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02-MFAQ/02-MFAQ.md
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2. MFAQ--Most Frequently Asked Questions Most Frequently Asked Questions
============
##2.1. copyright
2.1. copyright
THE CYPHERNOMICON: Cypherpunks FAQ and More, Version 0.666, THE CYPHERNOMICON: Cypherpunks FAQ and More, Version 0.666,
1994-09-10, Copyright Timothy C. May. All rights reserved. 1994-09-10, Copyright Timothy C. May. All rights reserved.
See the detailed disclaimer. Use short sections under "fair See the detailed disclaimer. Use short sections under "fair
use" provisions, with appropriate credit, but don't put your use" provisions, with appropriate credit, but don't put your
name on my words. name on my words.
2.2. SUMMARY: MFAQ--Most Frequently Asked Questions ##2.2. SUMMARY: MFAQ--Most Frequently Asked Questions
2.2.1. Main Points
Main Points
- These are the main questions that keep coming up. Not - These are the main questions that keep coming up. Not
necessarily the most basic question, just the ones that get necessarily the most basic question, just the ones that get
asked a lot. What most FAQs are. asked a lot. What most FAQs are.
2.2.2. Connections to Other Sections - Connections to Other Sections
2.2.3. Where to Find Additional Information - Where to Find Additional Information
- newcomers to crypto should buy Bruce Schneier's "Applied - newcomers to crypto should buy Bruce Schneier's "Applied
Cryptography"...it will save many hours worth of Cryptography"...it will save many hours worth of
unnecessary questions and clueless remarks about unnecessary questions and clueless remarks about
cryptography. cryptography.
- the various FAQs publishe in the newsroups (like sci.crypt, - the various FAQs publishe in the newsroups (like sci.crypt,
alt.security.pgp) are very helpful. (also at rtfm.mit.edu) alt.security.pgp) are very helpful. (also at rtfm.mit.edu)
2.2.4. Miscellaneous Comments - Miscellaneous Comments
- I wasn't sure what to include here in the MFAQ--perhaps - I wasn't sure what to include here in the MFAQ--perhaps
people can make suggestions of other things to include. people can make suggestions of other things to include.
- My advice is that if something interests you, use your - My advice is that if something interests you, use your
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section. Usually (but not always) there's more material in section. Usually (but not always) there's more material in
the main chapters than here in the MFAQ. the main chapters than here in the MFAQ.
2.3. "What's the 'Big Picture'?" ##2.3. "What's the 'Big Picture'?"
2.3.1. Strong crypto is here. It is widely available.
2.3.2. It implies many changes in the way the world works. Private - Strong crypto is here. It is widely available.
- It implies many changes in the way the world works. Private
channels between parties who have never met and who never channels between parties who have never met and who never
will meet are possible. Totally anonymous, unlinkable, will meet are possible. Totally anonymous, unlinkable,
untraceable communications and exchanges are possible. untraceable communications and exchanges are possible.
2.3.3. Transactions can only be *voluntary*, since the parties are - Transactions can only be *voluntary*, since the parties are
untraceable and unknown and can withdraw at any time. This untraceable and unknown and can withdraw at any time. This
has profound implications for the conventional approach of has profound implications for the conventional approach of
using the threat of force, directed against parties by using the threat of force, directed against parties by
governments or by others. In particular, threats of force governments or by others. In particular, threats of force
will fail. will fail.
2.3.4. What emerges from this is unclear, but I think it will be a - What emerges from this is unclear, but I think it will be a
form of anarcho-capitalist market system I call "crypto form of anarcho-capitalist market system I call "crypto
anarchy." (Voluntary communications only, with no third anarchy." (Voluntary communications only, with no third
parties butting in.) parties butting in.)
2.4. Organizational - 2.4. Organizational
2.4.1. "How do I get on--and off--the Cypherpunks list?" - "How do I get on--and off--the Cypherpunks list?"
- Send a message to "cypherpunks-request@toad.com" - Send a message to "cypherpunks-request@toad.com"
- Any auto-processed commands? - Any auto-processed commands?
- don't send requests to the list as a whole....this will - don't send requests to the list as a whole....this will
mark you as "clueless" mark you as "clueless"
2.4.2. "Why does the Cypherpunks list sometimes go down, or lose the - "Why does the Cypherpunks list sometimes go down, or lose the
subscription list?" subscription list?"
- The host machine, toad.com, owned by John Gilmore, has had - The host machine, toad.com, owned by John Gilmore, has had
the usual problems such machines have: overloading, the usual problems such machines have: overloading,
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make digital money more robust and trustable. make digital money more robust and trustable.
- There is no paid staff, no hardware budget for - There is no paid staff, no hardware budget for
improvements. The work done is strictly voluntarily. improvements. The work done is strictly voluntarily.
2.4.3. "If I've just joined the Cypherpunks list, what should I do?" - "If I've just joined the Cypherpunks list, what should I do?"
- Read for a while. Things will become clearer, themes will - Read for a while. Things will become clearer, themes will
emerge, and certain questions will be answered. This is emerge, and certain questions will be answered. This is
good advice for any group or list, and is especially so for good advice for any group or list, and is especially so for
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other topics, and, yes, we sometimes let our views creep other topics, and, yes, we sometimes let our views creep
into discussions. There's no denying that certain into discussions. There's no denying that certain
resonances exist. I'm just urging caution.) resonances exist. I'm just urging caution.)
2.4.4. "I'm swamped by the list volume; what can I do?" - "I'm swamped by the list volume; what can I do?"
- This is a natural reaction. Nobody can follow it all; I - This is a natural reaction. Nobody can follow it all; I
spend entirely too many hours a day reading the list, and I spend entirely too many hours a day reading the list, and I
certainly can't follow it all. Pick areas of expertise and certainly can't follow it all. Pick areas of expertise and
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- The mailing list may someday be switched over to a - The mailing list may someday be switched over to a
newsgroup, a la "alt.cypherpunks." (This may affect some newsgroup, a la "alt.cypherpunks." (This may affect some
people whose sites do not carry alt groups.) people whose sites do not carry alt groups.)
2.4.5. "It's very easy to get lost in the morass of detail here. Are - "It's very easy to get lost in the morass of detail here. Are
there any ways to track what's *really* important?" there any ways to track what's *really* important?"
- First, a lot of the stuff posted in the Usenet newsgroups, - First, a lot of the stuff posted in the Usenet newsgroups,
and on the Cypherpunks list, is peripheral stuff, and on the Cypherpunks list, is peripheral stuff,
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interest and follow _them_. You may not need to know the interest and follow _them_. You may not need to know the
inner workings of DES or all the switches on PGP to make inner workings of DES or all the switches on PGP to make
contributions in other areas. (In fact, you surely don't.) contributions in other areas. (In fact, you surely don't.)
2.4.6. "Who are the Cypherpunks?" - "Who are the Cypherpunks?"
- A mix of about 500-700 - A mix of about 500-700
+ Can find out who by sending message to majordomo@toad.com + Can find out who by sending message to majordomo@toad.com
with the message body text "who cypherpunks" (no quotes, of with the message body text "who cypherpunks" (no quotes, of
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accounts). Lots of computer science/programming folks. Lots accounts). Lots of computer science/programming folks. Lots
of libertarians. of libertarians.
- quote from Wired article, and from "Whole Earth Review" - quote from Wired article, and from "Whole Earth Review"
2.4.7. "Who runs the Cypherpunks?" - "Who runs the Cypherpunks?"
- Nobody. There's no formal "leadership." No ruler = no head - Nobody. There's no formal "leadership." No ruler = no head
= an arch = anarchy. (Look up the etymology of anarchy.) = an arch = anarchy. (Look up the etymology of anarchy.)
- However, the mailing list currently resides on a physical - However, the mailing list currently resides on a physical
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- Those who get heard on the mailing list, or in the physical - Those who get heard on the mailing list, or in the physical
meetings, are those who write articles that people find meetings, are those who write articles that people find
interesting or who say things of note. Sounds fair to me. interesting or who say things of note. Sounds fair to me.
2.4.8. "Why don't the issues that interest me get discussed?" - "Why don't the issues that interest me get discussed?"
- Maybe they already have been--several times. Many newcomers - Maybe they already have been--several times. Many newcomers
are often chagrined to find arcane topics being discussed, are often chagrined to find arcane topics being discussed,
with little discussion of "the basics." with little discussion of "the basics."
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fresher may generate more responses than, say, asking fresher may generate more responses than, say, asking
what's wrong with Clipper. (A truly overworked topic, what's wrong with Clipper. (A truly overworked topic,
naturally.) naturally.)
2.4.9. "How did the Cypherpunks group get started?" - "How did the Cypherpunks group get started?"
2.4.10. "Where did the name 'Cypherpunks' come from?" - "Where did the name 'Cypherpunks' come from?"
+ Jude Milhon, aka St. Jude, then an editor at "Mondo 2000," + Jude Milhon, aka St. Jude, then an editor at "Mondo 2000,"
was at the earliest meetings...she quipped "You guys are was at the earliest meetings...she quipped "You guys are
just a bunch of cypherpunks." The name was adopted just a bunch of cypherpunks." The name was adopted
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name are clear. For one thing, many people are bored by name are clear. For one thing, many people are bored by
staid names. For another, it gets us noticed by staid names. For another, it gets us noticed by
journalists and others. journalists and others.
-
- We are actually not very "punkish" at all. About as punkish - We are actually not very "punkish" at all. About as punkish
as most of our cyberpunk cousins are, which is to say, not as most of our cyberpunk cousins are, which is to say, not
very. very.
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- Crypto Cabal (this before the sci.crypt FAQ folks - Crypto Cabal (this before the sci.crypt FAQ folks
appeared, I think), Crypto Liberation Front, other names appeared, I think), Crypto Liberation Front, other names
- not everybody likes the name...such is life - not everybody likes the name...such is life
## Partially completed FAQ section
2.4.11. "Why doesn't the Cypherpunks group have announced goals, 2.4.11. "Why doesn't the Cypherpunks group have announced goals,
ideologies, and plans?" ideologies, and plans?"
- The short answer: we're just a mailing list, a loose - The short answer: we're just a mailing list, a loose