--- On Wed, 9/9/09, Eugen Leitl <eu...@leitl.org> wrote:
>
> http://calumog.wordpress.com/2009/03/18/why-you-need-balls-of-steel-to-operate-a-tor-exit-node/
Perhaps this should be reason enough TO run a tor node? Not for Burma/Iran...
but for those of us in the "first world" who are threatened by police states
ourselves? It sometimes takes an unfortunate rude awakening to realize this,
but unfortunately there are no real limits to the police in any country.
I for one no longer subscribe to the "smoke/fire" theory when I see the police
question or even arrest someone, or worse, the papers reporting a crime. When
I see someone resist arrest, I cannot help but wonder "What did the police
officer do that is so unjust, because he (or more likely an unjust law) must
likely have done something to provoke a person to resist arrest despite obvious
overwhelming force!?"
I fear that if they someday come to take my computer, or much worse, my
children, that I might be easily driven mad, the knowledge of my innocence
will provide no comfort. But I will not be stopped by this fear. I run an
exit node to support those who share this fear and who do not want to simply
pretend that the authorities "know what they are doing" or that "they have good
reason", because I unfortunately already know better from first hand
experience.
Run a node for yourself, for the society you live in (it needs it), not just
for those far off in "oppressive regimes". There is plenty of oppression to go
around locally. If they come for you, remember what it feels like to be
innocent (assuming that you are); remember that when they come for your
neighbor (don't assume innocence or guilt, but consider both), and consider
lending your neighbor a helping or comforting hand,
-Martin
