no banning new users.
EXCELLENT CONTRIBUTION.
RxKing, while there's never been any security breaches there's certainly been a few things here and there that are quite concerning, can't recall how long I've seen you around here but 8+ months ago there was something wrong with the search function on SR where something could be typed and it showed encrypted addresses and peoples orders instead of the regular SR page, it was very worrying but was sorted very quickly by admins. Not to shoot you down by any means Just making sure we all don't think this place is perfect and trust it 100%.
And I think I may have misunderstood your last comment a bit but hopefully this is still in line with what you're saying - people around here seem to blindly trust that the title 'hero members' or in my case 'spam buster' and take it to mean everything they say is gospel. I think a bit of doubt and paranoia in this respect would go a long way. There's bound to be some snakes in the grass.
Ok I will address what you said.
But first I want to state that though the tone of my post seems like I am attacking ALL hero members or other members that are worrying about security or anything like that..I am not. I am just stating facts, And I can back up every thing I say with facts. My only angel is that I know a lot of buyers come in here and read these type of post and they hit the panic button and believe that there safety is in danger. And the simple truth it is not.
I do believe that doing extra things to take precaution or using PGP is a good idea in the sense that all it does is add another layer of security and that can never be a bad thing. And I think we would all agree that everything is just that..an extra layer and that is always good. But nothing is bullet proof. And using PGP is a choice and using it can only help you not hurt you BUT I also know that it really does no good except for in the chance SR get compromised and you want eliminate the chance your address can be on the servers. Even if SR does delete everything and it can not be brought back up ...by using PGP and I mean ALWAYS using it, you can eliminate any chance of something happening. That's it. It offers no other protection. So I am not against anything at all. Security is good and the more the better..
But I can't stand the post that are made by a group of vendors that range from HERO to ones with 10 post that make threads and post about the security of Silk Road always being in danger. Or making post that are 100% wrong like wretched original post in here that come form a " lets be careful xxx can happen" when in fact xxx can't. This is an awesome place. We all agree. \\
In 1.6+ years there has been nothing. No vendor has been busted because of SR. No buyer has been in trouble. No LE has set up accounts.
NOTHING.
Those are the facts and I want them talked about not the constant bullshit about this vendor being busted or this vendor being LE. And I can show 100+ threads that a main group always post in and 99% of the time talk about and speculate there is a security branch or something like that and they all have proven false and total bullshit.
I liken this group to a IRL life group that believes the world is going to end in Dec 2012. Most people IRL believe that group is paranoid and wacky and are a lot like the Y2K group. Ir a better example might be the preparers. Like the TV show. Except for in here because they make a lot of post and have titles like HERO next to there name, new people red these post and take what they say for face value and believe it. Even though it is total bullshit!
There is a thread in this forum right now with the title "Honeypot vendor"and you can read for yourself exactly what I am talking about. It is unreal and a perfect example of the bullshit I am talking about. It is right there and black and white. The crazies doing what they do best.. Making up shit and trying to discus a situation that never happened.It is insane. I just want the new and old buyers to realize that Silk Road is a safe place to buy your goodies. Get BTC, use a trusted vendor, place an order, be patient and within a few days you will have your goods. Finalize and enjoy! That is how 99% of the transactions go.
Now as to what you said....
I look at what you do as working on Silk Road to make it a better experience. I have never really read any of your personal post so I have no opinion on you. I understand exactly what you said and I in no way think you were trying to down me or anything like that. And I am not trying to you...BUT
Your first few words is very important...."there's never been any security breaches". FACT
Then you go on to say....."there's certainly been a few things here and there that are quite concerning"
"8+ months ago there was something wrong with the search function on SR where something could be typed and it showed encrypted addresses and peoples orders instead of the regular SR page"
This has ZERO to do with LE or anything like that... but as you say was, for lack of a better term, a coding issue. That's it. And SR was not even a year old and like you said it was fixed right away.
I hardly think that one thing is in any way even worth mentioning. In fact you saying that... I believe ....even cements that much more what I have posted all along.
There has never been a problem with SR. Especially when it comes to LE or anything like that!!
I mean in 1.6+ years and all the post that I know you have read, with all of the so called breaches or this person is a LE or that..the facts are as you would 100% agree.....THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE. EVER!
And the good news in the last 2 months the usual suspects in this... have kind of been quiet.
and that is a good thing!
As for your last paragraph... I don't know what you didn't understand..and I don't think it is that big a deal
But I disagree with your last 2 sentences----"I think a bit of doubt and paranoia in this respect would go a long way. There's bound to be some snakes in the grass"
I do not think paranoia helps in any way at all. And I would be ignorant to believe this is Hawaii and there are no snakes. I just believe in being smart, being cautious, having no paranoia and realizing that even if there are snakes in the grass..they are not black mambas they are gardener snakes. And I as a vendor have 1000x more at risk then 99% of the people in these forums and members of SR. I do not think nothing can happen. But I also do not think every 4th buyer is LE. I do not get paranoid. I get people what they ordered. Very fast. Very stealth. And very safe.
I believe the biggest threat is IRL. Not being on here. This is the last place I worry about.
I really respect those who want to use all the safety features they want. As I believe the IRL preparers have a right to do what they are. I am on the side that thinks they are crazy and wont ever need it. But It is there choice and god bless them.
At the end of the day every one has to do whatever they need to feel safe. Security can't hurt. I just want people to be honest and not post Bigfoot sightings or about the UFO they might have seen.
Post facts.
Like you did! One thing happened 8 months ago that had nothing to do with anything other then a software issue. Not bad for 1.8 years.
The worst thing I have seen is tony76, all the vendors that require FE, the stupid fucking buyers that can't spell there name, The bullshit vendors that have zero customer service and don't take care of their customers, That loser PERKY and the liars in here that try and ruin it for the 99.9% of us that love this place.
But 90% of people that purchase on SR do not post in here. The hero members are in no way the voice of the average buyer in here. Though a lot of them 99% are a huge asset in here and really smart. And without them this place would not be what it is.
I think all of us want one thing.... To come back as Hugh Hefner