Are Physics Forums Monitored by Spy Agencies?

[Loren Booda]

Do U. S. Intelligence agencies (or other international spy entities) have any interest in monitoring Physics Forums? Subversive elements such as terrorists in search of classified material might seek to exploit our discussion group. (I recall early on in PF that a Middle Eastern person sought information on bomb making, and was quickly rebuffed.)

 

[cookiemonster]

Maybe we should identify the terrorists and give them false information? We could prove that the world is flat or something and that in order to blow up the US (which is on the other plane of our little flat world) they have to blow themselves up. Because we're right "below" them.

cookiemonster

 

[rick1138]

Trust me, this forum is being monitored. I'd be willing to bet that the " Middle Eastern person" was an FBI agent testing the members here.

 

[ShawnD]

Does it really matter what people say here? How bombs work is fairly common knowledge. My grade 12 physics teacher (B.Sc. in physics) told the class how to make a fusion bomb.

Chemical bombs are also common knowledge, the only problem is actually obtaining the substances. For example, ammonium perchlorate is a very strong oxidizer and it's a very powerful explosive when mixed with certain organic material. Finding (or making) perchlorate is the challenge.

Another thing, how do you know it was a middle eastern person? Most people around here don't even fill out where they are from (some people have things like "Mars" listed as their location). If the guy is a terrorist not wanting to be found, he's not going to list his location as something like "Iran".

 

[MacTech]

yes they are watching. Echelon is out there.

well.. monitoring probably not. however they say once something is on the web it can't ever be deleted.

 

[rick1138]

If the guy is a terrorist not wanting to be found, he's not going to list his location as something like "Iran".

Exactly, that is why I thought they may be FBI agents. But then again, most terrorists are less than brilliant strategists.

ShawnD Does it really matter what people say here? How bombs work is fairly common knowledge. My grade 12 physics teacher (B.Sc. in physics) told the class how to make a fusion bomb.

Knowing the general idea is simple, but the details, such as knowing how to configure the triggers so that the core impoldes on itself correctly is not common knowledge.

 

[Loren Booda]

Pardon. I should have stated "'Middle Eastern' person." His "location" was listed as one such "country."

 

[FZ+]

Can they actually prosecute you for linking, copying, or paraphrasing data that is publically available in other places?

 

[motai]

Originally posted by cookiemonster
Maybe we should identify the terrorists and give them false information? We could prove that the world is flat or something and that in order to blow up the US (which is on the other plane of our little flat world) they have to blow themselves up. Because we're right "below" them.

Or if they are really dumb, tell them to throw the pin instead of the grenade... better aerodynamics.

 

[The_Professional]

Some of you guys are a bit paranoid

 

[Dagenais]

Originally posted by Loren Booda
Do U. S. Intelligence agencies (or other international spy entities) have any interest in monitoring Physics Forums? Subversive elements such as terrorists in search of classified material might seek to exploit our discussion group. (I recall early on in PF that a Middle Eastern person sought information on bomb making, and was quickly rebuffed.)

Maybe the CIA? I think they are the ones that deal with the dangerous terrorists.

Why in the world would a terrorists come to a public forum and ask for help in making bombs? It might be more subtle if he read some books at the library.

So, I guess racial profiling says that Middle Easterns studying Physics are automatically terrorists.

 

[Kerrie]

i am sure it is highly possible, but not as likely as a phone call or instant message due to the privacy...up near yakima washington (basically out in the middle of nowhere) you can see a HUGE building in the middle of the treeless terrain where all kinds of phone conversations and computer messages are monitored...

 

[Mr. Robin Parsons]

There was a link in one of the threads, discussing nuclear bombs, that seemed to give fairly accurate information on just how to construct it, but the safety equipment that you would need to ensure that you didn't die of radiation poisoning, while you constructed it, isn't even mentioned...followed by the forewarnings, that were there, concerning plutonium, uranium, neutrons, etc. well, thinking that you physics teacher has told you enough information that you could actually construct a working bomb, without LOTS of further research, you will probably hurt yourself, possibly others too, before you get close to anything that might fizzle, never mind explode...

...and NO! this is NOT a challenge to prove me wrong...

 

[motai]

Originally posted by MacTech
yes they are watching. Echelon is out there.

well.. monitoring probably not. however they say once something is on the web it can't ever be deleted.

Something compels me to add in the phrase "You can't trust the matrix" to supplement above statement.

 

[Norval]

Infiltrators can be here for many reasons and purposes such as information control. Such was Rat’s job in the movie Core. We would all start missing posts and wonder what was going on in that case, so no, they don’t do that. If you can’t get rid of information, the next best thing is to “muddy the waters”. Insert miss-, or dis-information, in the threads, drive the threads down and off the boards if possible. There are many tactics used in information control. IMHO I have seen such tactics used in these forums and on many sites. I may be a new poster here, but have been doing one hell of a lot of reading. Granted I can understand some NSA or DOD types being very sensitive about what may be talked about when it comes to some topics. Several of those topics you would be very surprised at to tell you the truth. But that is what it is all about. TRUTH and DISCLOSURE. ,,, and its not only us,,, if our technology is reverse engineered, whom else do you suppose is here in these forums?

 

[Mr. Robin Parsons]

Not that I am with any secret agencies or anything but I really think that post above should be deleted...they are just to close Imean their spelling is atrocious, or well anything , just get it off, will ya...

Agent "X" (-001)...MRP might be back later, if he can get out of the ropes, cuffs, and cell...

 

[arivero]

My understanding is that when agent are jubilated into retirement, they entertain themselves by practising around the net. Sort of conbining entertaining and "service".

 

[Mr. Robin Parsons]

If the people running democratic governemtns have any Brains at all, (they DO I assure you) then you can be quite certain just about everything is being watched, sooner, or later...even if only by 'Bots' then people, thereafter, based upon words...insert your "Bot attractor words" Well, somewheres else please...Thanks! in advance!

 

[arivero]

just pointing that old retired voluntaries are even more cheaper than bots.

On a related theme, what about this thread:
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15287

 

[Loren Booda]

Are libraries really any safer than Physics Forums?

 

[Njorl]

Citizens, I assure you, no federal resouces have been dedicateded to surveillance activities for this website. Please ignore this thread and go about your normal subversive business in complete privacy and anonymity.

Thank you,
Njorl

 

[Mr. Robin Parsons]

Originally posted by Loren Booda
Are libraries really any safer than Physics Forums?

Libraries? Huh? try shelters OYE!, but there run by nice people, and there are nice people there, too, so (I'm getting institutionalized heh heh heh hee hee heee heeeeeeeeeeeewhoooo!)

 

[Dagenais]

Originally posted by Loren Booda
Are libraries really any safer than Physics Forums?

Sure. A library is definitely safer than the internet.

 

[Tsu]

Instead of Agent 007, do we, at PF just have an Agent 0 (Zero! OMG!)

*musical note* Secret Agent Man, Secret Agent Man
Well, they've give you a number
And taken 'way your name... *musical note*

 

[Loren Booda]

kenikov, our county libraries subscribe to the internet, with no censoring.

Robin, you rarely know you're insane until it's too late to turn back. The most serious mental illnesses start between ages 15-24. Do you make jokes about AIDS or Jews on PF as well? I thank God I've never been homeless.

 

[Evo]

Originally posted by arivero
On a related theme, what about this thread:
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15287

Are you referring to how quickly the e-mail that was posted was found, or to the fact that the US government is most likely monitoring, to some extent, anything that David Ben-Ariel posts on the internet (including on this forum)?

Due to him being deported by Israel for his "alleged" involvement in the plot to blow up the Dome of the Rock, I'm sure he's made the official "watch list".

 

[Dagenais]

Originally posted by Loren Booda
kenikov, our county libraries subscribe to the internet, with no censoring.

Robin, you rarely know you're insane until it's too late to turn back. The most serious mental illnesses start between ages 15-24. Do you make jokes about AIDS or Jews on PF as well? I thank God I've never been homeless.

We're talking about libraries as in books, and card catalogs. When you are talking about the internet from the library, you are talking about something completely different.

You are right back to the internet, in which is less secure than the actual library that you are in.

Making jokes about things is good. Putting a light spin on things makes life less depressing.

There are few things I don't joke about: Death of people I know, mental retardation, cancer. And my phobias of amputation and germs.

Everything else I joke about. I've often been reprimanded for laughing at other people's misfortunes.

But hey, you have to admit it makes life happier.

 

[Mr. Robin Parsons]

Originally posted by Loren Booda
(SNIP)[/color] Robin, you rarely know you're insane until it's too late to turn back. The most serious mental illnesses start between ages 15-24. Do you make jokes about AIDS or Jews on PF as well? I thank God I've never been homeless. (SNoP)[/color]

Hadn't read that 'Ben' person's 'things', don't read him at all. if I can avoid it. as I sort of heard things bout him...so, as for sanity, as I have stated, many times before, I (by the Grace of God) live "in-sanity" so you can figure out the rest... as for 'turning back' from going insane don't know 'bout you, but, God's Grace, ain't even close to anywheres that I would need to "turn back from" psychologically speaking...

The rest was/is, for Fun!

P.S. if someone is attempting to convince you that I am or have gone insane please bring then forward out into the light so I can know who the heck the stinking idiot is cause that one has been some kinda persistently idiotically stupid nutcase themselves...and they need some, well, "attention" and/or attending to...(legally perhaps?)

 

[Norval]

Then one begins to wonder at all the possible factions or clandestine groups that may have a part in this infiltration and information control, and the why.

Just a thought.

 

[Loren Booda]

Robin,

I may have overreacted in part from my experiences for the past 25 years with schizoaffective disorder. I am sorry if I had disrespected you and your experiences. To see the website I work (gainfully) with, please access www.nami.org.

 

[jeff]

Originally posted by Loren Booda
...my experiences for the past 25 years with schizoaffective disorder...

I knew there was something I liked about you.

 

[Mr. Robin Parsons]

Originally posted by Loren Booda
Robin,
I may have overreacted in part from my experiences for the past 25 years with schizoaffective disorder. I am sorry if I had disrespected you and your experiences. To see the website I work (gainfully) with, please access www.nami.org.

Dead link, and psycholanalysis is not done over the internet now, is it? cause I certainly don't think you should be attempting such a thing with me, you haven't a clue what your dealing with, not at all...that enigmatic aspect of me, that little thing about me that is different then the rest of you, the reason why, usually, I am more reserved then most people...I could go on, but a lot of it is, simply, "NO one else's business!" not at all!

Even if you think you have figured it out, you don't live it ever second of your life, I do, and Have for lotsa years now, ssooo good judgement is, usually, fascilitated by experiance, who has more? you? or me? think you would know what your doing? I don't!

 

[Loren Booda]

Robin,

I merely stated that http://www.nami.org is the website I work with. Our organization disagrees with psychoanalysis, anyway. However, you may wish to do a search for "noncompliance" on that site. Apparently, how you and I differ rests upon (non)denial, either of or by, the medical system.

 

[Thallium]

If these forums are inspected by FBI personnel or other terrorist-detectors, that is great and not a problem to me. Dishonest people with cruel intentions should not have access to whatever information that will help their plans. Though I do not think that any information on this forum is not obtainable elsewhere.

 

[jimmy p]

Originally posted by Mr. Robin Parsons
Dead link, and psycholanalysis is not done over the internet now, is it? cause I certainly don't think you should be attempting such a thing with me, you haven't a clue what your dealing with, not at all...that enigmatic aspect of me, that little thing about me that is different then the rest of you, the reason why, usually, I am more reserved then most people...I could go on, but a lot of it is, simply, "NO one else's business!" not at all!

Even if you think you have figured it out, you don't live it ever second of your life, I do, and Have for lotsa years now, ssooo good judgement is, usually, fascilitated by experiance, who has more? you? or me? think you would know what your doing? I don't!

You, me, and everyone else in the world bud! that's what makes us special.

Anyway to stick to the plot, I am sure we are being monitored because KEYWORDS are being picked up all the time on supercomputers but i doubt we are being watched THAT closely. Now if you will just stare at this device...

 

[Mr. Robin Parsons]

Ahh, saw the website Sorry Loren, think I mistook your mention of 'libraries as dangerous' as I tend to look out for (or be thinking about) my own saftey, inasmuch as AFAIK I am the only one who knows the T.o.E.'s path...the manner of the telling of it, telling on a person, to make them 'keep a secret' that long...

As for being watched here at PF, got an e-mail last year, just before the war in Iraq, from an assitant at the Office of the Prime Minster of Canada, telling me that Canada's position was that "We were going with Resolution 1441"...why?...cause of me? typing away at PF? in the "Politics and World Affairs" forums? as it is the only forum that I have been using (Cept "talkroot", a little, lately, but not back then) and had mentioned, before the War broke out, that Saddam Had NO WMDs...

Why did I get that e-mail...I admit I had sent the Office of the Prime Minster enough of them, myself...lots, and lots, and more lots, you can be sure of that...But the ones I sent him, didn't talk about the War, they were about me!

 

[Njorl]

I don't see how we could justify being bothered by monitoring. This is an open forum. The whole point is the open exchange of ideas. If we exchange ideas with an FBI agent, then maybe there will be one slightly more well informed FBI agent in the world. To all you subversives reading this, a little free advice; If you want to keep a secret, don't post it on a public board.

Njorl

 

[Mr. Robin Parsons]

Originally posted by jimmy p
(SNIP)[/color] You, me, and everyone else in the world bud! that's what makes us special. (SNoP)[/color]

Forgive me, but you miss something about me, not your fault though, you just don't know that about me, that's O.K. not everyone gets it, but that's O.K. too...my life really is special, waaaaaaay more then most peoples...Graced by God, just like the rest of you, but in a different fashion then any of the rest of you...Experiential differences...

 

[Mr. Robin Parsons]

Sp from this thread, in this forum,
Physics Forums > PF Lounge > General Discussion > Politics and World Affairs > Hollywood wins DVD case
Me saying...You only need read the[/color] blue part[/color]

Originally posted by Mr. Robin Parsons in Physics Forums > PF Lounge > General Discussion > Politics and World Affairs > Hollywood wins DVD case

Apparently in your *Ahem* Ignorance of Both, law, and the internet, you seemed to have missed completely the central issue reguarding the internet, freedom of speech, copyright law, and you!

For the very first time, in the history of humanity, human speech is directly translatable into actions, and actions that can be very deleterious to humanity...as in...

<<Insert string of maliciously intended code <--input/output-->Completely blacked out power stations>>

NOW! neither Copyright law, nor freedom of speech, have protections against this type of occurance, HOW could they!??! Never, in the history of humanity, has there been a position wherein human speech was directly translatable into action, unless you were a KING, and even then, a mad king could be shot...in this instance we have opportunity for anyone to act like a King simply by having the programming abilities, something copyright law was NEVER INTENDED to protect NEVER.[/color]

Now, that you can find malicious code, on the net, apparently is not a new thing (even though the net is) but it is something that requires that copyright rules need be, either, reviewed and/or revised and/or have a 'set aside', or completely new section(s) (Rules) to deal with (computer) programs as copyright law was never intended to protect the creation of The tools of burglary, larceny, piracy, nor malicious anarchy...and it is one of the above (which one?) that you all seem to want to have "protected"...funny I remember back when 'net people' wanted "no rules" agreeing that they would, willingly, Police themselves!...HEY! where did Y'all go"

It is the principal reason why democracy works The VOLONTARY upholding of the law by the vast majority of the citizenry...otherwise, it simply co$ts to much, throwing everyone in jail...

YOu are being unreasonable, and it just might cost you waaaaaay more then you ever dreamed!

Lights out, everyone!

What some of you seem intent upon protecting, is a right, to have the ability to pirate, cause the vast majority, of net users, cannot program!...so they need someone else to do that... right?

So do you think, for one second, that the 'Authories' in the world, are going to ignore, something like this...the part in blue[/color]

This changes lots of things, and is not something that they can simply disreguard, ERGO it is newsworthy as it is important N-E-W-S...tell me have you heard a word about it anywhere?? if not Why?

Do you think that they don't know of this yet?? (ha ha haaaaa-hee hee)

P.S. Remember, a power station blackout is something that has been attributed to, and can be attributable to, as from the past history, human deaths, inasmuch as the edlderly can be placed at greater risk when made absent of electrical utilities...last time the power went out, people died

 

[The_Professional]

HAHAHAAA this guy's relentless it's pathetic. GET OVER IT

 

[Thallium]

Originally posted by Njorl
I don't see how we could justify being bothered by monitoring. This is an open forum. The whole point is the open exchange of ideas. If we exchange ideas with an FBI agent, then maybe there will be one slightly more well informed FBI agent in the world. To all you subversives reading this, a little free advice; If you want to keep a secret, don't post it on a public board.

Njorl

That's what we call intelligence.. You got that?
Intelligence..

 

[Mr. Robin Parsons]

Originally posted by The_Professional
HAHAHAAA this guy's relentless it's pathetic. GET OVER IT

Uhmm is that in reference to me? cause posting something twice isn't a sign of relentlessness (unless you can't do anything more then once, yourself, then it would appear that way, to you) and as for 'pathetic', well, yup empathetic! yup! but just plain 'pathetic', well your comment qualifies for the title...

And as for getting over it, over what, your ridiculess nature? your impuned personna? your inane responces? get over what? cause I can assure you, I can never 'get over' someone elses stupidity, for them...just not possible, you would need do that for yourself...then again, it is not an 'ascribed statement' so it might not even be for me...

 

[pelastration]

I think every information is interesting to monitoring organizations. It will be added to your file ... sharping your profile. The same with cookies and spy software on your computer.

When I state today, here, that President Bush is a climate terrorist, I am sure it will be added to my file. In fact Bush is a climate terrorist when you see how he endangers world wide our global future and personal health, and refuses to stop it ... and intentional hided the scientific proves.

 

[The_Professional]

Originally posted by Mr. Robin Parsons
Uhmm is that in reference to me? cause posting something twice isn't a sign of relentlessness (unless you can't do anything more then once, yourself, then it would appear that way, to you) and as for 'pathetic', well, yup empathetic! yup! but just plain 'pathetic', well your comment qualifies for the title...

Yes that is a reference to you. You keep arguing your same, lame, incomprehensible ramblings. A 4 year old kid can write a more coherent sentence.

Originally posted by Mr. Robin Parsons
And as for getting over it, over what, your ridiculess nature? your impuned personna? your inane responces? get over what? cause I can assure you, I can never 'get over' someone elses stupidity, for them...just not possible, you would need do that for yourself...then again, it is not an 'ascribed statement' so it might not even be for me...

Ditto. I certainly can't get over somebody who calls people immature and yet become a perfect example of it. When I look up the words H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E in my big fat Webster's dictionary, I see a picture of you PARSONS.

Originally posted by Mr. Robin Parsons
So, "Children" time to behave, as adults...responcibility.

Originally posted by Mr. Robin Parsons
Unlimited limit, hummm an oxymoron, must of been generated by an oxy-moron, as in "oxygenated moron" "One who has no concept of logic"...see '...'

Originally posted by Mr. Robin Parsons
Puerile little infantine is what you are, immature, unreasonable and pedomorphic...(Oooops! I spelt "Ooooops" wrong!) as well as guileless, immature, and ingenuous...

BRAVO! Name-calling and personal attacks. That was an excellent display of maturity.

 

[Loren Booda]

Can we stop the ad hominem flaming and get back to the subject at hand? Why are we on the topic "Physics Forums infiltrated," anyway? Are you guys trying to sabotage this thread?

 

[p-brane]

Originally posted by Loren Booda
Can we stop the ad hominem flaming and get back to the subject at hand? Why are we on the topic "Physics Forums infiltrated," anyway? Are you guys trying to sabotage this thread?

Of course this forum is an open and democratic example of discussion and discourse. So, if any or all agents of the secret services to the stars, corporations or governments do scan its contents then, they are, by the very modality of this forum, welcome.

It is more than likely that a less authoritative but more disruptive form of infiltration has happened upon the forum in the form of "Sock Puppets". Please read this quote to understand the type of infiltration I mean:

A sock puppet, simply put, is an Online Identity used by someone who already has another Online Identity for participating in a given space. This is somewhat the reverse of a Dramatic Identity.
With a Dramatic Identity, multiple people might post under a given moniker.

With a Sock Puppet, the same person might post under multiple identities. This is similar to the concept of a bot, although the person wielding the sock puppet doesn't necessarily automate the participation of the identity.

As used at TheFreshPress and CafeUtne (at least, perhaps others), the term carries a perjorative sense. Given these sites' policies against multiple identities by non-administrative participants, the use of a Sock Puppet is taken as an attempt to deceive.

By using several Sock Puppets all posting in favour of an idea, a dishonest person can give the impression that the idea has more grass-roots support than it really has.

See also StuffingTheBallotBox, which is a similar concept in a more formal, voting context.

Sock puppets make it harder to enforce "one man, one vote."
Generally, the term "sock puppet" is only used where the various identities interact or reinforce each other in some way. The term originates with the metaphor of carrying on a conversation with oneself using a puppet in each hand.

Sock puppet identities are disruptive in conversation because they are often used so that a person can ask questions of himself and appear to be carrying on a thread between two individuals.

http://www.usemod.com/cgi-bin/mb.pl?SockPuppet

 

[Mr. Robin Parsons]

Originally posted by The_Professional
(SNIP)[/color] Ditto. I certainly can't get over somebody who calls people immature and yet become a perfect example of it. When I look up the words H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E in my big fat Webster's dictionary, I see a picture of you PARSONS.(SNoP)[/color]
BRAVO! Name-calling and personal attacks. That was an excellent display of maturity. for evidence of self same see above...the (SNIP)/(SNoP)'ed part[/color]

Sometimes, when an adult has to deal with a person demonstrating intransigent unreasonablility, childishly, you have license to act as a (little) bit of a child, yourself, as to make the 'other' notice themselves...it's called drawing them out, but that takes an adult perspective to notice...you.?.well, perhaps it is you who are The infiltrator and do not want anything, that might be "Evidential", to be made sooooo obvious, right?

EDIT Sorry Loren...