Greg_d._Moore@mts.rpi.edu (Commander Krugannal) (01/17/90)
Someone I know around here ran into a problem with a minor
breaching security on his BBS. (it is a over 21 BBS). The
best solution that we came up with (mine actually, so I am
biased) that did not really violate privacy, was to require
that if a user really want's access, to have them simply submit
a piece of paper with name, signature and age, and a notary
public stamp. Getting a notary public's stamp is not difficult.
(heck, we have, err, had two in my office alone.)
I don't know if he did this, but anyone have comments?
Any notary public's out there? Could you stamp a piece of
paper this way?
Greg_d._Moore@mts.rpi.edu
Disclaimer: Why do I need one? everyone else has one!tachyon@gorn.santa-cruz.ca.us (tane' tachyon) (01/17/90)
In article <9544.1051.forumexp@mts.rpi.edu> Greg_d._Moore@mts.rpi.edu (Commander Krugannal) writes: > > > Someone I know around here ran into a problem with a minor > breaching security on his BBS. (it is a over 21 BBS). The > best solution that we came up with (mine actually, so I am > biased) that did not really violate privacy, was to require > that if a user really want's access, to have them simply submit > a piece of paper with name, signature and age, and a notary > public stamp. Getting a notary public's stamp is not difficult. > (heck, we have, err, had two in my office alone.) > I don't know if he did this, but anyone have comments? > Any notary public's out there? Could you stamp a piece of > paper this way? I'm sorry, but all this stuff is starting to sound like one of those silly "secret clubs" set up by little kids -- the kind where the first meeting is taken up with making a list of bizarre and arbitrary rules. Perhaps you have to say the club poem every time you come into the clubhouse. Perhaps you have to swear never to speak to anyone from a rival club. Perhaps you have to wear a funny hat. And yes, I am also a sysop, so don't anyone give me that "You're not a sysop, you don't know what a jungle it is out there!!!!" stuff!
gentry@kcdev.UUCP (Art Gentry) (01/18/90)
In article <9544.1051.forumexp@mts.rpi.edu> Greg_d._Moore@mts.rpi.edu (Commander Krugannal) writes: > > > Someone I know around here ran into a problem with a minor > breaching security on his BBS. (it is a over 21 BBS). The > best solution that we came up with (mine actually, so I am > biased) that did not really violate privacy, was to require > that if a user really want's access, to have them simply submit > a piece of paper with name, signature and age, and a notary > public stamp. Getting a notary public's stamp is not difficult. > (heck, we have, err, had two in my office alone.) > I don't know if he did this, but anyone have comments? > Any notary public's out there? Could you stamp a piece of > paper this way? > I've stayed out of this, mainly because it looked like the main argument was just wether is was justified asking age on a BBS. But since you have suggested something, while maybe not 100% practical, is at least feasable. My wife is a notary, and she says she see no reason why she wouldn't endorse a paper like this. Remember, all a notary is doing is "witnessing" your signature on something. That something can be anything from a 1000 page contract to a napkin with some notes on it. It carries no legal weight other than to say, that so-and-so notary did witness that you signed whatever it is. Now, since I'm here, I'll add my two cents to the thread. I run an adults only BBS. When I started it, I was very concerned about someone trying to shut me down for allowing minors access to material on it. The advice from my attorney was, treat it the same as subscriptions to adult magazines, ie: require that they state they are over the legal age. It has already been proven in court that a service can not be held accountable for a subscriber lying to it. In my case, I do ask for a birthdate. If a user responds with "over 18", then fine, he has still stated, on an official application form that he/she is of legal age to view my materials. Unless the laws of the land change, I will not be changing my views or methods on this. I look absolutly terrible in prison greys :-{ -- | R. Arthur Gentry AT&T Communications Kansas City, MO 64106 | | Email: gentry@kcdev ATTMail: attmail!kc4rtm!gentry | | The UNIX BBS: 816-221-0475 The Bedroom BBS: 816-637-4183 | | $include {std_disclaimer.h} "I will make a quess" - Spock - STIV |
milton@milton.acs.washington.edu (Stephen Milton) (01/20/90)
I too feel that all this talk of validation and exclusion is mightily disheartening seeing as how THIS SYSTEM is totally non exclusive and also happens to be the most beneficial BBS in the world. The only true way to run a BBS is totally open access...the information that is transmitted across your machine is the important thing...not who types it in. A good way to do this is in systems where peopl who you feel have proved themselves are given aide access, and their duty is to be on line censors --when someone gets out of line they have the authority to tag or delete the message. This system encourages responsible action becasuse it doesn't really matter how many GOOD users have aide status...it just enhances the readability of the bbs. Steve Milton...milton@milton.u.washington.edu Sysop of the Turing Registry (developmental) BBS