Re: [WDDM] Re :Re: [WDDM] Supporting the spirit of Democracy

[ROY DAINE <rdaine(at)btinternet.com>]

Dear Bruce,

I didn't set myverdict up with the intention that it should be the official platform for a function DD. I thought that if it became popular and people cottoned on to the idea, they could then be passed on, as it were, to the people who were actually taking action and putting DD into practise. I thought that maybe , over time people could get used to the idea of DD and make their views known on anything and everything. I also wanted to find out what other people thought, who came from different cultures and might have different ideas about how their world should work. There can be no doubt, that in some countries, simply logging on to such a site, if it were known about by the authorities, could have serious consequences. One reason for anonymity.

With regard to credibility. I take your point. However, are you suggesting that if myverdict had those 50 million users, you'd consider every opinion void, that it would have no impact at all. Would a more credible site not wish to have access to those users, knowing that they were used to and willing to participate. What if , in a constituency of say, 50,000 I could show registered figures of 40,000. Doubtless there might be a significant margin of error but would it seriously be less credible than a site that had 100 perfectly validated users.

With regard to validation. In an election, as a registered voter, I go to the polling station and make my mark on a bit of paper. When that paper is counted my vote cannot be traced back to me.

With electronic voting, the same does not apply. Does it not occur, that I might have considered the problem. As far as I am aware, there exists no way to validate a user as a real person, from a real address, while maintaining anonymity. As to voting, any system needs to know if a user has voted. Therefore a vote has to be related to a userID of some sort. You have to count the votes. Let us say there is a 70 - 30 split on a yes/no question. It is easy then to find out who has voted whichever way.

From governments to corporations to the medical services, there a vast number of organisations spending vast amounts of money to get personal data. Are we to presume that all the information held on each one of us, is going to be used benevolently. Don't forget, that somewhere there is a record of everything you've done via the internet. Every site you've visited, every email you've sent or received. Everything.

There is also the issue of data protection laws, different in each country. Identity theft.

Personally, I have no wish to collect personal identifying info on anybody. I don't want the responsibility. Who's to say I could be trusted with such information. Who watches the watchers.

What I would like, is for every user to be validated as a real person, from a real address, while remaining anonymous to the site. I don't think it can be done.

Mirek says he has part of the answer to this but I haven't understood the little he told me.

In conclusion, I realise that I may be wrong about all this but I have read no argument to convince me thus far.

Best

Roy

Bruce Eggum <bruceeggum(at)gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Roy.
It is nice to be anonymous, however 50 million people could vote anonymous to end the world.  Who voted?
myverdict.net is fine to take a survey and help people experience DD.
However, there is no credibility, none, zip.
So if we are to actually create an Initiative, it will require authentication which includes personal information.
That is where a secure server comes in.
If you will not "sign in" how can we ever expect to convince the masses to network?
Regards, Bruce

On 9/27/07, ROY DAINE wrote:

Dear PVR,

I managed to get onto that site. I was however not prepared to sign the petition there. I am not prepared to post my postcode. While happy enough to give my name I can see no reason why the site would want to know my email address and precise details of where I live(available via the postcode info).

Instead I decided to post my support, as an international question, at myverdict.net

Regards

Roy

Vijayaraghavan Padmanabhan <vijayaraghavan.p(at)rediffmail.com > wrote:

Dear Roy Daine,
I tried the link and found it to be working. Probably copying it and pasting it on the address bar may help.
Regarding your suggestion for posting the matter as international question on My Verdict, I would like to express myself frankly. Such mobilization of opinions are relevant and crucial in today's world. But being attracted towards it also depends on the individual's temperament. Some years back I used to be deeply motivated to express myself on such forums. Nowadays it no longer satisfies to merely express my view. I prefer to do something concrete to change the situation and hence my enrolment in the WDDM. I think many may feel the same way. If only you can modify My Verdict to act as a platform as I have suggested in my new thread, it would be great (for me and likes of me). It is no doubt a more pro-active approach and I wonder if it suits your temperament.

PVR


On Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:01:03 +0100 (BST) wddm@world-wide-democracy.net wrote
PVR, Tried to visit said site, there appears to be some sort of error. Why not post an international question regarding Burma at myverdict.net. I'll certainly support it. I'd do it myself but I feel that it is not my place to start threads. The site has to stand or fall based on other peoples use of it. Best RoyVijayaraghavan Padmanabhan wrote: Dear All,While we are endeavouring to improve the quality of our democracies, we still find countries where even the basic democratic spirit is suppressed. It would be appropriate to express our support to the Burmese people.http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/PVREnhance democracy. Make your views known on every issue.

Enhance democracy. Make your views known on every issue.

--
Bruce Eggum
Gresham Wisconsin, USA, www.doinggovernment.com; Check out my Blog too: bruceeggum.blogster.com

Enhance democracy. Make your views known on every issue.