ESR-type freedom fighters typically suggest that the priority should be on one’s freedom to shoot your own foot off with a footgun, as long as the footgun has c

ESR-type freedom fighters typically suggest that the priority should be on one’s freedom to shoot your own foot off with a footgun, as long as the footgun has clear warnings. This idealism commonly places absolute freedom as the number one priority, leaving no room for competing priorities such as the safety and welfare of those who are unable to make sensible judgement calls regarding footgun operation. I have watched expert users infect themselves with malware faster than I can open my mouth to warn them that they’ve just unthinkingly clicked Next and blown their foot off, and then had to help them wipe their installation and start over. I do not consider the current world we live in to be one where it is safe to prioritize absolute freedom over all other concerns. I accept that this puts me at odds with those that do, but as I watch them shoot their own feet off, I am grateful that I chose a more pragmatic path. I am grateful that a safer path is available for those who are unable to comprehend the severities of the risks they are defended against. The solution you propose is no different than saying that the safety on a gun is sufficient to protect someone from accidentally shooting themselves with it. I do not agree with your assumptions, and I think the solution you describe is selfish and neglectful. You prioritize your ideals over the welfare of others unable to avoid paying the price you think yourself able to dodge. Your choice is abhorrent to me, and pushes me further away from the absolutist freedoms you espouse. Consider carefully in the future whether your argument as presented today helps or harms your cause.