alex.Aug 7, 2023
LeaKissner

This paper has comprehensively demonstrated why you don't roll your own anonymization (unless extremely qualified). It's pretty epic:

https://www.insidehighered.com/sites/default/files/2023-07/ejmr_paper_nber(1).pdf

... It also demonstrates that a bunch of
economists will say a lot of hateful things (sexist, racist, homophobic, and antisemetic) if they think they're anonymous. So many people are trying to get this replaced by a moderated alternative.

Paper is worth a read to drop your jaw at the terribleness of either angle. Or both.

Aug 7, 2023 at 3:04amWeb
Show threadWilliam D. JonesAug 7, 2023

@leak >hortly after introducing this scheme EJMR’s pseudonymous administrator “Kirk” wrote “...for example you can see this post is also from me by looking at the fddf2 on the left. But I’ll give you a million US$ if you can guess my ip.”2 That IP address—twelve years ago—was almost certainly 188.220.40.122.

I love this XD

Show threadRev. GothAliceAug 7, 2023

@cr1901 @leak In some locales, verbal (or written-informally) offers such as this are legally binding contracts.

Careful with the casual boasts, techbros. Anyone can create a cryptosystem they, themselves, can not break. Doesn't mean a children's speak'n'spell can't crack it. And in this case, a Barbie edition S'n'S would almost be all that is required. It's hilarious.

At least MY cryptosystem is equivalent to a one-time pad. :shakes head sadly: Or ROT-13 if you use the letter N as your key. 😟

Show threadevacideAug 7, 2023
@leak This paper is a wild ride. Daaaaaamn.
Show threadCassandrichAug 7, 2023
@evacide @leak The getting more bits with different topics was 💯
Show threadLeaKissnerAug 7, 2023
@evacide I wish we had room for them at PEPR this year, everyone would love it, but the program is *packed* with great stuff already.
Show threadBerslAug 7, 2023
@leak Page 7: "be neigh impossible"
Show thread13 barn owls in a trenchcoatAug 7, 2023
@leak that's an incredibly good read
Show threadTaylor R CampbellAug 7, 2023
@leak Far from the most important part of this paper, but did the authors claim the $1m prize for guessing the IP address of fddf2 offered in the quote on p. 3?
Show threadMatt PalmerAug 7, 2023
@riastradh @leak that thought crossed my mind, too.
Show threadLeaKissnerAug 7, 2023
@riastradh I suspect that: 1) this is their attempt 2) they strongly doubt it's going to happen or if the person in question even has that money.
Show threadAshtonAug 7, 2023
@leak hardly surprising on either accounts. Anonymization is hard, and Econ is largely an attempt to make right wing politics technocratic and acceptable to the masses.
Show threadMrAptronymAug 7, 2023
@leak Huge 'oofs' all around.
Show threadmadwonkAug 7, 2023
@leak The (relatively progressive) YouTube Channel Unlearning Economics did a video about this a few years back, with a whole section on EJMR! Highly recommended to get more info on the background/toxicity issues within the field, it was really eye-opening at least to me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeMcVo3WFOY
The Toxic Culture of the Economics Profession

YouTube
Show threadBill RickerAug 9, 2023
@madwonk @leak oh, thank you. Moderately Progressive Economics is an interesting niche to follow.
Show threadkætAug 7, 2023
@leak The salt was null! Priceless.
Show threadFlorian EdererAug 7, 2023
@leak Thanks so much for all your excellent discussion and comments on our paper. If you have more, please don't hesitate to send them our way.
Show threadLeaKissnerAug 7, 2023
@florianederer Thank you for the paper! It's great to see such a mix of interesting technical aspects and interesting human implications. It was a great read and I've been passing it around liberally.
Show threadDamien MillerAug 8, 2023
@leak so you're saying they should have hashed it instead? 😛
Show threadLeaKissnerAug 8, 2023
@djm They *did*!