From: Neon John <jgd_at_johngsbbq.com>
Date: Thu, 09 Mar 2006 15:00:09 -0500

On Wed, 08 Mar 2006 20:01:25 +0100, Tomas Salfischberger
<tomas_at_rockbox.org> wrote:

>Hi,
>
>Neon John wrote:
>
>>Even though I use my real name in places like this I don't think I'd want it plastered all over the net in software.
>>
>>
>Maybe I don't understand the "privacy in software" madness, but your
>name has been recorded all over the rockbox mailinglist archives. Those
>archives are indexed by google, so everybody can (with a little effort)
>find your name, connected to rockbox. Can you explain to me why you
>don't care about that publicly searchable archive, but you do care about
>a list of developers in the credits file of this project?

First off, It's MY decision where to put my name. I want to make that
clear up front.

I have a number of reasons why I don't want my real name associated
with software. The major one being that since I live in the Lawyer's
Paradise, I don't want the risk of some prick not liking the way my
code works and coming back years later and suing me. Yes, I know the
risk is low but since I can almost completely eliminate that risk with
a 'nym, that's the route I CHOOSE to take.

I'm probably a bit more sensitive to this than the average guy because
I've done a good deal of work in litigation support as an expert in
various areas. I've seen first-hand the kinds of silly crap that ends
up in court. If you pay any attention to the litigation trade press
you'll see that litigation over software is the fasting growing area
out there. To a certain extent I welcome it - crap like anything
microsh*t publishes ought to be litigated out of existence - but
collateral damage is always a possibility and little guys like me
can't take much damage and survive.

If you google my name in the Usenet archives you'll see that I've
written tens of thousands of articles over the years. (Actually I
have used 'nyms during some periods of time. You won't be able to
find all my writings because I've never publicly linked the 'nyms.)
Rest assured that if I had it to do over again, my real name would
never hit the net. Who could have known back then?

One of the things you WON'T find is my personal address. Or phone
number. At least not the correct ones. I've taken somewhat extreme
measures over the years to keep these private. They can be found with
enough work from things like tax records where I'm forced to disclose
them but it'll take some legwork.

Rather than being scared off doing creative work, I simply do it under
a 'nym. Not some Starwars/trekky type of silly 'nym. Just another
name.

>
>I myself think of it as an honor to be on that list, and to be part of
>"a real team with real names working on a real project."

Yes, I agree. And anywhere but the US I'd not have a problem. But
that's beside the point. It's MY decision to make.

I could accept the name requirement if it had anything to do at all
with the quality or usefulness of RockBox. It doesn't. From this
side of the pond it looks like nothing more than some guys who've
found themselves with a tiny bit of power wielding it poorly.

>
>Ofcourse I understand that you do want some privacy, but nobody is
>asking you to state your living address, your phone number, or anything
>like that. It's just a name, and an e-mail address. I almost tend to say
>"grow up, get rid of the nicknames" but I think some people will get
>offended if I do that.

Yes, and I can type your name into Google and find an amazing amount
of personal information about you. If you lived in the US, that would
be a flood of information.

As far as growing up, I'm probably old enough to be your grand-dad. It
has nothing to do with maturity and everything to do with taking
prudent precautions. No different than not leaving your credit card
laying around. You're fortunate to live in a country with strong
personal information protection laws. Unfortunately I don't.

John

---
John De Armond
See my website for my current email address
http://www.johngsbbq.com
Cleveland, Occupied TN
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Received on 2006-03-09