-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- I have seen a number of posts on "Cypherpunk Elitism". I have seen more examples of it here on the list. I think that this attitude will be more destructive to the list than noise in the long run. It has been said that "Cypherpunks write code". They must do more than that. Cypherpunks need to teach. All the cryptotools in the world are of no use if no one knows how to use them. (Or know how to use them correctly.) All of the protocols are of no use if no one knows how to impliment them correctly or WHY they need them in the first place. There are alot of bogus security methods. Many of them exist because people do not know better. Without someone to instruct them in the ways of these things, they will continue to go on with bad crypto, not knowing any better. Not all of the non-cypherpunks are beyond hope. Many of them are teachable. If we leave them to flounder on their own, cryptography will be something used only by an elite. It will be of little or no threat to the powers that be because only a small amount of people will have the ability to use it. The TLAs will have less encrypted trafic to sort through. They will have won a big battle, not through force of arms but force of egos. What can be done? Alot. Teach people how to use PGP. Help them generate keys. Help them get them signed. Show them how to use remailers. Teach them the secret of nyms. Friends teach friends how to use crypto. Adopt a BBS. They may be young, but they may also become the cypherpunks of tommorow. Upload current versions of programs. Keep them current. Organize keysignings on the board. Host crypto discussions. Help stamp out the misinformation that breeds on such systems. Instilling the interest in the field and teaching will do more for the cause than all of the "this is noise" postings in the world. Helping those who have questions will help the newbies no longer be newbies. There are some on the list who have already taken this tact and must be commended. There are others who have taken the "fuck you" attitude to anyone they do not find worthy opon first contact. Bad attitudes are counter productive. To prevent the fall of a new dark ages, we must make sure that the information is spread far and wide. I think the statement that descibes it best is: "UN-altered REPRODUCTION and DISSEMINATION of this IMPORTANT information is ENCOURAGED." There is alot that cypherpunks can do to encourage the use of cryptography by "the common man". Elitism is not one of them. In the long run it will be counterproductive. And maybe in the short run as well... -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQEVAwUBMP8jQeQCP3v30CeZAQHtjAf9FfJWRAe0ZDLNOLsFDMBGQvi9kXKZR3sw WDmOb3K/y8syCdADqqC4UjqoZ0pQ/XHEt6qKd8A7qx6D1FVQauTocEp1vqwE645h zGirsApDjiCYFmV/+Lbpor5Uf9F2rFbjya64lOTbiKW+XEGukpI3ghgbGxGPqPGF fIIT2QxqMl1MDd1sSGIXzvpniOsHI6HoVbPwUx8S2tbMR0dqh5AQObOKdna0D4x4 beAxEVyNd6atqdkZPEZy2XaSO6Y4hmRZx3I4CuqCM2wqbsboETQLpELBSn/dnxet 0Fe82xHHZQSuh0gMXEP+znaKYOq/38mijwjF3zpX+5RRHIVrjMu2+w== =ojHr -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- Alan Olsen -- alano@teleport.com -- Contract Web Design & Instruction `finger -l alano@teleport.com` for PGP 2.6.2 key http://www.teleport.com/~alano/ "Is the operating system half NT or half full?"