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That's the Standard Libertarian Reply, and in some cases it's the one I stand with, but... no, not for this. A label which everybody knows will be ignored (when
by Analemma_ 3y ago
That's the Standard Libertarian Reply, and in some cases it's the one I stand with, but... no, not for this. A label which everybody knows will be ignored (when was the last time you read the EULAs of your software start-to-finish) by people who then inevitably go on to die because their smartwatch gave them a wrong number should not be allowed.
> Or perhaps we should ban everything that can enable "the stupid" to harm themselves.
Once again this is a case of people holding absolutist principles when there is no need, or benefit, to do so. We can and should use rational cost-benefit analysis to decide what to allow and what to forbid. What's the benefit of allowing non-diabetics access to inaccurate blood sugar measurements? Minimal: a couple people have mentioned speculative uses about mood or energy level, but that's about it. What's the harm? Colossal: it's a near-certainty that many people will die. This is a no-brainer.
Note that by contrast, the calculus for allowing somewhat-inaccurate EKG measurements on the Apple Watch is in favor of allowing it: nobody is going to live or die on an inaccurate heartbeat trace from their watch, as they can for a blood glucose measurement, so, sure, why not. Again: black-and-white principles is not the correct mode of analysis here.