I expect he's right on top of that, it would be out of character for Bruce if he got lax on that. The question is, is he the host, or is it some ISP equ to a box house thats hosting it? I haven't look the site up in whois myself, that may answer any doubts.
Personally I wouldn't weight in because I do not know enough on the topic to take a firm position on it. And I do not have the time to read the amount of information I'd need to read to feel I was at that point. Some however will no doubt throw their name on a petition without truly understanding what they are supporting. Others certainly do and there is merit in their position. Hence why I (and I'm sure others) take these petition (electronic or otherwise) with a grain of salt. On the other note I immediately thought of the same thing, who owns this site? A whois comes back to <snip of $whois techp.org> Admin Name:Domain Administrator Admin Organization:Computer ID Admin Street1:1563 Solano Ave. Admin Street2:PMB 349 Admin City:Berkeley Admin State/Province:California Admin Country:US Is that Bruce Perens' (I have to say I am one of those who did not know him) web site? The whois doesn't indicate that. I went to wikipedia as suggested and found some info on him, including his web site (assuming we can rely on that info) and a few other sites he has. In quickly checking those I did not find that petition. One would expect that if he had such a significant petition drafted up that at minimum he'd link to it from his opening page on his web site. I didn't note that (did I simply miss it?). And even if it is his petition, as pointed out if he is not the one controling the site (hence what is done with the data collected), then you cannot use his reputation to assertain how your personal/private data will be handled. The process implemented is to try to give credibility to the #s being produce (I am assuming/best guessing that to be the reason for collecting that private data in order to sign the petition). That's not a bad thing. Please yourself. Personally I sign no petition that I do not feel I possess the knowledge necessary to adequately defend the petition's position in a debate. And the issue of handling of my personal/private information collected in the process of voicing my opinion is obviously another concern. So sign it, or don't. But if you do make sure you are knowledgeable enough to defend the petition's position. Otherwise it negatively impacts the value of every signature on it. "If this person signed it without really knowing what they were signing, how many other names on this petition are in the same boat?" The comments left by those signing can certainly shed light on a person's true knowledge of the issue being debated. Signatures from the uninformed with comments demonstrating that person's true lack of knowledge on issues surrounding a petition would certainly present to the other side all kinds of ammunition to discredit the petition as a whole. And good show of etiquette for labeling the subject line of this [OT]. Much appreciated by those on this list I am certain. Jacques B.
