Signs/miracles sent only to cause fear?

[Rayaan]

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[Shakir 17:59] And nothing could have hindered Us that We should send signs except that the ancients rejected them; and We gave to Samood the she-camel– a manifest sign– but on her account they did injustice, and We do not send signs but to make (men) fear.
[Pickthal 17:59] Naught hindereth Us from sending portents save that the folk of old denied them. And We gave Thamud the she-camel – a clear portent save to warn.
[Yusufali 17:59] And We refrain from sending the signs, only because the men of former generations treated them as false: We sent the she-camel to the Thamud to open their eyes, but they treated her wrongfully: We only send the Signs by way of terror (and warning from evil).

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This verse was already brought up before in another thread. However what was discussed was the issue of why signs were not sent. Right now the focus is on why signs are sent in the first place. And here the reason also seems not to make sense. It is said signs are only sent to make people fear. But does that make sense? Let’s think about. Signs by definitions are proof. So this would mean the only thing God desires to do with proving Messengers are causing people to fear. As opposed to causing people to believe and that belief to be followed up by loving the virtues taught by God and following the right path, the motive is simply to make them fear. Not to hope, not to love, not to be good out of love, but to make them fear?

Well, the idea that signs were sent only as a warning (or to cause fear) does not negate the idea that they were sent as a manifestation of the truth, or for the disbelievers to know the truth. Obviously, it's not impossible to know the truth and to fear the truth at the same time. Also, the "fear" doesn't have to be a negative thing nor intended for a bad reason. On the contrary, the fear according to the Quran was only intended to help the people cultivate a greater amount of goodness and justice and to bring about a positive change in them. Therefore, in my opinion, fear, goodness, and justice go hand-in-hand and they are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

The "signs" in that verse are referring to visible miracles which used to be presented as a proof of Prophethood. The disbelievers from among the Quraish were demanding such signs over and over again. However, whenever Allah sent a sign, it was not shown to them just for fun. The verse says that the signs were shown to them as a warning and to make them more aware of the terrible consequences of their disobedience.