The motive might be to prevent harm, but motive does not justify actions. Parents literally used to beat children, to make them more obedient and thereby "protecting" them. Some parents today will prevent their child being vaccinated from life threatening diseases, because in their culture vaccines are seen as bad, and their warped view of medicine makes them think they are protecting their children.
Motive is not justification.

I believe the "competition" in the original context is Advent of Code, not the job market. As you can see most of those people already have good jobs, why would they need to compete with the likes of you?