Is online D&D the next terrorism hotspot? :P

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

zeropoint

Aug 10, 2010 0:30:35
This passage is from a blog post on the Economist website discussing government surveillance of digital communications.

'He then went on to say how "mind-boggling" are the capabilities of America's National Security Agency and its British counterpart, GCHQ. To this blogger, that sounded like: "Yes of course we can hack Skype calls and all the rest, but we have to pretend we can't". Mr Anderson notes that there are all sorts of other internet-based services that provide encrypted messaging, including various dungeons-and-dragons online games. As these proliferate, providing terrorists and crime gangs with secure cyber-meeting places, the spooks will have to keep chasing them: serving papers on the hosts where possible, seeking deals with them otherwise."'

Why they chose to single out online D&D games I have no idea, but I definitely did a double take there. At least they aren't accusing it of satanism, I guess. Progress?
#2

zombie_babies

Aug 10, 2010 9:06:31
I don't trust anyone named 'Mr Anderson'.  Their eventual turn into a Christ copy is ... inevitable.
#3

Johnathan_Vagabond

Aug 10, 2010 11:15:23
But sites that host D&D games aren't generally super concerned with privacy.  More likely, the draw is that you can talk about 'hypothetically' beating someone up without having to come up with an elaborate code term for 'beating someone up'.

Still, it's not like it's better than getting on a fantasy football league and talking about 'touchdowns' and 'field goals'.
#4

Robin_Hoodlum

Aug 10, 2010 11:26:48
All heil our master and lord, Satan!



That's not funny even when you are trying to be funny...
#5

EscherEnigma

Aug 10, 2010 11:29:21
Still, it's not like it's better than getting on a fantasy football league and talking about 'touchdowns' and 'field goals'.


Which is just kinky sounding.
#6

ADHadh

Aug 10, 2010 13:21:23
That was probably supposed to mean MMORPGs, but someone clearly doesn't know or care about the issue.
#7

boraxe

Aug 10, 2010 13:31:55
All heil our master and lord, Satan!



That's not funny even when you are trying to be funny...


Yeah! "Hail" was misspelled and "master" and "lord" should be capitalized.
#8

zombie_babies

Aug 10, 2010 13:47:13

Now now, goldy's first language is not English.  I think we can excuse the occasional misspelling and capitalization failure.

#9

Pinnacle

Aug 10, 2010 13:50:30

Now now, goldy's first language is not English.  I think we can excuse the occasional misspelling and capitalization failure.



"Goldy's" should be capitalized.
#10

zombie_babies

Aug 10, 2010 14:07:53
"Goldy's" should be capitalized.



Nope.  goldomark has chosen to keep the first letter of his screen name small.  I choose to respect that decision.  Who am I to tell another man how to spell his own name, after all.
#11

Pinnacle

Aug 10, 2010 14:14:22
Nope.  goldomark has chosen to keep the first letter of his screen name small.

 
Hmm, that's true.  A nickname should generally be capitalized, but if it's a shortened from of a not-capitalized screen name I guess it shouldn't be.
My mistake.

Who am I to tell another man how to spell his own name, after all.


There should be a question mark at the end of this sentence. Tongue out
#12

zombie_babies

Aug 10, 2010 14:41:21
Hmm, that's true.  A nickname should generally be capitalized, but if it's a shortened from of a not-capitalized screen name I guess it shouldn't be.
My mistake.



I think the appropriate response, here, is 'nah-na na-na-na, boogity boo'. 

There should be a question mark at the end of this sentence. Tongue out



But I meant it as a statement!  Noooooooooo! 

#13

Luis_Carlos

Aug 11, 2010 6:12:01
I think he meant fantasy online games would be the "cover", the way, to send messages. If criminals would use hello kitty MMO for secret contacts... it wouldn´t be fault of "Helly Kitty franchise".  
#14

Klirshon

Aug 11, 2010 6:47:16

You mean "Helly Kitty" isn't a front for mind-control research and developement? Excuse me while I delete a document.

#15

zombie_babies

Aug 11, 2010 12:36:14
Dang. My bad.



It's ok, you tried.  That's what's important.  *pats head*
#16

zombie_babies

Aug 11, 2010 12:36:47
You can capitalize it. I made a mistake when writing my name.



You bastard! 
#17

zombie_babies

Aug 11, 2010 12:41:39
Are you new Master?

Replacing bad Master TA who is never around?




Nah, I was jus' bein' encouragin'.  Yep.
#18

zombie_babies

Aug 11, 2010 12:44:20
Nope.  I just Am.
#19

zombie_babies

Aug 11, 2010 12:52:38
If you're asking if I Be, the answer is 'yes'.
#20

zombie_babies

Aug 11, 2010 15:07:29
No, no.  I'm not bi you silly head!