> It's saying that we as builders have a responsibility to consider and be mindful of the impacts of what we're building.
Yes, and my argument is that building those things doesn't have the "impact" referred to; using them does.
> To take your same point to its logical conclusion, no one is responsible for evil aside from the one who pulls the trigger.
Tools, by their nature, have explicitly designed uses, and potential cascading consequences of that use. This is one of the reasons that open-source licenses include a disclaimer of warranty: for the legal protection of the author, not just from claims by users, but claims by third parties injured by those users.
As far as culpability goes, I'm much happier drawing the line in a place where, if you keep applying the same logic you used originally, it will stay put rather than moving inexorably further. Contrary to what many have tried to tell me, intent does matter, a whole lot.
Yes, and my argument is that building those things doesn't have the "impact" referred to; using them does.
> To take your same point to its logical conclusion, no one is responsible for evil aside from the one who pulls the trigger.
Tools, by their nature, have explicitly designed uses, and potential cascading consequences of that use. This is one of the reasons that open-source licenses include a disclaimer of warranty: for the legal protection of the author, not just from claims by users, but claims by third parties injured by those users.
As far as culpability goes, I'm much happier drawing the line in a place where, if you keep applying the same logic you used originally, it will stay put rather than moving inexorably further. Contrary to what many have tried to tell me, intent does matter, a whole lot.