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Accountability Sinks

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Re: Accountability Sinks

#2
Related discussion (517 pts):

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41891694

https://aworkinglibrary.com/reading/unaccountability-machine

(A very short overview of Dan Davies' book, quoted in TFA, that came up with the term)

EDIT: complementing book mentioned in that thread

Cathy O'Neil's "Weapons of Math Destruction" (2016, Penguin Random House) is a good companion to this concept, covering the "accountability sink" from the other side of those constructing or overseeing systems.

Cathy argues that the use of algorithm in some contexts permits a new scale of harmful and unaccountable systems that ought to be reigned in.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41892299

Re: Accountability Sinks

#4
It's interesting we always talked about the Holocaust and the Nuremberg trials when talking about accountability, as if similar atrocities aren't currently happening. It's because breaking an accountability sink of people who are long dead doesn't have any impact other than the explanation itself. Breaking an accountability sink of currently living people and currently active wars is much more dangerous.

Re: Accountability Sinks

#5

Related discussion (517 pts): https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41891694 https://aworkinglibrary.com/reading/unaccountability-machine (A very short overview of Dan Davies' book, quoted in TFA, that came up with the term) EDIT: complementing book mentioned in that thread Cathy O'Neil's "Weapons of Math Destruction" (2016, Penguin Random House) is a good companion to this concept, covering the "accountability sink"…

Heh. 6 months ago someone mentioned Deutsche Bahn and Switzerland. Deutsche Bahn is now banned from operating trains into Switzerland, by Switzerland, because they are never on time.

Re: Accountability Sinks

#6
post #4

It's interesting we always talked about the Holocaust and the Nuremberg trials when talking about accountability, as if similar atrocities aren't currently happening. It's because breaking an accountability sink of people who are long dead doesn't have any impact other than the explanation itself. Breaking an accountability sink of currently living people and currently active wars is much more dangerous.

Did you imply that there is another Holocaust currently ongoing?

Re: Accountability Sinks

#8
I think this is one of the most fascinating aspects of solo non-stop around the world sailing: You have no one to blame other than yourself. It puts you into a mindset that is unique in this day and age. The sailors, when interviewed after their ordeal, also mention it a lot.

Re: Accountability Sinks

#9
post #6
post #4

It's interesting we always talked about the Holocaust and the Nuremberg trials when talking about accountability, as if similar atrocities aren't currently happening. It's because breaking an accountability sink of people who are long dead doesn't have any impact other than the explanation itself. Breaking an accountability sink of currently living people and currently active wars is much more dangerous.

Did you imply that there is another Holocaust currently ongoing?

There are numerous conflicts worldwide where one side is trying to systematically destroy the other population, civilians and all. Whether they are exactly the same or how you define that is pretty secondary to that fact.

Re: Accountability Sinks

#10

Related discussion (517 pts): https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41891694 https://aworkinglibrary.com/reading/unaccountability-machine (A very short overview of Dan Davies' book, quoted in TFA, that came up with the term) EDIT: complementing book mentioned in that thread Cathy O'Neil's "Weapons of Math Destruction" (2016, Penguin Random House) is a good companion to this concept, covering the "accountability sink"…

Great post and discussion as well! I learned from that about two just cultures and their different views of what "accountability" even is.
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