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I understand your concern and agree that we have a lot more knowledge now so we know better. However, it is hard to believe that no one thought something could
by somebehemoth 11y ago
I understand your concern and agree that we have a lot more knowledge now so we know better. However, it is hard to believe that no one thought something could go wrong during a simulated germ warfare attack on a major city. Furthermore, they violated the Nuremberg Code using their own citizens. So it is hard to absolve those involved of guilt simply due to their own ignorance. This is what makes me angry and I suspect it is what led the parent to use such colorful language.
- mentat 11y agoI think it's hard to underestimate the degree to which our knowledge of biology has changed in the last 60 years. I'm sure there was the thought that something could go wrong, as almost always that's the case. That it would kill someone, I don't think that was a possibility in their minds. Nonetheless the outrage here still isn't correlated with risk including the risks that for instance the current use of antibiotics on livestock introduce. If you want outrage, be outraged that we're destroying the main thing we have to protect ourselves against these sorts of threats.
- fineman 11y ago> I think it's hard to underestimate the degree to which our knowledge of biology has changed [...] That's not the issue. That relates to us understanding why it's dangerous. But wondering if it's dangerous and testing small and willing populations at first is something we knew how to do back then too. > That it would kill someone, I don't think that was a possibility in their minds. If they thought it was harmless they'd have tested it at the military base first. > If you want outrage, be outraged that [...] I don't, thanks. And I don't appreciate the redirect. (I agree, but it's not the topic.)