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nobunkum wrote: ↑16 Apr 2018, 19:20 Your question is really interesting. Because I feel like being a nerd, to answer your question more accurately I looked up the word responsible: "Having an obligation to do something, or having control over or care for someone, as part of one's job or role."

I think that that is one thing that the book just slightly hits as a collateral topic: responsibility of different players in their respective roles. I think it could have done a little better job showing a little more balanced opinion on the matter but it makes you think. I like this thought experiment because I feel like in our current society our rights are always trumped up and our responsibilities are pushed underneath the rug.

And the way you asked your question is interesting too. How you lumped people into certain categories makes me think if as a part of those categories that they do or should have specific roles to play in our society. Then as a part of that role, what should they have an obligation to do or control and care over.

Possible obligations as a part of their role in society:
Seniors: remind of past- failures and successes? warn, protect, counsel? be involved? volunteer?
Immigrants: integration? better behavior than natural citizens? share their culture in an understanding way?
The media: fair reporting? ethical reporting? timely reporting?
Doctors: do no harm? balancing confidentiality and need to disclose? being a watchdog or patriarchal position?
Capitalists: primary responsibility to shareholders? the environment? full disclosure? society?
The investigators: safest society as possible? or just upholding and enforcing the current laws?
NRA: protect the second amendment? help gun owners be more responsible?

Interestingly enough, with this mindset I would say that Vince actually acted very responsible for the most part. Even though I disliked him as a character I would have to say he acted very responsible. In his role as a senior, he was responsible to learn more about what was happening around him, researching more what was really going on, he was involved with those around him. As a natural citizen he was responsible in embracing immigrants, befriending them, and helping them integrate into American society. As a patient and husband he was responsible when ever though he was told he was going to die he took the doctors advice and followed through with all of the treatment for the hope that he could survive and take care of Trudi. As a husband and owner and community member he was responsible in following up with the police when a crime happened. This part is perhaps debatable but he was responsible to fight to protect his neighborhood and family from criminals that were not contributing to his community. (Spoiler alert) As a gun owner, you could argue that he was responsible for getting rid of the gun when he realized that for him and his wife it wasn't safe for them to have access to it. In a lot of ways he was very responsible even if he wasn't that great of a character for me.

It is interesting that Vijay is a favorite among you readers as I have a different experience with him. I feel like he was one of the less responsible characters. It is likely that as he was previously a medical doctor, he has taken the Hippocratic oath or at the very least operated in an environment where doctors are presumed to adhere to certain medical ethics. Two common ones are medical confidentiality and non-maleficence or do no harm. The book doesn't cover this at all but when a medical diagnostic device (such as the watch) is developed it is actually regulated by the FDA. They have certain procedures in place to document and monitor adverse events regarding new devices. The underlying assumption being that doctors should proceed forward with new devices with caution, monitoring for and doing everything to minimize risks to participants. In current research, if researchers administer psychological tests that indicate that the participant is suicidal or a threat to themselves or others it is generally accepted that the researcher has an obligation to report it. And in certain circumstances, if the research or device itself creates adverse events they are required to minimize the events. In the book he just says, oh lets increase the beta test and try to monitor who has guns and who doesn't. I think in the real world there is no way that current ethical regulatory bodies would find that acceptable. In his duty to do no harm it shouldn't matter how popular the feature is or the theoretical upsides of it would be. If he was responsible in his role of a doctor, he should have worked to find a way to minimize the risks not just said oh what can we do, it's the NRA's fault. I'm less versed in business ethics but it would see that it was a little irresponsible to his investors and to his own company to start a romantic relationship with the account manager of the investing firm. In this case it seems like it worked out for him and his company but it easily could have been a liability to both sides. Likewise, it is hinted at that as a son and brother he has guilt about what he has done for his family but doesn't really do much about it. Perhaps give his parents a nicer house but he doesn't seem to do much in terms of what might perhaps be expected of him as an Indian son and brother (once again, not well versed in those societal expectations and roles).

It is interesting to go through each character and think about this. The reporter (his obligation to his audience versus a pretty girl), the senator (his obligation to protect his household versus the truth), Vince's doctor (to disclose information about his patient without his patient's knowledge versus providing feedback to a company). It is very interesting to think back about this book in those terms. Thank you for the question.

Miriam Molina wrote: ↑28 Mar 2018, 20:01 The book features many characters: seniors, immigrants, the media, the doctors and capitalists, the investigators, and of course, the NRA. We read about many killings, racism, and yes, heroism and selflessness, too.

Who of the characters behaved most responsibly? Least responsibly?

My personal favorite is Vijay. He is almost too good to be true.