6 ms·

I am not sure. I think I would like the red button to be kept very secret.

by Ardit20 16y ago

bmm6o 16y ago
What does this even mean? The existence of the button? If you're talking about "secret codes" for using it, that's just an implementation of an authentication/authorization scheme.
- Ardit20 16y ago
  The quote and the circumstances in which the quote was made, seems to be advocating a complete ban in regards to secrets from our government. I was pointing out that there are very good reasons at times for keeping certain things secret, such as the "red button" which rather than being a code, is the so called button which send off all the nukes. I know that we as a society, civilisation even, are very adverse to secrets, especially from our government, and rightly so, but secrets in practice are necessary at times. It is their motive which is highly objected to and frankly we do not know what the motive of the secret activities in the United states are. As I posted in another comment, apparently only 0.30% of the people of the United States are involved in such highly secret activities. That seems rather fare to me.
  - bmm6o 16y ago
    > I was pointing out that there are very good reasons at times for keeping certain things secret, such as the "red button" [...]. I'm sorry, I still don't understand what you're suggesting. What would it mean for the "red button" to be secret? Do you consider it to be secret today? Why or why not?
    - hugh3 16y ago
      I assume that the OP was using "red button" as a synecdoche (wow, I finally found a use for that word) for the entire procedure by which the US nuclear arsenal is launched. Which may or may not involve an actual red button at some point. (If I were designing the system, it damn well would.) Now, I assume that launching a nuclear missile is more difficult than ringing up NORAD and saying "Hi, this is the Preisdent, the launch code is XD8-3342-9982", but let's not take that chance, shall we? (Man, I hope I didn't just guess a real launch code. That would be difficult to explain to the nice men in suits.)
- thebigshane 16y ago
  Secrecy is more about keeping details hidden than protecting something completely. If China found out we were developing some new awesome missile defense system (ignore the fact that they never work...) that wouldn't be nearly as bad China getting access to the developers of the system, blueprints, source code, etc.
mkramlich 16y ago
i'd prefer no nuke weapons
- randallsquared 16y ago
  I'd like a pony.
  - mkramlich 16y ago
    that's fine. you work towards getting yourself a pony and I'll work towards a world without nuclear weapons.
    - deleted 16y ago
      [deleted]
    - randallsquared 16y ago
      You might well get it, but keep in mind that the only world without nuclear explosives would be a world in which we are technologically incapable of building them. Not saying that's an impossible dream, but it's sure not my idea of fun.
- deleted 16y ago
  [deleted]

I am not sure. I think I would like the red button to be kept very secret.

by Ardit20 16y ago

I am not sure. I think I would like the red button to be kept very secret.

bmm6o 16y ago

What does this even mean? The existence of the button? If you're talking about "secret codes" for using it, that's just an implementation of an authentication/authorization scheme.

Ardit20 16y ago
The quote and the circumstances in which the quote was made, seems to be advocating a complete ban in regards to secrets from our government. I was pointing out that there are very good reasons at times for keeping certain things secret, such as the "red button" which rather than being a code, is the so called button which send off all the nukes. I know that we as a society, civilisation even, are very adverse to secrets, especially from our government, and rightly so, but secrets in practice are necessary at times. It is their motive which is highly objected to and frankly we do not know what the motive of the secret activities in the United states are. As I posted in another comment, apparently only 0.30% of the people of the United States are involved in such highly secret activities. That seems rather fare to me.
- bmm6o 16y ago
  > I was pointing out that there are very good reasons at times for keeping certain things secret, such as the "red button" [...]. I'm sorry, I still don't understand what you're suggesting. What would it mean for the "red button" to be secret? Do you consider it to be secret today? Why or why not?
  - hugh3 16y ago
    I assume that the OP was using "red button" as a synecdoche (wow, I finally found a use for that word) for the entire procedure by which the US nuclear arsenal is launched. Which may or may not involve an actual red button at some point. (If I were designing the system, it damn well would.) Now, I assume that launching a nuclear missile is more difficult than ringing up NORAD and saying "Hi, this is the Preisdent, the launch code is XD8-3342-9982", but let's not take that chance, shall we? (Man, I hope I didn't just guess a real launch code. That would be difficult to explain to the nice men in suits.)
thebigshane 16y ago
Secrecy is more about keeping details hidden than protecting something completely. If China found out we were developing some new awesome missile defense system (ignore the fact that they never work...) that wouldn't be nearly as bad China getting access to the developers of the system, blueprints, source code, etc.

mkramlich 16y ago

i'd prefer no nuke weapons

randallsquared 16y ago
I'd like a pony.
- mkramlich 16y ago
  that's fine. you work towards getting yourself a pony and I'll work towards a world without nuclear weapons.
  - deleted 16y ago
    [deleted]
  - randallsquared 16y ago
    You might well get it, but keep in mind that the only world without nuclear explosives would be a world in which we are technologically incapable of building them. Not saying that's an impossible dream, but it's sure not my idea of fun.
deleted 16y ago
[deleted]