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Can you help me understand why scientists would intentionally take a virus that can’t transmit in humans and go to lengths to make it transmissible in humans? J

Can you help me understand why scientists would intentionally take a virus that can’t transmit in humans and go to lengths to make it transmissible in humans? Just at a gut level that seems reckless and irresponsible to me, but people talk about it like it’s normal and no big deal... so, help me understand? Also, if it was somehow proven that the virus did come from a Chinese lab, what does that mean? Will the world hold China liable for this mess? That seems unlikely to me, rather I assume it would come down to “big stick diplomacy” and China carries a pretty big stick. But is there any precedent for a disease being leaked from a lab and the lab being held responsible for the consequences?

jolmg 7y ago
> if it was somehow proven that the virus did come from a Chinese lab? Will the world hold China liable for this mess? Why necessarily Chinese? There are people that like to hypothesize that perhaps this was a misjudged attempt at biowarfare against China.
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
jakeogh 7y ago
Powerful people can be very religious. https://wearethene.ws/notable/95575 https://wearethene.ws/notable/95575
- dang 7y ago
  Can you please stop posting flamebait to HN?
  - jakeogh 7y ago
    Historically, what I illuded to is almost a law of nature. I could have elaborated, but is it really necessary? People dont need stuff spelled out, and pointing that out didnt start a flame. That's the founder of CNN... his opinions effect people; it shouldn't be off limits to discuss. Parent ultimately was asking about the def of irresponsible is, and might not have considered that other people have other definitions. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17781131 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17781131
Mountain_Skies 7y ago
>Will the world hold China liable for this mess? Likely but not in a military invasion type of way. No one wants a nuclear exchange with China and most other military option are unproductive for everyone involved. My guess is that individuals will be allowed to make financial claims against China for decades to come. Chinese assets around the world will be seized as necessary to pay off the claims. Logistics systems will be reconfigured to avoid China, further harming their economy. But it will be a long process because everyone is dependent on China for something or the other. The leadership of China could try to be defiant but they are going to have plenty of internal conflict to deal with so they'll be distracted on both ends. Nothing about this is going to be easy or over quickly.
KarlKemp 7y ago
It's natural. The lab only existed because everyone knew this could happen. There's absolutely nothing point at that lab, except the very existence of that lab. Zero. Nada. That being said: what would happen if it were? Again: nothing. Only the bottom feeders among conspiracy nuts are alleging intent here, and there's neither a legal nor a moral framework to hold states accountable for errors of negligence. We'd hopefully get a mea culpa from China, but don't hold your breath. Welcome to the community of lesser countries. There are thousands of Iraqis still waiting for a "sorry, my bad" for their brother's wedding being bombed. This narrative is only being discussed because someone is looking for scapegoat. Realistically, it doesn't even matter. The Federal Government is supposed to protect citizens from threads irregardless of their origin. They were first warned by China itself on January 3rd. Two weeks later, the outbreak and resulting shutdown was public knowledge. Its genesis is completely irrelevant for anything that happened after New Year's.
cryptonector 7y ago
Do you really think bioweapons research is not a thing?

jolmg 7y ago

> if it was somehow proven that the virus did come from a Chinese lab? Will the world hold China liable for this mess? Why necessarily Chinese? There are people that like to hypothesize that perhaps this was a misjudged attempt at biowarfare against China.

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

jakeogh 7y ago

Powerful people can be very religious. https://wearethene.ws/notable/95575 https://wearethene.ws/notable/95575

dang 7y ago
Can you please stop posting flamebait to HN?
- jakeogh 7y ago
  Historically, what I illuded to is almost a law of nature. I could have elaborated, but is it really necessary? People dont need stuff spelled out, and pointing that out didnt start a flame. That's the founder of CNN... his opinions effect people; it shouldn't be off limits to discuss. Parent ultimately was asking about the def of irresponsible is, and might not have considered that other people have other definitions. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17781131 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17781131

Mountain_Skies 7y ago

>Will the world hold China liable for this mess? Likely but not in a military invasion type of way. No one wants a nuclear exchange with China and most other military option are unproductive for everyone involved. My guess is that individuals will be allowed to make financial claims against China for decades to come. Chinese assets around the world will be seized as necessary to pay off the claims. Logistics systems will be reconfigured to avoid China, further harming their economy. But it will be a long process because everyone is dependent on China for something or the other. The leadership of China could try to be defiant but they are going to have plenty of internal conflict to deal with so they'll be distracted on both ends. Nothing about this is going to be easy or over quickly.

KarlKemp 7y ago

It's natural. The lab only existed because everyone knew this could happen. There's absolutely nothing point at that lab, except the very existence of that lab. Zero. Nada. That being said: what would happen if it were? Again: nothing. Only the bottom feeders among conspiracy nuts are alleging intent here, and there's neither a legal nor a moral framework to hold states accountable for errors of negligence. We'd hopefully get a mea culpa from China, but don't hold your breath. Welcome to the community of lesser countries. There are thousands of Iraqis still waiting for a "sorry, my bad" for their brother's wedding being bombed. This narrative is only being discussed because someone is looking for scapegoat. Realistically, it doesn't even matter. The Federal Government is supposed to protect citizens from threads irregardless of their origin. They were first warned by China itself on January 3rd. Two weeks later, the outbreak and resulting shutdown was public knowledge. Its genesis is completely irrelevant for anything that happened after New Year's.

cryptonector 7y ago

Do you really think bioweapons research is not a thing?