[LINK] Fwd: vip-l: The Australian: E-Voting follow-up article

[Jan Whitaker]

At 08:07 AM 26/03/2006, Howard Lowndes wrote:
>>more. But we don't think twice about using a little plastic card to get 
>>money out of a hole in the wall on the street today.
>
>So, you don't think the increased risks of getting mugged or skimmed at 
>the ATM are not something that users fear; or the greatly increased risks 
>of viruses et al. are an increased risk to computer users.  PPl do hate 
>using computers because of these risks, the only problem is that ppl are 
>more and more being forced to use computers and ATMs.

I disagree. No one is being forced to do anything. They do it for 
convenience. Those risks are there, sure. But people do it any way. The 
risk is either ignored or mitigated in exchange for the convenience. The 
common risk example is getting hit by a bus if you cross the road. But 
people still find it convenient to cross roads, take stupid risks 
jaywalking, etc. They aren't forced to do any of those things and they 
don't stop doing them because there are risks involved.

As for being mugged at an ATM, if you're smart, you don't take out large 
amounts at an ATM in a side alley in the dark. If you're really smart, you 
don't carry large amounts of cash in any case. But some people do it. They 
may not want to take a cheque and wait for clearance. It may not be as 
convenient...or it may cost a fee to get a bank cheque instead of use a 
personal checque. Both technologies work, some may be available and 
advantageous to one subgroup over another. They are all there to be used.

As to viruses on computers, touch wood, I've only ever had very few and I'm 
online all the time. But I use the tools to mitigate the risks. I also 
don't walk across streets in the middle of peak hour! :-)

Jan



JLWhitaker Associates
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
jwhit at janwhitaker.com - http://www.janwhitaker.com
Personal stuff: http://member.melbpc.org.au/~jwhit/

'Seed planting is often the most important step. Without the seed, there is 
no plant.' - JW, April 2005
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