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I see. And you've never needed a second chance yourself? I am very grateful for the second chances I've received in life.

chasing 14y ago
Being a wealthy, best-selling author is not a right. Of course he deserves a second chance as a human being. I'm sure he's not that bad of a guy. But I feel he's forfeited this opportunity [to be a high-profile science journalist]. At least as far as I'm concerned. Plenty of other great stuff to read.
- ScottBurson 14y ago
  I've never read any of his writing, so I have no opinion about its quality. But this was as thorough an apology as I can recall seeing from anyone about anything. I will be very surprised if he turns out not to have meant it. It actually predisposes me to take a look at whatever he writes next. The process of confronting one's character flaws and addressing them deepens a person. I expect that whatever he has to say next will be edifying -- as indeed this piece was. EDITED to add: it's certainly possible I'm being naive and accepting his apology too easily.
  - deleted 14y ago
    [deleted]
  - Evbn 14y ago
    Yes, he is highly motivated to wish his problems away. He has a lot of work to do to repay his self inflicted debt to society.
  - craigching 14y ago
    > But this was as thorough an apology as I can recall seeing from anyone about anything. I thought that at first too, but then I wondered what was with that story about the Muslim lawyer who was erroneously picked up and jailed by the FBI and it turned out they had it wrong. Is he saying he's a victim?!?!? That's what it started to sound like to me. So I'm not sure I believe it's an apology.
    - jholman 14y ago
      If that story is supposed to be an analogy, Jonah Lehrer is the FBI. The Muslim lawyer wasn't the one who made mistakes that had consequences, and the Muslim lawyer wasn't the one that needed explicit procedures to decrease the odds of it happening again. That was the FBI (and Lehrer).
isleyaardvark 14y ago
There are mistakes, then there are breaches of ethics, and then there are breaches of ethics so severe that you don't get a second chance. (You embezzle money, you don't get a second chance at handling finances for a living.) I wish Lehrer luck in whatever career he chooses to switch to in the future.
vph 14y ago
Oh, he deserves a second chance. Just go ahead and stand in line, after those who have been doing their work honestly and still waiting for their first chances to come.

chasing 14y ago

Being a wealthy, best-selling author is not a right. Of course he deserves a second chance as a human being. I'm sure he's not that bad of a guy. But I feel he's forfeited this opportunity [to be a high-profile science journalist]. At least as far as I'm concerned. Plenty of other great stuff to read.

ScottBurson 14y ago
I've never read any of his writing, so I have no opinion about its quality. But this was as thorough an apology as I can recall seeing from anyone about anything. I will be very surprised if he turns out not to have meant it. It actually predisposes me to take a look at whatever he writes next. The process of confronting one's character flaws and addressing them deepens a person. I expect that whatever he has to say next will be edifying -- as indeed this piece was. EDITED to add: it's certainly possible I'm being naive and accepting his apology too easily.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
- Evbn 14y ago
  Yes, he is highly motivated to wish his problems away. He has a lot of work to do to repay his self inflicted debt to society.
- craigching 14y ago
  > But this was as thorough an apology as I can recall seeing from anyone about anything. I thought that at first too, but then I wondered what was with that story about the Muslim lawyer who was erroneously picked up and jailed by the FBI and it turned out they had it wrong. Is he saying he's a victim?!?!? That's what it started to sound like to me. So I'm not sure I believe it's an apology.
  - jholman 14y ago
    If that story is supposed to be an analogy, Jonah Lehrer is the FBI. The Muslim lawyer wasn't the one who made mistakes that had consequences, and the Muslim lawyer wasn't the one that needed explicit procedures to decrease the odds of it happening again. That was the FBI (and Lehrer).

isleyaardvark 14y ago

There are mistakes, then there are breaches of ethics, and then there are breaches of ethics so severe that you don't get a second chance. (You embezzle money, you don't get a second chance at handling finances for a living.) I wish Lehrer luck in whatever career he chooses to switch to in the future.

vph 14y ago

Oh, he deserves a second chance. Just go ahead and stand in line, after those who have been doing their work honestly and still waiting for their first chances to come.