How can one correspond with confidence when there is so much obfiscation?

-- Watchful (seethesea@msn.com), February 04, 1999

Answers

Watchful, I use a fake e-mail address mainly because I already have an annoying problem with spam, much of it what I believe is termed "adult." Some people have had problems with the government (for myself, an IRS audit) and are understandably afraid of being too open with comments over their real names and addresses. Just because people use a fake e-mail doesn't mean they're fake in other ways too. Well, not always.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), February 04, 1999.

I ws going to post this as a separate thread but it fits in nicely here with this question. In the January issue of the Mindszenty Report, (Privacy vs. Orwellian Intrusions), there is much evidence for paranoia. I will transcribe from the last few paragraphs:

Law-abiding private citizens are the targets of other Big Brother- proposed encroachments on our privacy. One example is the government's assumption that we could all be common criminals making cellular phone calls to underworld mob bosses, setting up drug deals and laundering illegal profits through our bank accounts.

In 1994 when Congress passed the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA), FBI Director Louis Freeh assured us that the statute would not include any power to monitor cellular telephone calls. But now, the Federal Communications Commission is attempting to require cellular and other wireless phone companies to track the location of their customers, identifying the site at the beginning and end of every call as an aid to criminal detection. Here is another busybody Big Brother attempt to monitor every citizen's movements, associations and activities in the name of fighting crime.

Likewise the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.-- you see their logo, FDIC, in every bank to assure you that your money is safely deposited--has proposed something called "Know Your Customer" that assumes every customer is a potential felon. It would require the following: determine each customer's source of funds; determine each customer's normal and expected bank transaction; monitor the activity of each account looking for deposits and withdrawals that are inconsistent with the expected pattern of financial transactionss; and then report any transactions that someone might call "suspicious."...

Current law already requires banks to report to the government cash transactions exceeding $10,000--to spot criminals who may be depositing drug money or profits for other illegal activities. There is no reason for Big Brother to know what law-abiding customers are doing with their finances under this snooping Know Your Customer scheme that is officially titled the Minimum Security Devices and Procedures and Bank Security Act Compliance Program.

You may contact the Mindszenty Foundation at www.mindszenty.org or e-mail: info@mindszenty.org

Mary

-- Mary (SWEEP@prodigy.net), February 04, 1999.

Many folks like myself have used the 'net for years. Usually, the interactive tools I use is USENET (Network News) much like a bulletin board system. The www.greenspun.com web-page is a bit unusual. Most web-pages are not interactive.

Anyway, the 'net can get pretty ugly. Even ignoring the NSA, which monitors *everything* (all it takes is big computers and tapping the communications lines at central locations), many individuals like to send nasty emails ... and then there is "spam".

Been there - done that - don't want to go back...

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@anonymous.com), February 04, 1999.

After all, what are 'nets' and 'webs' used for?

-- obfuscator (ya@ya.com), February 04, 1999.

I started a thread several weeks ago (it's archived now) concerning my own reasons for posting anonymously -- y2k is already generating "predator sightings," as Cory Hamasaki termed them. I and several others on this forum have had personal experiences with people who admit they won't prepare; they'll just make a list of those who have and come visiting with a rifle if TSHTF. So I no longer use an address that can be traced. BTW, who are you, Watchful?

-- Cash (cash@andcarry.com), February 04, 1999.

Old Git, Mary, Anonymous and Cash, I do appreciate your responses. They are most helpful for my understanding. To Obfiscator, I would respond that I am learning and that I am a private citizen who respects the privacy and rights of others..Thank you all. With my best wishes, Watchful

-- Watchful (seethesea@msn.com), February 04, 1999.

One of the great things about these discussion boards is that you can feel free to disagree with people because you know that no one's going to follow you out to the parking lot later on.

Giving out a real e-mail address would be like giving everyone a description of your car & where you parked it.

-- no more (dark@parking.lots), February 04, 1999.

You're kidding yourselves if you think "they" don't know where you are, or can't find out. Question is, why bother?

So what?

Not everyone here is "hidden" or feels the need to be. It's a personal choice and completely "free" decision. (Supported by our Constitution ... still).

"A rose by any other name ..."

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), February 04, 1999.

I'm not obfuscating my identity...I actually AM a goldfish. Typing is hell, so I get the cat to do it.

\|/ 8 ~ ) /|\

-- abcdGoldfish (mnoGoldfish@osar.com), February 04, 1999.

Frankly, I don't give a damn who knows who I am. I do not fear anyone including the goverment. I am willing to die tomorrow for my beleifs. If I am pushed into a corner...look out because GODS will is done in my life each and every day. Its a good feeling that everyone should try to get.

Mike Kessler

-- flierdude (mkessler0101@sprynet.com), February 04, 1999.

A Dilbert truism: "On the net, no one knows if you're a dog."

Unless you know the individual you see posting here, the person has no context. The message stands alone. If you can't make your messages stand independently, you have work to do. Who said it doesn't matter here. What is said, how well it is said, matters.

Arf.

-- notime (notime4trolls@thisforum.com), February 04, 1999.

Remember when CB radios were all the craze and everyone had a "handle?" You didn't know who you were talking to personally, it's just that you knew you were talking to "Hardrock," "Little Frog," "King Bull Frog," "French Loafer," and "Tennessee Lady." I care more about the message than whose name appears on the message.

-- Breaker (Breaker@break.com), February 04, 1999.

Why a net name? I need to stay employed, 'cause preparation takes money.

I was layed-off immediately after some posts under my real name on EUY2K were referenced in our local US Senate campaign. My employer told me that I was being laid-off because my position wasn't needed any longer. I was the only person in Engineering let go as a few dozen production line workers were let go due to Asian sales losses.

Strangely, I was twice offered the same engineering job I lost, as a temp agency employee. That is, until the company realized I was the individual being offered by the temp agency.

Not a problem now, I found better pay with no overtime. And we all know the value of extra time around the house when you're preparing for something like a hurricane or Y2K.

WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), February 04, 1999.