From: "Timothy C. May" <tcmay@got.net>
Date: Sat, 4 Jan 1997 11:03:11 -0800 (PST)
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Re: Ecash naysayers
In-Reply-To: <v030078baaef41ed98faf@[139.167.130.248]>
Message-ID: <v03007801aef45a7fac76@[207.167.93.63]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


At 9:56 AM -0800 1/4/97, Alan Bostick wrote:
>On Sat, 4 Jan 1997, Robert Hettinga wrote:

>> Date: Fri, 3 Jan 1997 17:02:52 -0500
>> From: Roderick Simpson <rod@wired.com>
>> To: Multiple recipients of list <com-priv@lists.psi.com>
>> Subject: Ecash naysayers
>>
>> Anyone heard a convincing naysayer of electronic cash? Who were they?
>>
>> Best,
>> Rod
>
>The propblem with that question is that as phrased it stacks the deck
>in favor of electronic cash.   What is "convincing"?  Find someone with a
>cogent critique of an electronic payments scheme or scheme, and I can
>guarantee that I can find someone, very likely on the WIRED editorial
>staff, who won't be "convinced" by it.  What is a "naysayer"?  Someone
...

I think the problem is even more obvious: the "Brain Tennis" forum is a
crystallization of the worst tendency in journalism today: having two
opposing views on any issue. As on television, where two talking heads take
opposite postions, suggesting a roughly even split in popular opinion (even
if popular opinion--not to mention the underlying actual truth--is tilted
95-5).

Caveat: I've only followed a few of these "brain tennis" things, which is
what I assume Simpson is recruiting for, and I was sorely disappointed. But
not surprised.

--Tim May





Just say "No" to "Big Brother Inside"
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: 2^1398269     | black markets, collapse of governments.
"National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."