In reply to Marc Couture.

Hi Marc

Yes, and I had a similar discussion with @gavialib as to the pragmatics in a world of imperfect lists. So my train of thought is that a) they don't work in theory and b) I think black lists are unethical.

Automatic exclusion is always bad in my view. Whereas asking additional questions, requiring more evidence or simply declining to include until further info is available is ok (if not perfect as you note).

This is why I emphasise the *use* of the list. A list might technically be a "blacklist" but if it is used to flag potential issues for further investigation, or to focus QA efforts then I don't really see it as a blacklist, but as part of a QA process for a whitelist.

That may seem like splitting hairs but what is most important from my view is the act of exclusion. Bottom line excluding something permanently on the basis of someone else's assessment, particularly in an automated fashion is to my mind unethical.