🚀 go-pugleaf

Mean Green Dancing Machine <aahz@netcom.com> wrote:
>John Cooley <jcooley@world.std.com> wrote:
>>
>>As an ACLU member I fully support the right to privacy, etc.; but encryption
>>keys on public post like "I like sushi.  It's yummy food.  I wish I could
>>have it every night." seems like overkill to me.
>
>I think you miss the point: it's not an "encryption key" (in the context
>we're talking about), it's a "verification key".  As someone who's
>recently had posts forged in my name, I half-wish that I'd made a habit
>of using PGP-signed messages.  OTOH, I think PGP-signed posts look
>*really* ugly, and you can't really claim any benefit unless you use PGP
>for every single post you make.

Aahz, I think it's their lack of estetic appeal that triggered my initial
response.  PGP posts are just plain awkward, bulky & ugly.  They sort of
shatter the tone on the discussion.  If they could be done in a hidden way,
I'd think it's OK from this point of view.

My main point is that NOT ONE EVER VERIFIES THESE THINGS.  Nobody cares.  If
there is a forged post, no one really bothers to check.  Why?  Because the
conversations just move along to quickly and we don't have the time to
bother with one person's forged post unless it's really become the focal
point of the conversation.  (I'm not saying this is right, correct, or the
way it should be -- but just that it's human nature.)  Hence 99.9999998% of
the time PGP verification keys are a real waste of time.  It would be just
as effective for the poster to speak up when he's forged than to PGP evey
God damned thing around.

  - John Cooley

P.S. Private or legally binding documents are a different creature.  These
     definitely *should* be PGPed!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  __))  "Glass ceilings? Name ANY goat farmer who's made it into management!"
 /_ oo  
  (_ \   Holliston Poor Farm                                   - John Cooley
%//  \"  Holliston, MA 01746-6222              part time Sheep & Goat Farmer
%%%  $   jcooley@world.std.com       full time contract ASIC & FPGA Designer