RE: Postcard Debates

Back to a previous question: how do we get the public to understand the
concept of an "electronic envelope", the ACLU has created a PDF file that
prints to a brochure format explaining encryption on a level that even the
novice of users can understand.  It is available at
http://www.aclu.org/action/tools/crypto.pdf.

____________________________________________________
Jamie R. Wilson                     




-----Original Message-----
From: Joel O'Connor [mailto:ogrenivek@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, 11 December, 1998 12:47
To: Wilson, Jamie (J.R.)
Cc: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: RE: Postcard Debates


Deep. . .mad deep.  I completely agree, does anyone know of any such
laws regarding e-mail?




---"Wilson, Jamie (J.R.)" <jwilso37@visteonet.com> wrote:
>
> If everyone just encrypted their messages then no suspicions would
be raised
> regarding the use of encryption.  Most people use envelopes, plain and
> simple -- and as a result no one questions what they are hiding.  It's
> understood that mail is private and therefore people have a right to
seal it
> in an envelope and not worry about people tampering with it.  On the
same
> note, there are federal regulations and penalties (in the U.S.
anyway) for
> tampering with mail and interrupting the delivery of it.  The same
laws
> should apply to email.
> 
> ____________________________________________________
> Jamie R. Wilson                     
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robert Wenzler [mailto:rwenzler@usachoice.com]
> Sent: Thursday, 10 December, 1998 13:56
> To: Mbishop645@aol.com
> Cc: maven@weirdness.com; hab@gamegirlz.com; Cypherpunks@toad.com
> Subject: Re: 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Mbishop645@aol.com wrote:
> > 
> > >HaB wrote:
> > ><snip>
> > >>     That's a good place to begin, though.  "Would you send a
letter to
> > >> someone without an envelope?"  "Then why not put your email in
the
> > >> electronic equivalent of one?"
> > >>
> > >> balance.
> > >
> > >Would I send a letter to someone without an envelope?
> > >One word: postcard.
> > 
> > Ahh, but would you tape a check for your phone bill to a postcard?
Other
> > than writing a greeting to someone what else do you use a postcard
for?
> 
> No, I would not tape a phone bill check to a postcard. There is the 
> chance for it to fall off.
> 
> There is different methods of sending mail for different levels of
> security and functionality. Some people make it obvious what is inside
> an envelope. (who would not recognize a Christmas card from the
> envelope?) Others make it as bland and normal as possible to
> have it go by without much notice.
> 
> It all depends on how secure you want it. Some things you can do
> with what amounts to postcard security.
> 
> What amount of security do you want for your email? Would you be
> willing to do something extra for that security?
> 
> This type of question is up to each person. How much risk is the
> person willing to take. Each person has the responsibility to
> understand what the risks are and to decide what risks they are
> willing to take.
> 

==
Ogre bounces like sonar. . .Peace.
                  Ogre

_________________________________________________________
DO YOU YAHOO!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com

"Wilson, Jamie (J.R.)" wrote:
> 
> Back to a previous question: how do we get the public to understand the
> concept of an "electronic envelope", the ACLU has created a PDF file that
> prints to a brochure format explaining encryption on a level that even the
> novice of users can understand.  It is available at
> http://www.aclu.org/action/tools/crypto.pdf.

Getting that concept across is a slow process. People will want to
stay with what they are familiar with. Right now, I do not know how
to familiarize people to accept an electronic envelope.

At 08:22 PM 12/11/98 -0500, Robert Wenzler wrote:
>
>
>"Wilson, Jamie (J.R.)" wrote:
>> 
>> Back to a previous question: how do we get the public to understand the
>> concept of an "electronic envelope", the ACLU has created a PDF file that
>> prints to a brochure format explaining encryption on a level that even the
>> novice of users can understand.  It is available at
>> http://www.aclu.org/action/tools/crypto.pdf.
>
>Getting that concept across is a slow process. People will want to
>stay with what they are familiar with. Right now, I do not know how
>to familiarize people to accept an electronic envelope.
>

I think the paper letter/envelope analogy is perfectly adequate, and easily
understandable. The difficulty will be with the additional layer that must
be completed. If one of my sisters is representative of anything, it _will_
be a long, hard uphill climb.

A plugin for the gui interface that defaults to encryption for recognized
e-addy's would simplify, and enhance this effort. 

Reeza!


DH Key available on request


	"I swear to tell the truth, 
		the whole truth, 
			and nothing but the truth, 
				just the way the President did."

					--Tim May