On Sat, 2 Dec 1995, Timothy C. May wrote:
At 8:33 AM 12/2/95, sameer wrote:
So, for a 15% reduction in salary and 30 days of job search, is it worth it?
30 days? in silicon valley? you *must* be joking. (i suppose the market for good net-folks isn't as big over on the right coast.)
Just a minor clarification. I don't speak for any of the Netscape employees here (nor am I encouraging them to leave...they cay do *more* within Netscape than merely be resigning in some sort of protest).
[...]
I'm critical of Netscape, like others are, on various issues. But I sure do hope we never turn this criticism into suggestions that Jeff and the other Netscape folks here should quit in protest. That smacks too much of "you're working for the war machine!" stridency. (Next we'll be having people dump buckets of blood over piles of Netscape Navigator at Fry's.)
The point that should have come across was that it is hyprocracy for the Netscape employee to proport to be a strong crypto supporter of any great degree when the phrase 'the money is more important to me' could be applied. I tend to agree that the resulting effect was instead a version of "if your not a part of the solution, you're part of the problem." I just get sick of those who tout themselves as Experts in Software Munitions and are in fact are merely in it for the cash. In it for the cash is just fine. Just don't tell me later you aren't. I don't care if Netscape makes a pile of money as of now. Until they show themselves as a company with backbone in the area I consider important, my investment dollar goes elsewhere.
I read the Jim Clark statement that Jeff forwarded. It seemed noncomittal on the actual issue of whether Netscape will build a U.S.-supported GAK (as opposed to offering GAK for the Iraqis or French). I await with interest the clarification of the anti-GAK stance that Jeff alluded to.
I believe you got it with: "If the law requires GAK, then I believe that we will implement it rather than just disable encryption." Note that the phrase is entirely ambigious on whether this refers to the law requiring GAK for export, or export AND domestic sales. Netscape will install GAK into whatever will increase its sales. I understand and respect this position in the context of a company which needs badly to start raking in some profits. The title "Software Munitions Expert" or similar such should probably be changed to "GAK marketing expert" however.
--Tim May
Views here are not the views of my Internet Service Provider or Government. ---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---- Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, tcmay@got.net 408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets, Higher Power: 2^756839 | black markets, collapse of governments. "National borders are just speed bumps on the information superhighway."
--- "In fact, had Bancroft not existed, potestas scientiae in usu est Franklin might have had to invent him." in nihilum nil posse reverti 00B9289C28DC0E55 E16D5378B81E1C96 - Finger for Current Key Information