Jan 25, 2007 12:00 PM

Rants: Security Facts, Feelings

Here’s what a few of you had to say about some of our recent stories. To post a remark in our feedback forums, enter your comments in the text box at the end of any story (registration required). Additionally, you can jump in on the hottest discussions about our most popular blog posts through the […]

Here's what a few of you had to say about some of our recent stories. To post a remark in our feedback forums, enter your comments in the text box at the end of any story (registration required). Additionally, you can jump in on the hottest discussions about our most popular blog posts through the links at the bottom of this page.

Re: In Praise of Security Theater
By Bruce Schneier
From: Eric Likness

You hit the nail on the head once again. Security theater is a necessary evil, but it had better be applied correctly. I love your pragmatism in the scenarios you described. It proves you're not a zealot on a religious crusade over how best to manage security. Sometimes you have to account for the human element in the process. Security is a continuum, and you have pointed this out through every Wired.com article. I cannot thank you enough for getting your writing on to Wired.com -- I'm glad you have a wider audience for your writing. You're a genius, so keep on writing.

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Re: In Praise of Security Theater
By Bruce Schneier
From: Daniel Bell

This is a slippery slope. Although superstitious beliefs may make people feel better, they don't change the real (mathematical, measurable) probabilities at all. As you said, security theater costs money. That money could be better spent on security measures that actually accomplish something.

This country has swung way too far in the direction of believing whatever we want to, instead of what is objectively true (often under the guise of "faith" or similar appeals to emotionality). The Republicans elevated this to an art form during the last presidential campaign. We don't need to encourage people to think (or vote or act) with their "guts" instead of their brains.

I think that we'd be better off as a society if we put our efforts into encouraging technical literacy, scientific rationalism and critical thinking. People need to learn to feel better when they understand the real risks and do whatever they reasonably can to reduce them.

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