RE: Cyphernomicon by Tim May

From:	Toto, quoting the Cyphernomicon

3.5.1 Contrary to what people sometimes claim, there is no ruling
       clique of Cypherpunks. Anybody is free to do nearly anything,
       just not free to commit others to course of action, or claim
       to speak for the "Cypherpunks" as a group (and this last
       point is unenforceable except through reputation and social
       repercussions).
.........................................................................

Toto, I'm surprised at how seriously you take the underlying anarchist 
philosophy of the list; you identify so closely with it, and have responded 
to its moderation as though it really would be "the end of freedom", even 
though you seem to have appeared, or else come out of lurking, only 
recently.   Is this because you value anarchy, or free speech, or the 
existence of the Cypherpunks as a unique group of stray cats [ :>) ]?


Side note:
Since Tim isn't on the list and hasn't been for a month, I've been 
wondering if it had anything to do with the moderation experiment, although 
it is unlike him to have left without either an argument or at least some 
kind of statement about it.

    ..
Blanc

blanc wrote:
> From:   Toto, quoting the Cyphernomicon
> 3.5.1 Contrary to what people sometimes claim, there is no ruling
>        clique of Cypherpunks. Anybody is free to do nearly anything,
>        just not free to commit others to course of action, or claim
>        to speak for the "Cypherpunks" as a group (and this last
>        point is unenforceable except through reputation and social repercussions).

> Toto, I'm surprised at how seriously you take the underlying anarchist
> philosophy of the list; you identify so closely with it, and have responded
> to its moderation as though it really would be "the end of freedom", even
> though you seem to have appeared, or else come out of lurking, only
> recently.   Is this because you value anarchy, or free speech, or the
> existence of the Cypherpunks as a unique group of stray cats [ :>) ]?
> Side note: Since Tim isn't on the list and hasn't been for a month, I've been
> wondering if it had anything to do with the moderation experiment, although
> it is unlike him to have left without either an argument or at least some
> kind of statement about it.

Maybe Tim's Last Words got "lost", eh?  So far, several people have
stated that "it could happen".

blanc wrote:

> Toto, I'm surprised at how seriously you take the underlying anarchist
> philosophy of the list; you identify so closely with it, and have responded
> to its moderation as though it really would be "the end of freedom", even
> though you seem to have appeared, or else come out of lurking, only
> recently.   Is this because you value anarchy, or free speech, or the
> existence of the Cypherpunks as a unique group of stray cats [ :>) ]?

  I value Reason (big 'R'), humor (small 'h'), and A/ambiguity (take
your
pick).

  Anarchy is only a pause between dictators. Fascism is necessary to
remind
us not to take freedom for granted.
  One should call for 'order' during the rein of anarchy and for
'freedom 
during times of Fascism.

  I have 'appeared' and/or 'come out of lurking' on the CypherPunks list
at various times since it's inception, under various personas. Few have
noticed, and fewer, still, have ever accurately described, as you have,
what I truly value about the CypherPunks--"a unique group of stray
cats."
  The CypherPunks have, over the years, weathered varying sorts of 
'problems' in the development of the list, as a result of various
'voices
of Reason' prevailing in the setting the list's direction--even when
those 'voices' were diametrically opposed in their beliefs.
  What currently threatens the list, in my opinion, is not the
dissension,
but the rise of a cliquish sheep-mentality and the resulting dismissal
of the opinions of people of Reason (and the opinions of 'anyone', in 
general, whom 'I' perceive as being on the 'other side' of an issue).

  If the day comes when I am able to file away the CypherPunks list
under this-or-that category, then I will put a tombstone in the file, as
well, and put flowers in it once a year.

Toto
> Side note:
> Since Tim isn't on the list and hasn't been for a month, I've been
> wondering if it had anything to do with the moderation experiment, although
> it is unlike him to have left without either an argument or at least some
> kind of statement about it.
> 
>     ..
> Blanc