From: Jill014@aol.com
Date: Fri, 13 Dec 1996 02:30:44 -0800 (PST)
To: tcmay@got.net
Subject: Re: Credentials without Identity--Race Bits
Message-ID: <961213052957_809296562@emout11.mail.aol.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


In a message dated 96-12-13 02:03:26 EST, cmcurtin@research.megasoft.com (C
Matthew Curtin) writes:

> Subj:	Re: Credentials without Identity--Race Bits
>  Date:	96-12-13 02:03:26 EST
>  From:	cmcurtin@research.megasoft.com (C Matthew Curtin)
>  Sender:	owner-cypherpunks@toad.com
>  Reply-to:	cmcurtin@research.megasoft.com
>  To:	tcmay@got.net (Timothy C. May)
>  CC:	cypherpunks@toad.com
>  
>  >>>>> "Tim" == Timothy C May <tcmay@got.net> writes:
>  
>  Tim> While it has been claimed by some that "crypto anarchy" means
>  Tim> that race won't matter, that cyberspace interactions will be
>  Tim> color-blind, this is misleading.
>  
>  Race bits, gender bits, etc., are all interesting possibilities. I
>  never thought about anyone wanting to do such a thing, but I suppose
>  that's likely.
>  
>  I've tended to think that as we become increasingly digital, issues
>  like race become less significant (perhaps because it generally isn't
>  immediately obvious in this medium). This doesn't mean that prejudices
>  go away, it means that they shift to stay with what is obvious. For
>  example, people who are unable to spell well (and don't spellcheck
>  email and usenet posts), or use excessively poor grammar are often
>  ridiculed for their lack of mastery of the language in which they're
>  writing. Basically, the prejudices and such continue with us, but
>  change, so as to remain based on things that are easily discernible.
>  
>  Tim> While many--probably most--users will care only for cyberspace
>  Tim> personna issues, and not meatspace personna issues of race,
>  Tim> color, height, weight, etc., this is not something built in to
>  Tim> anonymous transactions.
>  
>  As I'm replying, it's occurred to me that we've already got some sort
>  of persona "certificates" floating around now. (Such as the Geek
>  Code.) Imagine a field there to include race. Wouldn't take a lot to
>  do that, after all.
>  

What is the "Geek Code?"

>  Of course, the implementation of a race bit system that can be trusted
>  is another issue altogether. Would the White Boyz Club then need to
>  have its own trusted arbitrator to introduce people of the same race
>  to each other? (AryanSign?) Is a more elaborate PGP-style web
>  of trust used? Hmm.

So white Boyz Club excludes women to, is that correct?