L. Detweiler -- shocked, simply shocked, at the realization that multiple pseudonyms are possible on the net -- explodes:
....how can this be a `forum' if an opinion is not *representative*?
Perhaps there are differences between a forum and a voting booth?
what if a single person just `ganged up' on someone they didn't like by overwhelming them with pseudospoofs? what if there was *truly* support for some project but a pseudospoofer ganged up on the proponents and clobbered them with flames?
Perhaps "support" is better measured by how many people are motivated enough to go to the effort to make multiple but individually unique, reputable posts in favor of a proposition, rather than by simple numerical polls that abstract away knowledge and motivation, or by how many True Names position themselves with I'm-on-your-side posts. On cypherpunks' better days, "support" is measured by what kind of code gets written, not by who flames whom how often under how many names. Of course we all know that writing code does not constitute *true* support, since only Democracy is The One True Way.
doesn't it throw every `conversation' on this list into spectacularly *grotesque* doubt?
Welcome to the Internet, Detweiler. Perhaps you might get together some physical meetings in Colorado, talk to more cypherpunks on the phone, look at the pictures in Wired magazine (perhaps also faked?), etc. if you are so concerned about being ganged up on by unknown numbers of strangers. (Is it better to be ganged up on by known numbers of strangers? Why of course, that's called Democracy).
the idea of `one man one vote' is SACRED.
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord & pass the card punch! Let's vote ourselves bigger paychecks & unlimited medical care. Let's take a vote on which cypherpunks tools we will implement. Those who vote with the minority get to do the programming work, those in the majority get to tell the minority what to write. I nominate L. Detweiler President of the Cypherpunks. All in favor say "aye" and bow down to His Holiness of the Veiled Booth!
it is *anti egaltarian*. it is a recipe for anarchy
God forbid! Quick, Detweiler, get out your garlic, raise up your cross and abjure these crypto-anarchists before we spread any further! Next thing you know we'll get some elitist, anti-democratic development like untraceable digital cash. Some people will accumulate more digicash than others, and Detweiler won't even know who they are. Horrors! Quick Detweiler, write your electronic leveling tax protocols before its too late. Better yet, get the majority to vote on making us evil crypto-anarchists -- only a small cypherpunk minority once our pseudonyms are unmasked, of course -- make us write them for you. After all, egalitarian software is a basic human right!
UNFAIR INFLUENCE. ABUSE OF POWER. MANIPULATION. DECEIT. TREACHERY. EXPLOITATION. SECRET CONSPIRACIES. ...
Isn't it just dreadful?
p.s. if anyone doesn't hear from me for awhile, assume I've been `liquidated' and this isn't really an `open forum' ...
Detweiler to be axed by untraceable crypto-moderator. Can't figure out how to make a pseudonym or use a remailer to avoid his fate in Oblivion. Graphic pictures at 11, may be unsuitable for children! Nick Szabo szabo@netcom.com