn them from a modern perspective? One of the reasons I left religion was principally this eternal damnation practice. It’s extreme. The variety of life and even the universe requires nuance and forgiveness.

roca 7y ago
There's plenty of nuance and forgiveness in traditional religion. Speaking of which, Asimov was certainly aware that "thou shalt not covet" and "whoever looks at a woman lustfully..." had been preached for a couple of thousand years, so it's not like he had no idea what he was doing could possibly be wrong.

roca 7y ago

What do you think Asimov's father would have said about Asimov? I reject the idea that before the 1990s it was always acceptable to grope women in public. In older, more traditional and more conservative societies it was not acceptable.

kangnkodos 7y ago

One possible data point is to look at the half-hearted apologies of Robert Crumb. He lived through the 80's and treated women in a similar manner. Now, as an old man in a new era, he has issued some vague apologies. And yet, he also leaves so many transgressions out. My guess is that Asimov might have done something similar if he were alive in the #MeToo era. Some vague apologies, but no true reckoning of everything.