Re: Critias Unmasked!

[Black Unicorn <unicorn@access.digex.net>]

On Sat, 19 Nov 1994, L. McCarthy wrote:

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> Tim May writes:
> > Before the (unsigned) reputation of Critias_the_conspirator is tossed
> > about further, I was the author of the "anonymous" version.
> 
> It's also interesting to note that I managed to form a definite opinion
> about the "real" identity of the "real" Critias after reading, oh, about
> five words of Critias' first message. I couldn't so easily slap a label on 
> Tim's mock Critias because he deliberately altered his writing style. Just a
> reminder for those adopting pseudonyms to consider: if your normal style is
> known, you need to appropriately pseudonymize the nym's writing style.
> "Acting the part" is, after all, the main difficulty in maintaining an
> assumed identity.

I thought of some kind of filter that standardized punctuation and 
such to mask the little changes that cause identity associations....

Any ideas on the practical application of this, or perhaps its feasibility?

> 
> I'm not sure whether this alters liability issues significantly; if everyone
> "knows" you're the person behind a nym which gets in trouble, but can't
> conclusively prove it, does that help you ?  I suspect not, especially
> considering that the standard of evidence for civil cases like libel is
> relatively weak. (If I'm out of my tree and libel is a criminal offense,
> please correct me. IANAL, etc.)
> 
> - -L. McCarthy
> 
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