-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- On Mon, 4 May 1998, Xcott Craver wrote:
I advise crypto proponents to halt any analogy-making to firearms, for this reason. Nothing against guns, of course; but to gain acceptance crypto cannot be dropped in the same conceptual bin as guns.
And spin the same propoganda wheel as the Man? Not me. I don't see crypto gaining acceptance among the masses out of fear. Look.. saying "Bad guys can use crypto to not get caught, and they can use guns to kill people, so lets outlaw crypto and guns." Isn't an argument based on reason so much as it is fear. "Bad guys" strike fear into the hearts of people, and they will do anything to protect themselves, including shooting themselves in the foot. For every bad point that can be found for private ownership of firearms a postive one can be found. The same goes for crypto. Guns can protect us from criminals. Criminals can use guns to kill us. Crypto can protect us from criminals. Criminals can use crypto to protect themselves. The list can go on and on, and in the end it all will boil down to freedom on the one hand, and some sick, distorted view of safety on the other. Fear is more persuasive than rationality. The people will gravitate to the side that suits them. Freedom is a damn scary sight, so safety is embraced. If you want to save crypto (and guns too, btw) talk about freedom and privacy first and crypto second. It probably won't work though.. just like talking about freedom and the right to self-defense didn't work with firearms. As for me.. I don't give a damn how many laws are passed and what sort of punishments are put into the books: I'll use crypto, get M^S mod N tatooed on my forehead, and still say whatever I like. And if "they" want to talk over my position with me in Room 101, they can take the issue up with the .45 that I'm not supposed to have. Michael J. Graffam (mgraffam@mhv.net) http://www.mhv.net/~mgraffam -- Philosophy, Religion, Computers, Crypto, etc "Let your life be a counter-friction to stop the machine." Henry David Thoreau "Civil Disobedience" -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGPfreeware 5.0i for non-commercial use Charset: noconv iQCVAwUBNU5rxwKEiLNUxnAfAQGQ0wP/TD3tVmCDwthBnZE1nDaWDY2xzAPNfiMy HyjyjfxNqYsmIsGpjpaqAWHC+e2qcfaYvPzpMqc0kNmIrFGHd5tA888aVnPbXSw1 0mBIVyITguplGQBLj9YiJk3TFYgU55rmOI3bGHkt/ytoH8CxBMHCOWEkUFR+C489 6GAj62wOO50= =c7Pc -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----