Althouse: "We don’t want to be seen as capitalizing on the tragedy."

October 23, 2014

"We don’t want to be seen as capitalizing on the tragedy."

"You don’t want to be seen as, 'We’re sending in the robots.' It sounds insensitive and crass."

12 comments:

tim maguire said...: At first, I thought, that's appalling. These robots have some ability to reduce the risk of infection to rescue and aid workers, but we won't deploy them because it would seem insensitive? That's nuts.

But this is one of those rare instances where there was some intelligence in the comments section of a New York Times article--use Ebola survivors. Assuming we are correct that survivors have immunity to the disease, they will be cheaper, more capable and versatile, less culturally problematic, and could probably use the money.; 10/23/14, 12:49 PM
Shanna said...: I don't think it's crass, but hospitals do need to do some of cost benefit analysis on these things, as they do on everything. I think the disinfecting robots are ridiculously cool and we've been talking about them for a year or two. They could be used for all sorts of things, not just ebola.

I don't know about the other kinds.; 10/23/14, 1:29 PM
Sam L. said...: I welcome our new robot overlords.; 10/23/14, 1:57 PM
sinz52 said...: You won't seem insensitive if the robots don't look like inhuman science fiction machines.

That's precisely why the Japanese are trying to create human-looking robots.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLCbCtQVQog; 10/23/14, 1:58 PM
Nonapod said...: No need to be robophobic. There's already robots that perform surgery in hospitals all over the world. I just think you have to keep these sorts of things in perspective.; 10/23/14, 2:00 PM
Nathan said...: I hope this isn't just some Avengers 2 / Iron Man tie-in courtesy Disney.

Talk about viral marketing.; 10/23/14, 2:16 PM
mikee said...: Decontaminating a robot covered in Ebola vomit might require another set of robots entirely, or perhaps a blast furnace.; 10/23/14, 2:50 PM
jimbino said...: One could, at least, employ robots to ask "Do you have insurance?" when we call a doctor's or dentist's office inquiring about the price or availability of treatment.

Whenever I call Walmart, CVS, Walgreen's or others to ask the price of a flu shot, they invariably ask, "Do you have insurance?"

I respond, "I asked you for a price and you ask me about insurance?"

THEY'RE WARPED !!!

If I call Home Depot or Walmart asking the price of a barbecue grill, they never ask "Do you have insurance?"

This country is totally messed up.; 10/23/14, 3:14 PM
Achilles said...: jimbino said...

"I respond, "I asked you for a price and you ask me about insurance?"

THEY'RE WARPED !!!

If I call Home Depot or Walmart asking the price of a barbecue grill, they never ask "Do you have insurance?"

This country is totally messed up."

The unholy alliance between government and insurance companies is messed up. Almost every nanny state intrusion can be laid at the feet of Progressive Insurance. Only Goldman Sachs spent more money on Obama and the democrats. Possibly trial lawyers but there are a lot of those.

And shortly hereafter there will be some programmed robot telling me what a monster I am for wanting to repeal seat belt and bike helmet laws without any hint of self awareness. But they save lives! Just watch.; 10/23/14, 4:46 PM
Achilles said...: When did we get so many luddites in the government bureaucracy?

Might some threatened union jobs be in the mix?

Don't they see the potential for union robot repair people?

This is such a no brainer. There is no reasonable place for "sensitivity." Get the robots developed and in there.; 10/23/14, 4:50 PM
Carl Pham said...: Jesus, if you don't capitalize on a tragedy it has no freaking meaning at all. What stupid people.

Like, I survived the Titanic sinking and realized I could start a business selling cheap effective lifeboats to luxury liners -- but oh no I better not because I'd be capitalizing on the tragedy. Best to learn nothing at all from it, take no action, just sit around moping and practicing our Medieval monk Acceptance Of The Futility Of Human Works.

Isn't there some way we can vote these people off the planet?; 10/23/14, 6:34 PM
Saint Croix said...: Ebola #3

New York City.

Fuck.; 10/23/14, 9:10 PM