[MUD-Dev] strong encryption for authentication

[Caliban Tiresias Darklock]

On Wed, 11 Jul 2001 19:27:38 +0000 (GMT), Matt Mihaly
<the_logos at achaea.com> wrote:
> On Tue, 10 Jul 2001, Caliban Tiresias Darklock wrote:
> > On Tue, 10 Jul 2001 09:39:12 -0600 (MDT), Fred Clift
>> <fclift at verio.net> wrote:

>>> Anyone working on something like this?

>> I thought about this at great length, and then it occurred to me:

>> It's a GAME.

>> Why the hell would you want to encrypt it?

> Same reason people use PGP in their e-mail.

You actually know people who use PGP? What kind of nerds do you hang
out with? ;)

> They don't want others able to spy on their lives.

They don't want to be struck by lightning, either, but I don't see
personal lightning rods at the grocery store. :P

> It's not a game, it's a community.

Encrypting a community is pointless.

> It's not a game, it's a world.

Encrypting the world is pointless.

> It's not a game, it's part of life.

Encrypting life is pointless.

> MUDs are not 'just' games. It is a world with game-like
> aspects. (at least mine is).

Which is exactly why "cheating" shouldn't matter. In a community, in
the world, in life, people exploit the system. It's part of the
game.

I find it terribly hypocritical that people will cheerfully point to
newsreaders and email clients and instant message facilities as
things that can enhance your gaming experience, and then freak out
about a packet sniffer. Why? It's just another external utility. I
don't use newsreaders and instant messagers, so shouldn't I be able
to fire up a packet sniffer instead?

I mean, honestly, people. Just because my tool happens to be a bit
more complex and involve a little more specialised knowledge, should
I be forced to use a pointed stick instead because that's all your
average player can understand? Shouldn't my real world knowledge,
experience, and ingenuity count for something? Or is this *really*
just... a game?

"You cheated!" Sorry, folks. If it's not a game, I *can't* cheat. ;)

>> So I'd pose this question, to which I would honestly like to hear
>> the answer: what *possible* reason have you identified as a
>> compelling justification for encryption? Because I really
>> couldn't think of anything. Did I miss something?

> My reason is simple really: I want it simply on principle.

And what principle is that, exactly? "I want privacy in my social
life"?  Doesn't that strike you as somewhat counterproductive?

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