Re: [atlarge-discuss] $1 verification.

[Sotiris Sotiropoulos <sotiris@hermesnetwork.com>]

James S. Tyre wrote:

> Think of what I'm saying as being similar to the PGP 
> ring of trust (which is unique to the Internet), but better.  As it 
> happens, I've never gotten around to having my key signed by anyone, 
> because I usually only use it for confidential attorney-client 
> communications, where the client already knows I'm me.  But suppose Karl 
> signed it, and that's all you knew.  Is it not better if Karl says "I've 
> worked very closely with Tyre for a long time, sometimes he's very weird, 
> but he is who he says he is?"  If all you knew was that he signed my key, 
> you wouldn't know if, for example, he did it in a drunken stupor, with no 
> real idea of who I am.  ;-)
>
> Then add on notes from, say, John Gilmore, Barbara Simons, Brewster Kahle, 
> you get the picture.  Not a 100% guarantee, but closer, I think, than 
> PayPal, a digital certificate or a PGP key-signing.
I am paying attention.  I have a few questions for you: 1)By what 
mechanism do you suppose such a note-signing method could be implmented?

> The "key" is for the person doing the vouching to state the relevant 
> circumstance.  If you vouch for Alice saying you met her once briefly, 
> that's one thing.  If you vouch for Alice saying you've worked with her for 
> three years, that's another.  And your vouching for Alice does not extend 
> to Alice's vouching for Bob. 
2) So who will decide who gets to vouch for who, and how many vouchers 
will there ultimately be?

> Trust in the person doing the vouching is 
> relevant, as with PGP key-signing.
>
> I wouldn't presume to know what notarial requirements are in Canada (or any 
> other country), but at least here in California, all you need to do is 
> produce a state driver's license or equivalent ID, which are as easy as pie 
> to make or obtain.  Others certainly may differ, but I'd put much more 
> trust in your statement that you've worked with Alice for three years than 
> in Alice producing the equivalent of a notarized document, particularly if 
> the notarial acknowledgment is as near-worthless wherever she may be as it 
> is here.
3) Considering your antipathy for Paypal (whatever your reasons), would 
you perhaps be more amenable to having Alice issue a personal cheque of 
$1.00 as a donation to join this organization?  A personal cheque once 
cleared by her bank would be pretty solid verification of her identity, 
and she'd be helping the organization in two ways.  
[If I had a friend, Alice, who didn't have a digital certificate and 
didn't want to use Paypal or something similar, I'm certain that Alice 
wouldn't mind making out a personal cheque for exactly $1.00 to a 
worthwhile cause she intended to support of her own volition.]  
--Sotiris  Sotiropoulos






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