response 175 of 184:

Jan 27 00:40 UTC 1995

Re #173:  Even if you trust the current official roots, it is always
possible that an unscrupulous person could find a security hole,
break into root, and modify files in which votes are recorded.

Vote-tampering is a different issue from vote traceability, and the
current vote program and the way in which I administrate it do make
an attempt to address the former.  Although someone with root powers
could modify files in which votes are recorded, there are safeguards
built in which render it fairly difficult to make such tampering un-
detectable.  Obviously I don't want to discuss the details of those
safeguards publicly.  I'm sure they could be improved upon.

response 177 of 184:

Jan 28 19:38 UTC 1995

thank you for the discussions of some of my ideas (1/7 of the
board I would hope). .
  
My other two ideas that were formally stimulated by mdw, (again
as a hoped-for 1/7 of the board) included getting the Board
a littel more "in front" of fund/equipment raising. We don't
seem to approve of beg-a-thons, and I support that, while at the
same time wondering how "keeping our candle under a basket" and
so tightly sealed under that basket, benefits the financial
progress of our community?  Fodder for thought ad progress I think.
  
Thirdly, VAST numbers of times there are genuine offers of assistance
that TEND to get batted down (which are then followed with comments
of Grex being "an Insider" operation.) And those Insider comments
are boo-hooed as "silly." 
  
So how's come they erupt so often? A Board maintained (loosly)
collection of "volunteers for this and that" would (imo) go
a LONG way to dispelling the real or imagined Insider perception
we see so frequently. 
  
The move, internally and externally coordinated, was really
the +first+ time a +bunch+ of people were permitted to be involved
adn contributing (even me, I brought warm brownies). 
  
Volunteer coordination is a tough business and from what I saw,
popcorn did a wonderful job. She's not the only one who +can+
do that, she just happens to be the +first+ who did so well.
  
But again, that was a "special" event, and I think events should
be more frequent, with a wider acceptance and use of volunteers.
  
Oh, if you will please, cast a vote for  tsty  (TS Taylor) for
one of the board positions, and thank you for your support.
  
cheerrzz,ts

response 179 of 184:

Jan 28 22:32 UTC 1995

The incident TS describes is only one of a number.  Staff is familiar
with the constraints of the warehouse.  Staff is also familiar with the
issues of training; even people who are expert sun users aren't
necessarily prepared to deal with ascii console terminals, 9 track tape
drives, or other problems.

But I don't think the details much matter.  What is more interesting is
the framework - the reason decisions were made.  For instance, if Grex
is more a training ground for system administrators; then what we did
with TS was wrong.  Or, if we're willing to tolerate a kind of darwinian
"survival of the fittest" staff, and to consider some other principle:
such as board control, or volunteerism, as more important than problem
resolution or mailbox security, then those too would be reasonable
grounds to revise how staff is selected.

While there are variations amongst staff members concerning the value of
volunteerism and other issues: there is one guiding principle that
unites them: they all value the continued smooth running of this system
for the benefit of the users before all else.  That provides a single
measuring stick against which everything can be measured, and that we
can't argue ultimately at cross-purposes.

TS is advocating a different set of standards here.  He is certainly
pushing both volunteerism, and privacy, and he is willing to make a very
different set of trade-offs in favour of these.  I'm not sure how he
intends to resolve the inherent contradictions here, or that his
solutions will even come any closer than the current setup in terms of
achieving his goals.  But it's not worth worrying how he will reach
those goals unless you first agree on a different standard.

response 181 of 184:

Jan 29 21:35 UTC 1995

Don't let it affect your vote, Andy. You are free to agree (or disagree)
with anything any of the candidates say. It is a little unusual for
any candidate to have an outspoken antagonist - but so is it for any
to have outspoken protagonists. You just have to take the information
for what it is worth.

response 183 of 184:

Feb 28 23:14 UTC 1995

It took me a bit to answer some of the thoughts in the last
few responses. Now that the election is over, and I lost, there
is no longer "the problem."
  
However, as long as there is the opportunity existing for, among
others, andyv's vote to be traced directly to him, there also exists
the "chilling effect" of voting in a fishbowl, albeit a small one.
  
Frankly, I'm rather stunned at mdw's statement that "what we did
with TS was wrong." And at the same time (since there was no
time element mentioned) I'm somewhat relieved that someone
might consider that I got the raw end of a deal somehow. I know
that I think the latter, given the situation as described (and not
contradicted) above. I also know that there seems to be a 
prevailing conclusion that Grex got a raw deal. I took the hit,
not Grex. And I took the heat, not Grex. And then I got beat up
for it. I think that procedure/fear suckxx to max. 
  
That same attitude has cost Grex a fine ascii artist, the victim
gets beaten up without even the passing regard for an apology.
  
mdw (nor anyone else for that matter) has been in any sort of
direct (or indirect) communication with me after "my services
were no longer wanted/needed." 
  
I would ask publically (and expect a reponse in email) what it
is that "what we did with TS was wrong." 
  
I also don't understand the conclusion that "TS is advocating
a different set of standards here." I may be, but I sure don't
see it.