Re: [atlarge-discuss] $1 verification.

["Micheal Sherrill" <micheal@beethoven.com>]

Hello James:

We need to start somewhere.  I did not say that PayPal or the credit card companies are fool proof or spoof proof.  But I do have to accept some forms of verification in order to get the process going.  Up to this point we have had nothing but email addresses to separate sentience from microprocessor, kooks from logic array, and zombies from Zen.  It does not work very well.  Even in your case (yes, I do remember you and our humorous exchanges) if I were to phone you I would reach someone claiming to be James Tyre.  Even then, it does not necessarily mean that you are James Tyre but a persona of someone that wishes to be called James Tyre.  A phone call is only one level of verification.  You, I can probably reach.  Others, we cannot.  So, what cause me strife is if you are registering yourself as several other people in this organization and using those roles to nominate and elect yourself to the panel.  Fortunately, the amount of energy and resources to multiply that spoof!
  becomes significant.  So, by using a simple and inexpensive verification process such as credit card rating we can eliminate a sizeable portion of those that seek to disrupt and confuse what we are here to accomplish.  There is no perfect firewall, there is no perfect hack.  I understand that.  My aim, short term, is to increase the difficulty of the crazies and kooks and trolls from dominating this group.  We can fine tune our procedures as we get a better understanding of those that do not want to build this assembly but seek only to fracture.

We need to start somewhere.  Let us start here.

Regards,

Micheal Sherrill


---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "James S. Tyre" <jstyre@jstyre.com>
Date:  Sat, 24 May 2003 20:41:19 -0700

At 10:46 PM 5/24/2003 -0400, Micheal Sherrill wrote:
>There are many avenues to pursue regarding verification of 
>members.  PayPal would seem to be a quick and easy (read cheap) way to 
>prove certification as a real, and answerable, human.  One lets PayPal do 
>all the bookwork and for US$1 the signature is assured.  If it is good 
>enough for the credit card companies it is good enough for me.


I don't disagree that some form of verification is necessary, but your last 
sentence scares me, Michael, defrauding the credit card companies is easy.

But more than that, I would hate to see this group become too enamored of 
technological means of verification.  Using myself as an example only to 
make a point, not for any other reason, there are a number of members of 
this list who have called me at the phone number in my sig file, have 
spoken with me directly at length.  Is that not more reliable than 
PayPal?  If not, there are a number of persons whose demonstrated 
commitment to relevant Internet issues cannot possibly be questioned who 
know me well personally, would gladly vouch for me if I asked.  Would that 
not be far more significant than PayPal (which I refuse to use for a number 
of reasons)?

I'm guessing (though I could be wrong) that Michael remembers who I am (and 
it doesn't really matter for now anyway, I'm not running for election), 
even though for good but personal reasons, I haven't posted here in 
ages.  My sole point is that verification by trusted humans is, IMO, far 
better than any technological means, so let's not forget that if/when we 
get to the point of deciding what does or doesn't count as valid verification.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
James S. Tyre                               mailto:jstyre@jstyre.com
Law Offices of James S. Tyre          310-839-4114/310-839-4602(fax)
10736 Jefferson Blvd., #512               Culver City, CA 90230-4969
Co-founder, The Censorware Project             http://censorware.net



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