Re: Alt List correspondence on "Nabble'

From: Camden Hardy <camden@hardyphotography.net>
Subject: Re: Alt List correspondence on "Nabble'
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2006 17:46:56 -0600 (MDT)

> This rule is impossible to enforce over the web. Short of providing
> social security numbers and/or credit cards (which I'm sure no one
> wants to do), we can't verify 100% that we are who we say we are.

Policy and implementation are two separate things. I don't need to see
your passport or SSN to believe what you say. In reality, when we see
a sign of malicious posts, etc., list owner can have some control over
the address from which such posts are made. With SMTP header
information, one can get enough information that would inhibit such
abusive actions.

On the other hand, even if implemented, I don't think SSN approach
would be a perfect solution (which, again, we don't need.). For
example, anyone can google the resident registration numbers of Korean
president and Korean prime minister. The president's number has been
used some 416 times to sign up on web sites that require age
verification. (This is according to chosun.com. I mentioned Korean
example because Japan doesn't have taxpayer number system.)
Considering that Bill Clinton had to learn how to use his debit card
to get cash from an ATM after end of his presidency, it's not very
plausible that Korean president is particularly computer savvy enough
to have 416 web accounts that require verification of age.
Received on 06/28/06-06:33:16 PM Z