Vladimir Z. Nuri wrote: (last line is sarcasm for the sarcasm impaired) a cpunk position I have seen repeated often. it goes along a very simplistic line of reasoning that I have seen TCM evoke repeatedly. it rather annoys me. it goes like this:
cyberspace is merely discussion between people. anonymity should be allowed anywhere there are discussions (its a free speech issue). therefore it should be possible everywhere in cyberspace.
this idea lacks a lot of subtlety in thought and to my mind is tremendously simplistic. [snip]
cpunks will also argue that anonymity can suffice for any business transaction. that may be so, but what about a business that simply says, "we choose to require identity among our customers, and you can go elsewhere if you disagree".
These attitudes create business opportunities for others who would seek to serve those who prefer anonymity. [snip]
cyberspace as a whole is *not* going to lead to a totlal motion away from physical identity. in some ways physical identity will be more strictly enforced in cyberspace, in "some regions". there will be other regions of cyberspace in which "anything goes".
As long as attractive, anonymous, alternatives sufficient for those (of a 'cyherpunk' mind) seeking to communicate, transact commerce, etc. exist it won't matter to whether others choose to enforce stricter identity adherence. [snip]
of course in the cpunk mailing list, who cares if there are anonymous/pseudonymous participants? [snip]... but far more is at stake in the "real world" and the risks posed by anonymity will be adequately diluted because of this. and it won't be by people who are all "f***ing statists"-- it will be by reasonable people such as those who head EFF, who are interested in a civilized society.
As always the market and the street will decide. PGP Fingerprint: FE 90 1A 95 9D EA 8D 61 81 2E CC A9 A4 4A FB A9 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Steve Schear, N7ZEZ | Internet: azur@netcom.com Grinder | Voice: 1-702-655-2877 Sacred Cow Meat Co. | Fax: 1-702-658-2673 7075 W. Gowan Road, #2148 | Las Vegas, NV 89129 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------