So the story you're talking about has a giant logical problem in it: that the technology, in the context mentioned, could not possibly produce the negative effect that it does in the story.

So, here's a question - does the equation change if it could not produce the positive effect that it does in the story?

I mean, look at Star Trek - one of the most beloved chunks of the Sci-Fi genre. It is just chock full of holes of just the same sort, but with positive spin rather than negative. Do these cheese you off, too?