While you may hope that they know how to evaluate the trade-offs or have someone around that can explain it, many people live life under very risky circumstances and an uninformed choice can be the last choice they make.
No, I am not painting this a bit too black and white. Alive or dead is a pretty black or white thing and many people live lives where death dogs their steps. This is not an appeal to emotion or hyperbole. This is a fact.
If it isn't that big of a deal for you, cool. Glad to hear your life is fairly comfortable. But I do think it matters that informed, knowledgeable people discussing it on a forum with a strong reputation for being a good source of technical information (as well as other kinds of information) is a place where someone needs to make it very clear what the potential consequences are for people who live in dangerous circumstances and don't have the technical background or connections needed to figure this out.
Yes, I'm living a comfortable life (if we define that as "Not worried about dying"). I seriously cannot imagine what people in those situations might go through.
But regardless of one's technical skills, I believe that someone cautious about giving up their phone number would stop and reconsider when Signal wants you to provide your phone number? I also really hope (for the sake of the people you stand up for) that getting a random / anonymous SIM card, a 'just for close friends and family' phone number is something that is well-known and good practice?
I .. don't want to dismiss your opinion. Honestly, I'm _still_ convinced that we feel the same about Signal. Let's turn this around: What would you _hope_ for here? What do you expect or wish for? What do you criticize exactly?
I am not trying to argue with you. But I think this is a distinction worth making. We don't know who all is reading. People in real trouble often cannot ask questions. They may only be able to read. In which case, it matters if someone points out such a detail.
Thank you for engaging me.
Yes, you (and I, let's not forget that we kinda agree that this is bad design) might not want to share your private phone number just to contact someone via Signal. But I feel you're painting this a bit too black or white.
If lives are at stake or not, Signal might or might not be the right solution. If people feel that their life is at risk, I hope they know how to evaluate the trade-offs - or have someone around that can explain it.
We both don't like Signal. I don't agree that it should be dismissed and emotional appeals are ~questionable~, can probably be turned around (see first paragraph). Individual decisions need to be made and if Signal is a good fit or not for a specific scenario isn't an good indicator about the general fitness of Signal in general imo.