[148271] in cryptography@c2.net mail archive
Re: [Cryptography] Explaining PK to grandma
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jon Callas)
Tue Nov 26 12:48:48 2013
X-Original-To: cryptography@metzdowd.com
From: Jon Callas <jon@callas.org>
In-Reply-To: <CAMm+Lwi9MdrvTMnvY7LAtBPZgmFByVLPxHCPgWAVD++BROqjnw@mail.gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 08:50:16 -0800
To: Phillip Hallam-Baker <hallam@gmail.com>
Cc: Nico Williams <nico@cryptonector.com>,
Cryptography Mailing List <cryptography@metzdowd.com>,
Jon Callas <jon@callas.org>, David Mercer <radix42@gmail.com>
Errors-To: cryptography-bounces+crypto.discuss=bloom-picayune.mit.edu@metzdowd.com
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On Nov 26, 2013, at 5:08 AM, Phillip Hallam-Baker <hallam@gmail.com> wrote:
> I think everyone is barking up the wrong tree here.
>
> How do you explain how the car works to gran? You don't because she never thought to ask. All she knows is that you stick liquid in one end and it burns to make the engine go. Gran probably thinks that it is some sort of steam engine in there.
>
> These explanations are tantamount to explaining to her how a carburetor works or the details of the differential.
Agree totally. It has to be so simple as to be invisible, even though that is suboptimal. Yup, it would be better if Gran cared enough to understand. She doesn't. (And yes, I believe that Gran *could* understand, and what's missing is desire, not ability. Obviously, better metaphors are great, if she cared.)
Also -- the way that you make the safety systems work in crypto for Gran is the same way you make the airbags work for Gran. They just do.
Jon
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