Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2003 23:02:07 -0400
From: Steve Smith <sgs at aginc.net>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Livejournal
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

Keith F. Lynch wrote:
> I am hurt and offended at the reaction to my message.  In more than
> a week, NOT ONE person so much as hinted that telling WSFAns of each
> other's livejournals might not be appropriate.  NOT ONE suggested
> that a week might be too short, and that I should give more time or
> ask again.
>
> Since at least 13 WSFA members have livejournals, I figured that this
> is clearly something that appeals to a lot of WSFAns, and hence might
> appeal to even more.  Also, there might be more who already have
> livejournals but aren't aware of each other.  So I thought I would
> be providing a useful service by telling WSFAns of each other's
> livejournals.  I didn't expect great praise, but I didn't expect
> condemnation, either.

Keith, when you come across a community that uses pseudonyms in all of
their communications and does not have their "real" names on their
pages, you might get a clue that they might not want their names shouted
from the rooftops.

Real anonymity on the Net is really, really difficult.  There are tools
that make it possible, on some level.  Unfortunately, they are usable
only by geeks.  (And yes, I have written code for the remailer networks.
  I know how to to it; it's a mess.  I would not care to have to explain
it.)  The pseudonym system used by LJ and similar systems is as good as
most people are going to get.

I know of a number of cases (not here) where people have gotten into
real trouble because somebody was "clever" and outed a nym.  Yes, the
information is out there, but it takes a lot of work to put it together.

For a current real-world example of a "public information compilation"
kerfluffle, see
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23689-2003Jul7.htmlgt;.
You can get into Real Trouble with public info.

--
Steve Smith                                           sgs at aginc.net
Agincourt Computing                            http://www.aginc.net
"Truth is stranger than fiction because fiction has to make sense."