Interesting that this is coming up again. I'd written an essay on the fundamental pattern behind what is at play here, it was well received on HN at the time:

Interesting that this is coming up again. I'd written an essay on the fundamental pattern behind what is at play here, it was well received on HN at the time: http://lesswrong.com/lw/28r/is_google_paperclipping_the_web_the_perils_of/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/28r/is_google_paperclipping_the_web_...