[FRIAM] Information Technology Judiciary

[Nicholas Thompson]

Glen, 

WHOA! 

Or is that "WO!"

Or perhaps "WOE!"

I COMMENT BELOW IN CAPS TO DISTINGUISH MY COMMENTS FROM THE ORIGINAL TEXT. 
I PROMISE i AM NOT SHOUTING. REALLY! THIS IS >>>>>SHOUTING<<<<<<<<. 

Glen--I disagree. In fact, I think Nick's equation of expressing one's
political/ideological views with flatulence demonstrates Nick's egotism.
Not everyone thinks their opinions are purely factual, as apparently
Nick does.

NICK DOES NOT THINK THIS.  ON THE CONTRARY.  SORRY TO HAVE LEFT THIS IMPRESSION. 

Glen -- Experts have just as much gas as ordinary people. In fact,
most "experts" (particularly those who refer to themselves as "experts")
seem to have WAY more GAS than ordinary people.

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE. 

Glen--So, an IT-Judiciary would essentially be a bunch of pompous ... [cough]
... experts with more flatulence than a normal political/ideological
discussion amongst non-experts.

THANKS FOR YOUR THOUGHTS. YOU ARE THE ONLY PERSON TO COMMENT ON THIS IDEA SO FAR, AND .I WILL TAKE WHAT COMMENT I CAN GET. 

BUT DON'T YOU AGREE THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "OPINIONATING" AND "ARGUING", A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "TALK SHOW" DISCOURSE AND TOUGH BUT USEFUL DISAGREEMENT? PERHAPS NOT. 

ONE POINT I WOULD HATE TO SEE LOST IN THE FLAMES HERE IS THAT THE LAWS AND INSTITUTIONS THAT PROTECT INDIVIDUAL CIVIL LIBERTIES MAY BE ILL SUITED TO THE AGE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. LET'S SAY THAT IN GRAND JURY TESTIMONY IT IS MENTIONED THAT MALCOLM WOMBLY IS MAKING METHANE BOMBS IN HIS BASEMENT. THE FBI WANTS TO MAKE WOMBLY A TARGET OF AN INVESTIGATION. IT GOES TO A JUDGE, THE JUDGE EVALUATES THE PRELIMINARY EVIDENCE AND MAY OR MAY NOT GRANT A WARRANT. 

NOW LET'S TAKE ANOTHER CASE. THE CIA HEARS THAT PERHAPS A DIRTY BOMB IS BEING ASSEMBLED IN SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD FROM APPARENTLY INNOCENT MATERIALS BEING PURCHASED IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.   IT HAS NO IDEA WHO IS DOING IT, BUT KNOWS THAT ANYBODY WHO IS DOING IT MUST LEAVE A PARTICULAR COMMUNICATIONS "SIGNaTURE" BEHIND. THE CIA WANTS TO SEND A BOT LOOKING FOR THAT SIGNATURE, WHICH MIGHT REQUIRE "TAPPING" EVERY PHONE IN NEWARK IN A SINGLE DAY. UNDER PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY JUST DO IT, RIGHT, AND BUGGER CONGRESS. PERHAPS THAT;S OK. BUT HOW WOULD WE FEEL IF THE SIGNATURE WERE NOT BOMBMAKING BUT SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE ......"SOCIALISM" THAT THE BOT IS LOOKING FOR. WOULDN'T WE LIKE SPECIAL JUDICIARY, SOPHISTICATED BOTH IN CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND IN COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY WHOSE JOB IT WAS TO EVALUATE THE GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAMS OF INFORMATION GATHERING? 

AND ISN'T THE FRIAM LIST PARTICULARLY QUALIFIED BY EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DISCUSSION OF THIS IDEA?   THAT IS ALL i WAS TRYING TO SAY.  

ALL THE BEST, 

NICK 


Nicholas S. Thompson
Research Associate, Redfish Group, Santa Fe, NM (nick at redfish.com)
Professor of Psychology and Ethology, Clark University (nthompson at clarku.edu)
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