Cypherwaffle on spoofing

I understand Detweiller's frustration. On another list, someone posted 
as if he/she were William Gibson. That kind of fraud undermines 
confidence on several levels. It attempts to dupe us, and usurps the name 
and reputation of a well-known writer, and sets up an atmosphere of 
suspicion and doubt fatal to any community. 
  How would you like it if someone spoofmailed  to this list under your 
name, then published Nazi slogans and argued for the legalization of rape? 
  What I find odd is the number and  vehemence of posts ON A LIST DEVOTED 
TO ENCRYPTION saying "Hey, it's a  fact of life, accept it" -- even  
dragging out Machiavelli's profoundly  mistaken "if you can't enforce 
it,  don't prohibit it." Of all the groups  on the Internet, I would 
think that  this one would be in a special position to say "put your 
digital John Hancock on your post if you want to to taken seriously."

Arthur Chandler writes:
 >   What I find odd is the number and  vehemence of posts ON A LIST DEVOTED 
 > TO ENCRYPTION saying "Hey, it's a  fact of life, accept it" -- even  
 > dragging out Machiavelli's profoundly  mistaken "if you can't enforce 
 > it,  don't prohibit it." 

Oh well, it's "profoundly" mistaken, so we'd better change our tune.
OK, let's prohibit it.  The net sure will be wonderful once that magic
wand is waved.

 > Of all the groups  on the Internet, I would 
 > think that  this one would be in a special position to say "put your 
 > digital John Hancock on your post if you want to to taken seriously."

Uhhhh...  That's the *point*.  It is a waste of time and energy to
prohibit anonymity/pseudonymity when it's so easy to render it
completely ineffective through the use of strong cryptography and
digital signature technology.

Note that if it weren't for the fact that humans can use sensory
mechanisms to determine with some confidence the identity of a human
they're talking to, we'd have been faced with the same problem for
quite some time.  That's one of the foundations of the whole
cypherpunk concept: freedom to develop and use strong cryptosystems
makes this confidence of identity possible over electronic networks.
(Please pardon my presumption at speaking for the "organization"; I'm
paraphrasing something Mike Godwin said at the Austin EFF Crypto
meeting.)

Note also that the problem *does* exist now: politicians recieve
letters about hot issues from constituents---or at least they're
*assumed* to be from constituents.  How many votes have been changed
over the years by clever miscreants sending many letters under
different assumed identities?

--
Mike McNally

Some novels to enjoy...

Earlier today Nick Szabo (not his True Name?) made some references to
True Names. I'm sure you all have heard many of us speak about Vernor
Vinge's "True Names." If you have not yet read it, buy a copy today
and read it tonight in lieu of reading this list!

Another novel is "Ender's Game," by Orson Scott Card, in which some
kids carry on a political debate on the Nets of the future under the
digital pseudonyms "Locke" and "Demosthenes." Over a period of months
and then years, these nyms ("True Nyms"?) develop a large following
and are demonstrably important entities.

About the way our own "S. Boxx" could be if he/she/it didn't
periodically lapse into rants and flames about "traitors," the "death
fo the cypherpunks cause," and so on. Actions have consequences, even
in cypherspace.

Anyway, I strongly recommend both "True Names" and "Ender's Game."

--Tim May (my True Name)


-- 
..........................................................................
Timothy C. May         | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money,  
tcmay@netcom.com       | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero
408-688-5409           | knowledge, reputations, information markets, 
W.A.S.T.E.: Aptos, CA  | black markets, collapse of governments.
Higher Power: 2^756839 | Public Key: PGP and MailSafe available.
Note: I put time and money into writing this posting. I hope you enjoy it.

Tim May writes:
>Anyway, I strongly recommend both "True Names" and "Ender's Game."

A very strong second for True Names.  Read it and find out who really
invented "Cyberspace" (It wasn't Gibson).  If you like it, try Vinge's
"A Fire Upon the Deep."

Robert Woodhead writes:

> Tim May writes:
> >Anyway, I strongly recommend both "True Names" and "Ender's Game."
> 
> A very strong second for True Names.  Read it and find out who really
> invented "Cyberspace" (It wasn't Gibson).

Elvis didn't invent rock 'n' roll, either.



--Mike