writes Jamie Dinkelacker:

... Tim continues ...

...

Cypherpunks write code. Cyperpunks write essays. Cypherpunks make puns and jokes and even spoofs. Cypherpunks have fun.

I don't know if there is a Cypherpunk's cause. I doubt there's a movement, but that's separate from my holding a belief that crypto and nyms and digital cash and privacy and emergent social structures are crucial to a preferable form of human survival.

I would have to disagree somewhat with this statement. I think that there are a loose set of opinions and goals shared between most of us. We may have out paranoids (personally, I always got a kick out of LD's rants... some of them even put us back "on track" when we were straying (as have many of Tim's posts)). Most of us share ideas, mostly relating to wanting widespread use and acceptance of strong cryptography. There are many differing opinions here, but this reflects the fact that we are not some kind of genetic experiment gone bad ;-) writes Jamie Dinkelacker:

With the net, we have a wonderous tool and opportunity. But the world isn't a safe place. Every time I put a finger or toe into the lovely pacific ocean I'm keenly aware of quickly entering the food chain at a much lower point. These are times of challenge, to develop new tools and fresh perspectives. But many elements of human nature remain the same.

Very true. writes Jamie Dinkelacker:

I thank the Cypherpunks for writing code. I don't (anymore): I write words, make videos and build organizations. We do need the code. We also need to push at the edges of our understanding of social dynamics.

I agree... Code is good, but one of the most important resources we have are people who can explain just what it is that we are doing here to the "outside" world, and to reaise the level of the public's awarness, if not understanding. writes Jamie Dinkelacker:

And S.Boxx clearly illustrated that puerile visciousness, wounded animal frenzy, and pathetic behavior are also here in this new world. One of the brave ones, s/he isn't. And Cypherpunks' creations even protect the likes of S.Boxx. Reminiscent of Voltaire, yes?

Strangely ironic, we hate what we protect. I think it's important to note that there will always be people like S.Boxx out there... lunatic ravings and patheticly malformed logic. There are also a great deal of good things that have come out of the remailers and spoofing (not so much spoofing, but posts to places like alt.whistlblowing, et al. through the remailers and anon.penet.fi) I think that the good outweighs the bad in this instance, at least.

James Dinkelacker (True name) -- ................................ Jamie Dinkelacker Palo Alto CA (almost a true name) Jamie@netcom.com 415.941.4782

Truly, -nate -- +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Nate Sammons email: nate@VIS.ColoState.Edu | Colorado State University Computer Visualization Laboratory | Finger nate@monet.VIS.ColoState.Edu for my PGP key | #include <std.disclaimer> | Title 18 USC 2511 and 18 USC 2703 Protected --> Monitoring Forbidden +--------+ Always remember "Brazil"