[WikiEN-l] Moving forward

[Michael Snow]

Armed Blowfish wrote:
> I seem to recall people asking not that long ago why I use Tor.  I
> believe I just answered the question.
>   
I seem to recall people asking not that long ago why Jayjg publicly 
exposed CharlotteWebb's use of Tor. There's a certain irony in him now 
being so vociferously criticized for forwarding messages to this list on 
behalf of another Tor user, whose situation also played into the 
arguments in the CharlotteWebb case.

I would hope that this settles the question of his oft-questioned 
motives for such controversial actions, whatever their wisdom. As tired 
as I am of the interminable discussion surrounding each of these 
incidents, this contrast is a useful reminder that people are complex 
beings with many motivating factors behind their decisions. When we 
"know" each other only online and then often through pseudonyms, it is 
basically impossible to divine these motivations. *That* is why it is so 
critical to assume good faith, and why the thoroughgoing failure to do 
so on this list has poisoned so many discussions for so long. It would 
in fact suffice to respond to people in ways that avoid assuming 
anything about their good faith or bad faith, but disappointingly few 
people seem capable of that. Remember that assumptions of bad faith are 
often manifest in the tone of the response.

--Michael Snow