6 ms·

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/apr/01/stem-cell-scientist-haruko-obokata-guilty-misconduct-committee http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/apr/01/ste

by bagosm 12y ago

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/apr/01/stem-cell-scientist-haruko-obokata-guilty-misconduct-committee http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/apr/01/stem-cell-sci... I thought it would be a crazy story about mutations or something. Turns out the scientific misconduct is less "freaky" and more "we falsified the data". RIP to a great scientist though, he was involved very lightly in that case as it seems. I admire the Japanese honor though..

stefantalpalaru 12y ago
> I admire the Japanese honor though.. There's no honor in making a quick exit instead of facing the music.
- jpatokal 12y ago
  As very recently discussed right here on HN, that's not how the Japanese necessarily view things. http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/06/24/last-call-3 http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/06/24/last-call-3
- m_mueller 12y ago
  This is looking at a foreign society through Western glasses. I recommend you to travel there sometime for an extended period to understand these people better. The way I see it, being a member of Japanese society is an honour in the conservative sense - an honour for which members feel they have to keep earning it throughout their lives by doing what's best for the society. In extreme cases some feel that they're not worthy of that anymore or that they've become a burden to society, so they take their lives. This is not to say that this is the most common cause of suicide in Japan - many Western societies have suicide rates that are not that far off. However in this case here I can very well imagine that this is what happened. Suicide doesn't mean they're 'cowards' necessarily, they're imposing the highest possible punishment on to themselves. Just like American society still thinks that the death sentence is the highest possible punishment.
  - stefantalpalaru 12y ago
    > they're imposing the highest possible punishment on to themselves That's the problem right there: death is not the highest possible punishment, regardless of culture.
  - acuozzo 12y ago
    > This is looking at a foreign society through Western glasses. Who gives a damn? "My culture/society says I should" is never a good-enough reason to do something and suicide is no exception. You can't excuse people for doing stupid shit because of their upbringing. We're not robots.
justinpaulson 12y ago
> I admire the Japanese honor though huh?
canadaj 12y ago
I do not admire a society in which highly regarded scientists are drawn to commit suicide after being cleared of any wrongdoing, according to the original article. The loss of Sansai is truly saddening.
- thinkpad20 12y ago
  There's much to admire about Japanese society. Just not that aspect of the society.
tenementfunster 12y ago
> I admire the Japanese honor though.. Hahah you're that guy at work, huh?
- reiichiroh 12y ago
  Weeaboo?
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
ekianjo 12y ago
> admire the Japanese honor though.. This is not about honor, this is about having your reputation flushed down the toilet by media who have no idea wwhat they talk about and you having not much of a future carreer anymore in what you used to love doing, no matter what.

by bagosm 12y ago

stefantalpalaru 12y ago

> I admire the Japanese honor though.. There's no honor in making a quick exit instead of facing the music.

jpatokal 12y ago
As very recently discussed right here on HN, that's not how the Japanese necessarily view things. http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/06/24/last-call-3 http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/06/24/last-call-3
m_mueller 12y ago
This is looking at a foreign society through Western glasses. I recommend you to travel there sometime for an extended period to understand these people better. The way I see it, being a member of Japanese society is an honour in the conservative sense - an honour for which members feel they have to keep earning it throughout their lives by doing what's best for the society. In extreme cases some feel that they're not worthy of that anymore or that they've become a burden to society, so they take their lives. This is not to say that this is the most common cause of suicide in Japan - many Western societies have suicide rates that are not that far off. However in this case here I can very well imagine that this is what happened. Suicide doesn't mean they're 'cowards' necessarily, they're imposing the highest possible punishment on to themselves. Just like American society still thinks that the death sentence is the highest possible punishment.
- stefantalpalaru 12y ago
  > they're imposing the highest possible punishment on to themselves That's the problem right there: death is not the highest possible punishment, regardless of culture.
- acuozzo 12y ago
  > This is looking at a foreign society through Western glasses. Who gives a damn? "My culture/society says I should" is never a good-enough reason to do something and suicide is no exception. You can't excuse people for doing stupid shit because of their upbringing. We're not robots.

justinpaulson 12y ago

> I admire the Japanese honor though huh?

canadaj 12y ago

I do not admire a society in which highly regarded scientists are drawn to commit suicide after being cleared of any wrongdoing, according to the original article. The loss of Sansai is truly saddening.

thinkpad20 12y ago
There's much to admire about Japanese society. Just not that aspect of the society.

tenementfunster 12y ago

> I admire the Japanese honor though.. Hahah you're that guy at work, huh?

reiichiroh 12y ago
Weeaboo?

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

ekianjo 12y ago

> admire the Japanese honor though.. This is not about honor, this is about having your reputation flushed down the toilet by media who have no idea wwhat they talk about and you having not much of a future carreer anymore in what you used to love doing, no matter what.