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>Critics say that Colossal’s money would be better spent in protecting existing species, rather than de-extinct animals that have been dead for thousands of yea
by rcMgD2BwE72F 4y ago
>Critics say that Colossal’s money would be better spent in protecting existing species, rather than de-extinct animals that have been dead for thousands of years. Maybe that’s true, but it’s extremely unlikely that this $150M would have gone to conservation otherwise! If rich people want to spend their money on de-extinction, and bolster reproductive technologies in the meantime, then we say “let ‘em.”
There's a French idiom for that, "pompiers pyromanes", which means arsonist firemen. Seems appropriate.
- fastball 4y agoThat doesn't really sound like the same thing?
- BurningFrog 4y agoProtecting existing species is a different goal though. It's always true that if you have different goals you'd spend resources differently.
- IntrepidWorm 4y agoIn 1800's United States, fire departments in many large cities (Chicago and New York, to name two) were private for-profit industries. If a homeowner did not pay what was effectively protection money, the fire department would refuse to extinguish your property if it caught fire, and would sit around as the dwelling burned, in some cases with people still inside. Fascinating idiom, thanks!
- remote_phone 4y agoThat exists today in areas where you have to pay the fire department separately.
- Sayrus 4y agoTom Scott did a video[1] about this. For the UK at least, this may have been an urban myth rooted in the fact that only the fastest fire brigades were paid[2]. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wif1EAgEQKI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wif1EAgEQKI [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_insurance_mark https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_insurance_mark