From: mayers@gnat.syr.EDU (Michael  Ayers)
Subject: Re: Anonymous Posts?
In-reply-to: roder@cco.caltech.edu's message of 15 Dec 1992 23:50:02 GMT
Organization: Syracuse University
	<BzBH9I.3yx@dcs.ed.ac.uk> <1glqvaINNfe0@gap.caltech.edu>
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 92 14:27:52 EST

In article <1glqvaINNfe0@gap.caltech.edu> roder@cco.caltech.edu (Brenda J. Roder) writes:

>>In article <1992Dec14.130951.8346@sun0.urz.uni-heidelberg.de> y41@aix320a.urz.uni-heidelberg.de (Jeffrey Hazelwood) writes:
>>>I would like the capability to post anonymously.  I know it's done.  I'm
>>>using XRN version 6.17 (no manual).  Can I just change the FROM environment
>>>variable? or does it envolve a more complex approach?  Please respond to 
>>>me directly. Thanx.
>>>
>>If not posting, respond to me too please :->
>
>Since no one else seems to have followed up with the standard response:

>Why do you want to post anonymously? 

	Thought before talk, my dear - if he wants to post anonymously,
 then I don't think he'll discuss it publicly, kapische?

>At least some of the groups which
>deal with sensitive subjects such that one might not want one's name attached
>to a posting (personals for instance) have one or more someones who are 
>willing to post for you.  Granted you are then trusting that person to be
>discreet, but I have never heard of any problems with this.  Also, there
>is wizvax (I think) which sets up mailbox type anonymous addresses mainly
>for the personals I believe.

	Haven't heard of wizvax, but having someone else post for you?
 That's disassociating, but not truly anonymous.

>  (sermon deleted)

	There are so many different reasons for anonymous posting it boggles
 the imagination.  Some of the more discussable are politically sensitive or
 inflammatory (but nonetheless believed) opinions, publicly disagreeing with
 one's own employer, discussion of sex, or anything else that could be mis-
 interpreted or taken out of context or otherwise turned against one.

	For those interested in anonymity, mail to help@anon.penet.fi
 This is an anonymous mail server which will not only let you post anonymously
 but will reflect mail to your anon ID back to you, allowing you to have
 what amounts to an anonymous account with no file priveleges.  8-)
	WARNING: If you use an anonymous account to transact sensitive matters,
 you must take extreme care not to confuse your anon affairs with your
 regular affairs at the risk of extreme embarassment or worse.
	WARNING WARNING WARNING: I'll say it three times so I feel not the
 slightest tinge of guilt when this backfires on someone:
	THE NET IS NOT SECURE!
	THE NET IS NOT SECURE!
	THE NET IS NOT SECURE!
	There is always the risk that a mail server will 'blow a fuse' and
 scatter your letter to the four winds and several newsgroups BEFORE it gets
 to the anon server.  So never be dumb enough to write personally damaging
 things on the net.  Period.

>-- Brenda (roder@cobalt.caltech.edu)
>Thought before action, if there's time.
>    _The Edge_  Dick Francis

	Sounds like a good idea to me!

--

             Mike                       mayers@mailbox.syr.edu

    C: Unintelligible code means job security.
  
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