Post #1952991
2026-04-26 23:09 UTC
@mattly
The purpose of a system is what it does.
— Stafford Beer
The age verification systems (regardless of any specific implementation) can, and will be used beyond the stated reasons.
We need only to look at "Justice" systems that continue to exist despite their not contributing to actual justice, merely commercial incarceration. Often at the expense of justice.
Replies (1)
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@fishidwardrobe@social.tchncs.de 2026-04-27 02:36
@RyeNCode @mattly in a lot of ways this quote is even worse. "purpose" is motive, intent. that's not the same thing as what a system ends up doing. might as well say that system designers never make a mistake. that said, i'm here to endorse what i believe was meant: that good intentions behind a bad system are worth nothing. "the purpose of a system isn't what it does, but it might as well be"