Live data from Hacker News

The Darknet and the Future of Content Distribution (2002) [pdf]

msl1.mit.edu

21–30 of 68 posts

Re: The Darknet and the Future of Content Distribution (2002) [pdf]

#21

The scariest project I've ever seen is OpenBazaar. It's a decentralized marketplace. It does for physical things what Napster did for music. Not the best analogy, since you have to pay for the things, but it's not far off. Right now they only sell trinkets, like sunglasses. But both the founders are former spooks. They live in fairfax, 20min from Langley. And they're adding Tor and Tails support in the next release.…

This isn't a perfect solution, but ultimately, I think, we are going to have to move in the direction where 13 year olds don't want to buy heroin. And that's going to be based not on punishment, but on better alternatives and honest information. And a better community of stronger social connection. I think of the whole "sex ed" debate. Studies and statistics show that providing information -- and practical alternativ…

[deleted]

Re: The Darknet and the Future of Content Distribution (2002) [pdf]

#22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean, this is the perfect example of why not to join your project. You're here because we're talking about you. You made this offer because this is a subthread about displacing you, specifically. I don't trust people who are so opportunistic, and there are many reasons not to let you get control over a network that may be with us for the next hundred years. How about you go work on your project run by former spooks…

Also, which two spooks are you talking about? Brian did work for Booz Allen, but he's the only one that has worked for the federal government as far as I know. If there's a mole afoot please let me know who.

Both the founders live within a 20min drive of Langley. This is easily verified.

I know one of them probably hasn't worked directly for a government agency, but that is quite a coincidence for both people to be located literally next to one.

Re: The Darknet and the Future of Content Distribution (2002) [pdf]

#23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure what you mean. I browse on HN a lot and post fairly frequently. I was surprised to see our project as the topic of the first comment on this article. It's not like I was seeking it out to pounce on a PR attempt. Feel free to start your own project and compete; that would be great. We have a number of competitors and we're all driving the ecosystem forward. "Your stated goal is to never turn a profit, eve…

A better analogy would be the founders of TPB. They went to jail for getting money from pirated content (ads). What do you think will happen to you when you try to extract any money at all from a network that people are using for darknet purposes? And you're adding Tor support and testing Tails for them. Except wait, you're insulated from these ill effects because your founders are former spooks. You have ties to pro…

I don't know what you think I'm trying to deflect from but if you spell it out for me I'm more than happy to be candid.

"A better analogy would be the founders of TPB. They went to jail for getting money from pirated content (ads). What do you think will happen to you when you try to extract any money at all from a network that people are using for darknet purposes?"

TPB is a search engine for pirated content. OB1 search, duosear.ch, and mubiz.com (the main 3 OB search engines) do not show illicit content. If anybody happens across some please notify us immediately.

"Except wait, you're insulated from these ill effects because your founders are former spooks. You have ties to protect you."

Brian used to work for Booz Allen. That's it. I don't know which others you're referring to. I highly doubt Brian has government protection.

"Especially the government?"

The government has no involvement in OpenBazaar but even if they did, so does Tor. What do you think the Tor project is trying to hide?!

"But if you're determined to build your business on the backs of these people, then I am determined to beat you."

If you truly believe it's such a horrible project (the scariest you've ever heard of you said), then trying to out compete us seems extremely hypocritical.

Re: The Darknet and the Future of Content Distribution (2002) [pdf]

#24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also, which two spooks are you talking about? Brian did work for Booz Allen, but he's the only one that has worked for the federal government as far as I know. If there's a mole afoot please let me know who.

Both the founders live within a 20min drive of Langley. This is easily verified. I know one of them probably hasn't worked directly for a government agency, but that is quite a coincidence for both people to be located literally next to one.

There are 3 founders, and Brian is the only one that close to Langley. Sam lives in Michigan and Washington lives in Australia.

Re: The Darknet and the Future of Content Distribution (2002) [pdf]

#25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A better analogy would be the founders of TPB. They went to jail for getting money from pirated content (ads). What do you think will happen to you when you try to extract any money at all from a network that people are using for darknet purposes? And you're adding Tor support and testing Tails for them. Except wait, you're insulated from these ill effects because your founders are former spooks. You have ties to pro…

I don't know what you think I'm trying to deflect from but if you spell it out for me I'm more than happy to be candid. "A better analogy would be the founders of TPB. They went to jail for getting money from pirated content (ads). What do you think will happen to you when you try to extract any money at all from a network that people are using for darknet purposes?" TPB is a search engine for pirated content. OB1 se…

No more hypocritical than extending an offer to the person who offered to help me, then trying to point out it's hypocritical to compete with you. :)

When it's possible for a new technology to be created and fundamentally shape society, it will inevitably be created. There is a chance that you're right about OB. If you are, then the first entity to make this technology work will have a massive advantage, just like Bitcoin and Tor do. People look to the Bitcoin core dev team for ideological guidance. You will have a lot of influence.

Now, the fact that you plan to make money by offering a search feature changes nothing about the underlying usage of the network. You're adding Tor support. You know what that means, and what the implications are. Again, you are not being straight with us -- notify us of illegal content immediately? What marketing nonsense is this? Your Tor support will be the reason for the future illegal content.

You undoubtedly know this. When people are being so shifty, it seems best not to trust them. You won't just come out and say that your idea will never work if you limit yourself to eBay type items, because we already have a perfectly good eBay. Your darknet users are your lifeline.

Re: The Darknet and the Future of Content Distribution (2002) [pdf]

#27
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This isn't a perfect solution, but ultimately, I think, we are going to have to move in the direction where 13 year olds don't want to buy heroin. And that's going to be based not on punishment, but on better alternatives and honest information. And a better community of stronger social connection. I think of the whole "sex ed" debate. Studies and statistics show that providing information -- and practical alternativ…

Afghanistan has free flowing drugs and most other things we outlaw in our society such as pedophilia and laissez faire murder. In theory it is a libertarians paradise.

Not even remotely. Libertarianism is not just wanting drugs, pedophilia, and murder. Murder is certainly off the table for any libertarian, and I suspect most would agree with me that any sort of sexual conduct with children constitutes violence.

Re: The Darknet and the Future of Content Distribution (2002) [pdf]

#28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Both the founders live within a 20min drive of Langley. This is easily verified. I know one of them probably hasn't worked directly for a government agency, but that is quite a coincidence for both people to be located literally next to one.

There are 3 founders, and Brian is the only one that close to Langley. Sam lives in Michigan and Washington lives in Australia.

This is misinformation at best, and a straight-up lie at worst. http://samuelrpatterson.com/about-me/

I’m a husband and father of three living in Virginia.

I'd rather assume positive intent, but you really aren't helping your cause here.

If any readers are interested in more about OpenBazaar (and possibly why to stop them), here's a subthread from last time they came up on HN:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14830081

Re: The Darknet and the Future of Content Distribution (2002) [pdf]

#29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know what you think I'm trying to deflect from but if you spell it out for me I'm more than happy to be candid. "A better analogy would be the founders of TPB. They went to jail for getting money from pirated content (ads). What do you think will happen to you when you try to extract any money at all from a network that people are using for darknet purposes?" TPB is a search engine for pirated content. OB1 se…

No more hypocritical than extending an offer to the person who offered to help me, then trying to point out it's hypocritical to compete with you. :) When it's possible for a new technology to be created and fundamentally shape society, it will inevitably be created. There is a chance that you're right about OB. If you are, then the first entity to make this technology work will have a massive advantage, just like Bi…

"No more hypocritical than extending an offer to the person who offered to help me"

I did not think you were serious, and I apologize for poaching now that I know you were serious. I thought you were joking.

There are many cases for free markets than you seem to be worried about. I am not trying to hide the fact that people can use Tor and the internet to do things they should not do. The good outweighs the bad. I'm sorry you have such a sour disposition on our project but frankly it doesn't matter. You're a lot of bark and no bite.

Neither OB1 nor OpenBazaar is anybody's "lifeline", most of us gave things up in order to work on what we believe in. We're all fortunate enough to be able to do such a thing and in no way are relying on it to survive.

Re: The Darknet and the Future of Content Distribution (2002) [pdf]

#30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are 3 founders, and Brian is the only one that close to Langley. Sam lives in Michigan and Washington lives in Australia.

This is misinformation at best, and a straight-up lie at worst. http://samuelrpatterson.com/about-me/ I’m a husband and father of three living in Virginia. I'd rather assume positive intent, but you really aren't helping your cause here. If any readers are interested in more about OpenBazaar (and possibly why to stop them), here's a subthread from last time they came up on HN: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=148…

Oh man, it's very tragic that Sam has not updated his website.

Stop us? How do you propose to do that?

Edit: Also I implore anybody that thinks Sam is a "spook" to speak with him on Slack or Reddit. He is one of the smartest libertarian thinkers I've personally met. It's genuinely funny to think he might be an undercover narc or something.

Post reply on HN