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I don’t think dissolving the blame is particularly helpful here. A minuscule number of individuals had full control over the use and knowledge of the impact of
by explaininjs 3y ago
I don’t think dissolving the blame is particularly helpful here. A minuscule number of individuals had full control over the use and knowledge of the impact of leaded gasoline, and everyone else had absolutely none. For 99.999% of folks those people have no relation to their grandparents, and “blaming” an entire generation for the malice of a few is ill guided at best.
- woodruffw 3y agoBlame is your phrasing, not mine. I agree with your point about knowledge and agency; I think future generations will look back on us with disbelief and shock at our shortsightedness, not blame.
- grogenaut 3y agoThen when they're 50 they'll look back on stuff they thought was fine when they were young, and is bad now. If they're introspective they'll look at the stuff that their parents or grand parents or further back thought was fine and turned out to be bad. As people say, it's easy with hindsight and it's really hard in the moment. Many second and third order effects aren't obvious or testable. Then add profit motive. The real question is do you change when you realize you were wrong or double down.
- 0xfae 3y agoIt wasn't their fault, but the effects of lead on crime, personality, and mental health for that generation is clearly documented. So yes, that generation is remembered for it. I don't think anyone is saying their grandparents deserved it or are to blame.