[pvn]

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No, I'm actually quite interested in maximizing other people's utility. I don't see why anyone other than a complete misanthrope wouldn't be interested in this to some degree.

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Because people who aren't micromanaging busybodies respect other people's autonomy. If someone asks you for help, great.

If not, MYOFB.

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The first problem with this is that it certainly doesn't (and shouldn't) hold at all social levels. What you said is true of some random guy in the street that I come across (under most circumstances).

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So at what "social levels" does this hold?

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The second problem is actually that people are not time consistent. It's actually an interesting thought experiment to see what you'd have to say about someone who says something along the lines of "tomorrow do X to me" but the next day tells you not to. I know this seems overly pedantic but I think it's an important case that certainly has pragmatic applications.

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Yes, people change their mind. So what?

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Does this mean I want to force people to control their lives to strict degrees? No, but one of the main reasons for this is that utility cannot be maximized (for many people) under conditions where their choices are not theirs to make.

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So if it weren't for that pesky fact, you'd be all for directly controlling every aspect of other people's lives in the name of utility maximization?

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Your asking me if it would be a problem to take away people's freedom in the hypothetical situation in which people did not value their freedom?

Yeah, I'd say it's ok.

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So from there, it's pretty easy to tell yourself "well, they'll enjoy the results of my bossing them around a lot more than the tiny little bit of freedom I'm taking away from them."