Gary Jeffers wrote:

1. It is predictable that Tim May will be flammed.

Ya think?

The FBI has a history of covertly sowing internal dissent in dissident groups. As a leading Cypherpunk, May is an obvious target.

"Target"? Anyone who is strong-willed and has a provocative writing style is going to get flamed here, period. If a person didn't enjoy the back-and- forth, they probably would have left a long time ago. It's the Tom-Turkey-and-a-bunch-of-Jakes phenomenon.

5. The flames will be seeded with clues to imply that a particular Cypherpunk did them: distinctive syntax, mispellings, phrases, etc.

Why give it any significance, then? Who cares, if it's just an anonymous pot shot? If people didn't endow it with credibility, it wouldn't have any impact at all. You turn your own imagination into your worst enemy. Don't be so gullible. 9. Anybody have any good defenses against this attack. Yeah, a top-secret SCI weapon known as "a filter file". More seriously, learn not to lose your head over unattributed insults and accusations. Whenever you find yourself tempted to reply to a "you poopy head" thread in kind, don't. Give it up, move on to something more rewarding. If every tiny little insult is enough to work you into a red hot lather, before you know it, the more cold-blooded are going to have you dancing like a galvanic frog. Which would you rather be? The choice is just a mouse click away. And if you're wasting your time bickering over nonsense, you have only yourself to blame. ~Faustine.