Subj : Re: Long Day
To   : Avon
From : boraxman
Date : Mon Jan 24 2022 19:11:37

 Av> I wouldn't say this one is 'private' in any real sense but it's certainly
 Av> possible to set up FTN networks such as this, and encryption / security

 Av> has been an interest of mine for some time also.
 Av> 
 Av> I'm not a security expert but when the subject as come up before, those
 Av> who know way more about it then I often talk about where lines of
 Av> 'secure' comms can be enforced etc. 
 Av> 
 Av> I've always like the idea of secure encrypted FTN networks, but the
 Av> devil is in the implementation details it seems.
 Av> 

My children on holiday befriended some other children who were staying in the same apartment complex.  They wanted to keep in communication after the holiday ended, but my wife and I, as well as their parents, are reticent
about allowing them onto things like "Kids Messenger" which is a Facebook "service".  Sure, they can e-mail, and that is OK, but this distrust highlighted a major problem.  The problem isn't that we don't want children communicating electronically, the problem is privacy.  Can you trust the app? Do you want them on Social Media (No!!)  I thought of how cool it would be for them to just be able to log into my BBS, chat, message there.  Or play "Food Fight" against each other. None of these privacy issues, or concerns about what someone might do with the data exist.  Sure, the Sysop (me) can see, but you want parental oversight, so that is a good, not bad thing.  You can even limit their online time by simply setting a suitable allowable amount of time per day.

There are other ways to achieve the same thing, or something similar.  Such as Matrix, which it seems you can create your own private set up, though I'm not too keen on an Electron based client and I'm not quite sure how you can federate with others, while keeping that federation itself quarantined.  FTN networks can do this (provided people cooperate).  It does appear that Mystic is easier to get up and running.

Most people kind of have accepted as a given that if you want to talk to others online, you must do it on someone elses territory, to their rule and whims, and subject to their exploitation of everything you do and say. 
Doesn't have to be that way.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/11/06 (Linux/64)
 * Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

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