Comments on: Should We Blame Scientists for Not Predicting Earthquakes?

By: G

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 12:11:35 +0000

The stipulation that someone is guilty of something for “downplaying the risk of a major earthquake” is foolish. In recent times our society is way too often looking for someone to blame for their own ignorance. These folks should know that they live in a seismically active area. If you live somewhere like that, it’s your choice. What is this blame crap? This is the problem with being so dependent on a nanny government. People are dumber for it. I will also go out on a limb here to say that people are more litigious than ever in recent times. Learn what accountability means and grow up. We all live on an earth with moving plates, there WILL be earthquakes! Period!

By: Skeptikai Notice (June 18) | Skeptikai

Skeptikai Notice (June 18) | Skeptikai — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 03:11:55 +0000

[...] Should We Blame Scientists for Not Predicting Earthquakes? – A group of Italian scientists have been charged with manslaughter for not warning the public of an earthquake. The title is foolishly misleading (it says right in the article that it’s not about earthquake prediction) but they are accusing of downplaying the risk of a major earthquake. [...]

By: Terry

Terry — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 23:43:52 +0000

2.In New Zealand recently, a fraud with no actual qualifications made another false claim regarding earthquakes. None of his predictions have come true and all his ‘science’ fails scientif scrutiny.

By: jjux

jjux — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:35:14 +0000

The title is wrong. The scientists are not on trial for “not predicting” the earthquake. As is written in your article, they are being judged by saying there was no danger. Totally different things. I can’t tell you if you will be killed on Somalia, but if I convince you that “there is no danger” for going there, I’m not innocent if you die.

By: William Lee

William Lee — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 22:16:45 +0000

In New Zealand recently, a meteorologist who was making reasonably accurate earthquake predictions (based mainly on sunspots & moon cycles) was threatened with legal action from Christchurch (the town that has been continuously ravaged by earthquakes for around 9 months and counting). They scared him enough that he put out a statement that he will no longer be making predictions.

Jail scientists for not predicting earthquakes, or sue them for predicting them. Ludicrous!

By: Henry Hamblen

Henry Hamblen — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:08:40 +0000

Ridiculus! There is no guarantee the politicians who are persecuting these scientists would have acted any differently than they did. After all, the politicians failed to take basic precautions to start with. They are just looking for scapegoats.