Do you really think encouraging this idea in general is good?
That is: assuming it is possible to reduce bad uses at the cost of also reducing good uses, should one do so?
Your reply seems to assume that the bad uses can’t be reduced, which contradicts the pre-established assumptions. If you want to change the assumptions of a discussion, please include a note that you are doing so and ideally a short explanation of why you think the previous assumptions should be rejected in favor of the new ones.
I don’t assume that bad uses can’t be reduced, and my answer is somewhat tongue in cheek, but I do suspect that getting people to stop using this mode of thought for bad ideas would be very difficult. Getting people to apply it to good causes as well might be worse, outcome-wise, than getting them to stop applying it all, but trying to get people to apply it to good causes might still have a better return on investment than trying to get them to stop, simply because it’s easier.
The original question was:
That is: assuming it is possible to reduce bad uses at the cost of also reducing good uses, should one do so?
Your reply seems to assume that the bad uses can’t be reduced, which contradicts the pre-established assumptions. If you want to change the assumptions of a discussion, please include a note that you are doing so and ideally a short explanation of why you think the previous assumptions should be rejected in favor of the new ones.
I don’t assume that bad uses can’t be reduced, and my answer is somewhat tongue in cheek, but I do suspect that getting people to stop using this mode of thought for bad ideas would be very difficult. Getting people to apply it to good causes as well might be worse, outcome-wise, than getting them to stop applying it all, but trying to get people to apply it to good causes might still have a better return on investment than trying to get them to stop, simply because it’s easier.
You may be right, but I don’t trust a human to only arrive at that conclusion if it’s true. I think we ought to refrain from pressing D, just in case.