Re: Suppressing technologies can *kill* people

From: Mike Lorrey (mlorrey@datamann.com)
Date: Thu Jun 28 2001 - 11:15:15 MDT


"Eliezer S. Yudkowsky" wrote:
>
> By contrast, talking about technology suppression as deadly - conveying
> the image of a loaded gun with a finger on the trigger - is something that
> I think people will be able to get a lot faster.
>
> "Technology suppression can *kill* people" is the short quote. A more
> extended argument might go something like this: "Technology suppression
> can kill people. It's as deadly as a loaded gun. "

Naturally, I object to this, for the simple reason that a loaded gun is
NOT deadly. I've slept with one beside my bed for several years, and not
once has it jumped up and shot me. Anyone who thinks differently DOES,
in fact, need therapy, for hoplophobia.

I would word it along the lines that suppressing technology that can
save lives is like telling people to jump out of a burning building,
then taking away the net when they leap.



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