[12611] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: About the creation of new 3-letter domain(s)
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Sean McLinden)
Tue May 24 11:30:23 1994
Date: Tue, 24 May 1994 07:53:21 -0400 (EDT)
From: Sean McLinden <sean@dsl.pitt.edu>
To: Barry Shein <bzs@world.std.com>
Cc: paul@vix.com, com-priv@psi.com
In-Reply-To: <199405240145.AA09332@world.std.com>
On Mon, 23 May 1994, Barry Shein wrote:
>
> >Phone numbers aren't permanent, are reassigned so are not unique through time,
> >and are not anonymous so do not protect the personal privacy of their user.
>
> Nothing is permanent, is it?
No, but many things are a lot less transient than one's phone number.
> If you want anonymity there's nothing to stop you from getting a phone
> number from telco just for this usage and don't plug a phone into it
> (heck, ask them if you could please NOT even have it physically
> installed.) In many areas that would cost you as little as $5/month
> for the privilege, and generally not more than around $15 or so.
But why? Why not just have an arbitrary numbering scheme that isn't tied
to someone else's model of commerce? The taxonomy of species is a lot
more permanent than phone numbers. Or, you could have totally arbitrary
roots such as fruits, vegetables, colors, mythological characters and
worlds, and let people pick where they want to reside.
> You could also make it unlisted but I think that would probably be
> futile since you're using it as your domain name.
Which is, of course, why those with unlisted phone numbers wouldn't want
them broadcast to the world.
> But who cares if someone gets a phone number for you that has no phone
> attached to it? I assume that's anonymous enough.
Sure, but let's assume that at some point nearly everyone with a phone is
gonna want a fully qualified internet address. That means more than just
getting a few left over phone numbers from the phone company, that means
creating new area codes as well.
Why don't we just create a taxonomy of all knowledge and use each branch
as buckets. Each leaf is free for the taking but once someone has a leaf
it is closed to others. We could use the Cyc project to identify the
leaves and branches (might as well get *something* out of our investment).
Speculators could even buy branches (like actors and actresses, rock
groups, characters from science fiction) and then scalp the leaves for
premium prices (I already have an option on Elvis).
Sean
