Subject: Re: OT: gain of function research
Jim's answer is nice and positive - and surprisingly naïve
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One of the last terms anyone should use to describe Jim is "naive". The term I would use to describe that opinion is highly "mistaken".


Perhaps naïve has a less pejorative connotation in German. Naiv - natürlich, unbefangen, treuherzig, arglos - all seem fairly harmless (natural, impartial, trusting, guileless...) In English, it has more of a sense of stupidly oblivious to an obvious problem.

I think it would be better to describe Jim's response as one which acknowledges that we don't know everything about Gates and his associations, including the serious accusations of sexual improprieties, but that the accusations concern behaviour that is completely unproven and, for the most par, none of our business anyways. What we DO know a lot about is the many positive contributions that Gates has made to the world through his philanthropy, and the millions of lives he has positively influenced by it. His resignation from Berkshire's board, the only part of this that is really related to this board, could be understood as an implicit acknowledgement of the seriousness of the accusations against him, yes, that is one possibility, but it could just as well be Gates honourably shielding Berkshire from criticism (like the criticism we have seen on this board), even if that criticism is unjustified.
gat
Calling this naive presumes that we know the truth of what has happened. I say even if I have no great love for a hypocrite like Gates who tells us to live modest lives that protect the environment, while building a 66,000 square feet mansion, owning a half billion dollar yacht, and jetting around the world to meet his fellow billionaires and decide how the rest of us should behave. But since we don't know much about his personal life, it would be much better to just give him the presumption of innocence, as we would to anyone else, and get on with our own lives where there are undoubtedly enough problems to keep us busy, and with much better chances of making improvements.

Regards, DTB