From: "Timothy C. May" <tcmay@got.net>
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 09:53:17 -0800 (PST)
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Get back on your medications....
In-Reply-To: <199611130331.TAA28661@netcom11.netcom.com>
Message-ID: <v03007800aeb10c74f181@[207.167.93.63]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


At 4:09 PM -0500 11/13/96, Black Unicorn wrote:

>Why is use of the legal system any different?  If it is so wrong for me to
>use the legal system as it stands, and if I am to be the subject of
>criticism for the conduct, then aren't the critics imposing their moral
>view on me?  Isn't this what libertarian cypherpunks dislike in the first
>place?

"Imposing their moral view on me"?

A distinction has to be made between "imposing," as in applying force, and
expressing an opinion.

What I said a while back is that I'm getting more than a little tired of
threats and bluster about filing lawsuits. If Black Unicorn wants to use
the American legal system in this way, he _should_. But "saber rattling"
about it is getting old.

(I also find his threats applied inconsistently, as when he advises one of
his opponents that making a mention of "medications" may be "actionable,"
while ignoring the many, many comments by me, Sandy, and others of our ilk
about people needing to get back on their lithium or thorazine. And, by the
way, it's _not_ actionable to make such jibes, at least not yet.)

Hardly a matter of "imposing my moral values on him," as he is perfectly
free to ignore my comments, or rebut them, etc.


--Tim May

"The government announcement is disastrous," said Jim Bidzos,.."We warned IBM
that the National Security Agency would try to twist their technology."
[NYT, 1996-10-02]
We got computers, we're tapping phone lines, I know that that ain't allowed.
---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:----
Timothy C. May              | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money,
tcmay@got.net  408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero
W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA  | knowledge, reputations, information markets,
Higher Power: 2^1,257,787-1 | black markets, collapse of governments.
"National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."