At 11:51 PM 7/25/96, jbugden@smtplink.alis.ca wrote:

The stats on the average internet user are usually something like 85% male, US$50K average income, 30-35 years old, Univeristy education.

I doubt the age figure, and would want to see confirmation before using it. Certainly most people I deal with on the Net seem to be younger than 30-35, though this may be a reasonable _average_ (if not _median_). But the rest of the stats fit.

It may come as no suprise then that Internet users as a group could have life experiences significantly different than a majority of the population. Similarily, their views may also be in the minority. On the other hand, they do hold a majority of the technological power.

Revenge of the Nerds is one phrase that I have heard.

An old movie name, of course. And "Triumph of the Nerds" was the name of the recent PBS/Mark Stevens program. (I hate the term "nerd," as I hate the names "dweeb," "geek," "jerk," etc. Believe me, anyone who thinks being called a "nerd" is complimentary, or anyone who labels himself as a "geek," is probably one who would call himself a "nigger," or a "queer.")

tcmay@got.net wrote:

...

Even meant humorously (">;-)"), many of us would dispute the notion that >a voluntarily-taken job is a "McJob." Frankly, working at a fast-food place is usually not a lifetime career, but is instead a [stepping stone]

And what or who guarantees that this later, better job exists. Much of what I read today suggests that McJobs may become the norm for many.

"Guarantees"? You ask "what or who guarantees" a better job? I am speechless. There are no guarantees, friend. Not in this reality. Jobs are not something created by the stroke of a Presidential pen--jobs are what we call the exchange of labor or brainpower for money or other considerations. If Alice wants a new roof, and Bob offers to roof her house for a price she think is reasonable, this is a "job" for Bob. And so on.

Can you image working at a low paying job for your entire life. I personally can't. I work hard and am doing well for myself. Like most of those here, crypto would be a benefit for me. On the other hand, unlike most of the population, I could join Mensa if I applied. My point: I'm not average and I suspect that neither are you or most of those here. How do you make the cypherpunks agenda (on the days that there is one ;-) of widespread concern to the average citizen?

I don't, actually. As to "working at a low paying job...", it's a matter for them to work out, perhaps by getting new skills, perhaps by working two jobs, perhaps by opening a business. The statistics on where wealth was created in the 1985-95 period show it overwhelmingly came from new entrepreneurial efforts.

I'm having a hell of a time getting my e-mail read because I'm too busy shooting at the food scavengers. They killed my dog!

???? Not a persuasive argument. --Tim May Boycott "Big Brother Inside" software! We got computers, we're tapping phone lines, we know that that ain't allowed. ---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---- Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, tcmay@got.net 408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets, Licensed Ontologist | black markets, collapse of governments. "National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."