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Covid-19’s impact on Tor

blog.torproject.org

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Re: Covid-19’s impact on Tor

#81

Post by Thorrez »

kragen wrote: post #29
projektfu wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the protestors are being stupid, but if they get arrested I would like to see the ACLU help defend them. Even though I think established law would put them in the "shouting fire in a crowded theater" camp, unless the courts are willing to reverse that precedent.

That precedent was comprehensively reversed by the 1950s.

The case that was reversed was not about shouting fire in a crowded theater, the fire quote was just a rhetorical device. If a judge uses 2+2=4 as a rhetorical device in a decision, then the decision is later overturned, that doesn't mean 2+2!=4. So the fire quote could still remain true.

Re: Covid-19’s impact on Tor

#82

Post by Thorrez »

tempestn wrote: post #31
LyalinDotCom wrote: post #26

For a project that is about freedom of information they sure kept this vague. Why not share more details of why you had to fire people, what funding sources dried up, etc?

For a project about privacy it seems appropriate though!

To protect the privacy of the users you want the organization to be as transparent as possible about everything not involving user data. If the organization is hiding something, that something could be user-hostile.

Re: Covid-19’s impact on Tor

#83

Post by Thorrez »

baby wrote: post #17
cbsks wrote: post #16

I’m confused by this... why are layoffs happening so suddenly? Did they recently lose some large corporate sponsors? How many donations have been cut off over the last few months? Do they not have money in the bank? From my perspective it looks like they have had ongoing financial problems, and are using this as a convenient scapegoat to cut expenses.

It doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. Imagine if your company was going through a financially difficult time, and firing becomes the only path forward. This can greatly impact the team's moral and trust in management. Using the crisis as a scapegoat makes it easier to accept the event.

On the other hand if you're lying about the real reason that can cause distrust among employees and hurt morale. (Not to mention I consider it unethical.)

Re: Covid-19’s impact on Tor

#84

Post by fsflover »

EamonnMR wrote: post #9
anigbrowl wrote: post #2

Why isn't there a public open-source fund to finance open projects (ie one to which the donors have no clue or control where the funds will eventually go; they're disbursed on the basis of how widely something is used)?

https://my.fsf.org/donate/ https://sfconservancy.org/donate/ https://www.apache.org/foundation/contributing.html https://opensource.org/donate https://www.linuxfoundation.org/about/donate/

https://opencollective.com/

Re: Covid-19’s impact on Tor

#85

Post by modwest »

goodrubyist wrote: post #75
SpicyLemonZest wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The ACLU has largely transitioned away from civil rights absolutism towards progressive advocacy. They haven't entirely tossed it out the door, and still sometimes defend the civil rights of non-progressive groups, but the modern ACLU definitely feels it's important to contextualize liberties.

Woah, took me some time to digest this -- "contextualize liberties" must be the most Orwellian phrase in existence, only thing that might come close is another phrase you used, "civil rights absolutism."

The famous “yelling fire in a crowded theory” test for free speech is an example of contextualizing liberties. There is nothing truly Orwellian about it.

“Your right to swing your arms ends just where the other man’s nose begins” is another example.

Society is a context where we exercise our liberties.

Re: Covid-19’s impact on Tor

#86

Post by specialist »

mc32 wrote: post #7

This got me to think about the ACLU and what they are doing. I see some issues about accommodating justice and other issues affected by the pandemic and the intersection with liberties... it's more about looking at the compounding effect than protecting against fundamental change and fundamental threats to civil rights. But I don’t see any take on any measures governments have taken to kerb civil rights in the time o…

What should they be working on?

Contact your local affiliate and tell them.

"The ACLU" isn't one homogeneous entity. I've spoken with my locals about privacy and voting rights. Naive me thought I'd have ready allies.

Nope.

Lefties are all over the place. Agreement on one issue is no predictor for any other issues. First persuade others to acknowledge a problem. Then get commitments of effort, support. Then forge a consensus around an action plan. Be very wary of kindly seeming people who are actively working against you.getting everyone to agree to the same set of reforms is even more work.

Worse of all, getting momentum is very hard. Because your coalition will dissolve the moment any change is enacted (if not earlier). Because no one will agree on the next steps.

Rinse, lather, repeat.

Policy and coalition building is a lot of work. Maybe avoid my mistake of burning out too soon. Pace yourself for a marathon.

Good luck.

Re: Covid-19’s impact on Tor

#87

Post by specialist »

dmix wrote: post #47
geofft wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You mentioned Milo downthread, but I'll give another counterexample: the ACLU sued the city of Charlottesville when they said they'd only permit Unite the Right to happen at the larger McIntire Park on safety grounds. As a result of the lawsuit, the rally happened at the much smaller and busier Lee Park. (Personally, that's why I no longer support the ACLU - this wasn't analogous to the Illinois Nazis case, and as ev…

ACLU changed their policy of supporting everyone against any freedom of speech and freedom of assembly repression by the government AFTER Charlottesville. That only supports the OP's point. That was the point they gave into to pressure from outside groups and gave up their values. Compromising once is enough to compromise it always and their recent posturing on social media has done nothing to dissuade that this is t…

Though I remain conflicted with their choices, I sympathize. Generosity, credulity, principle will always be exploited. I have no idea how anyone can safeguard against bad faith.

Re: Covid-19’s impact on Tor

#88

Post by soulofmischief »

yingw787 wrote: post #11
rootusrootus wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed, they have significantly changed over even just the last few years. It makes me a little sad, because we have plenty of progressive advocacy groups, and I appreciated the ACLU trying to be more focused.

Yeah, that is interesting. I donate to the ACLU monthly and I haven't gotten anything related to the pandemic, just regular board of directors voting. ...are they working on the EARN IT act by any chance?

In Robert D. Putnam's Bowling Alone, he talks about how several independent studies have elucidated that in modern times, civil engagement is at an all-time high when one considers the average number of civil group memberships per American (It's greater than one!), however the average number of Americans holding leadership positions within a civil group has plummeted. We also attend far fewer in-person events.

The reality is clear. Civil leadership has been consolidated into the ranks of middle management and ad executives. Modern civil activism is pay-by-mail, one-newsletter-at-a-time, simply install and forget.

If you find yourself frustrated with the leadership of the civil groups you maintain, consider splintering you and those in your groups who trust you into a new civil group which focuses on a local level: Local canvasing could be far more effective than distributing online propaganda.

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