[Web4lib] Fwd: [CIRCPLUS] Student admits he lied about Mao bo ok

[Patricia F Anderson]

Yep, yep, yep! A lot of the worry with this is like folks' reaction when 
cookies first started being used, and I heard about people worrying that a 
web search for AIDS/HIV would get their health insurance coverage 
cancelled. Yes, it is possible; no, it is not likely; no, we have no 
evidence that it is happening or has ever happened. :-) Try worrying about 
something more likely, eh? However, the plausible context is important to 
acknowledge in allaying those worries. -- Patricia A., pfa at umich.edu

On Tue, 27 Dec 2005, Dan Lester wrote:

> Tuesday, December 27, 2005, 8:00:19 AM, you wrote:
>
> PFA> How would the library know? That is what made the story so plausible. The
> PFA> backbone of the Internet was ARPANET, owned by US military. It does not
> PFA> seem improbable that there might be ways for various units of the US
> PFA> government to observe aspects of Internet traffic that attract their
> PFA> attention.
>
> Could traffic be monitored?  Sure.  Is it likely that all, or ANY
> routine traffic is monitored?  Not likely.  If they were so upset
> about the Chinese edition of the Little Red Book, why wouldn't they go
> after the libraries that OWN it?
>
> Also, the possibility of any agency monitoring ALL internet traffic is
> absurd.  Even with automated techniques it would be impossible.  I've
> used words like "bomb" and "Iraq" and "911" and "terrorist" in many
> messages...and no one has come after me.  And now I said "little red
> book" so maybe my file will get thicker?
>
> PFA> With ILL processes so dependent on the Internet these days,
> PFA> what was described may be possible, whether or not it has actually ever
> PFA> happened.
>
> Yes, possible is one thing....but there were just WAAAY too many holes
> in the story to be plausible...just as there are too many holes in all
> the spams that will make you rich if you send some money off to
> [country of your choice]
>
> -- 
> Dan Lester, Data Wrangler  dan at RiverOfData.com 208-283-7711
> 3577 East Pecan, Boise, Idaho  83716-7115 USA
> www.riverofdata.com  Fair is whatever God decides to do.
>
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