Now I know how it feels to be slashdotted. Erk. Anyway - the /. comments have some good points about the adverse implications of warchalking, but it seems to me some people have missed the point - that it's trying to break the cycle of having to open up your laptop, netstumbler etc, before you can find somewhere to hook up to. The visual cue should give you just enough to invest in firing up your hardware and software - no more.
Also, in response to the /. comments - I think that it has the potential to be positive in terms of the strains on sysadmins. If you see the chalk symbols appearing, then you know that you have an exposure to the public - you can deal with this how you will. Some enlightened companies might provide an open node for the public, others may choose to limit access.
And finally - a lot of discussing about the impermanence of chalk. As I think i've mentioned before, it's kind of half 'arty' affectation on my part, and half-practical. Chalk marks impermenance won't piss to many people off and [probably] won't get you arrested*. Also the impermanence means that the symbols have to be maintained, and renewed by the warchalking community - this may ensure a certain integrity to the information, I think.
Thoughts?
» Slashdot | Warchalking Visual Cues To Urban WLANs
Posted by matt at June 26, 2002 12:08 AM(good work on geting slash dotted...)
as one of the original voices about chalking as opposed to permament symbols, I've come round to the chalk. example - if i'm away one weekend or a week, but my connection is in theory available, I might as well open it up to locals. It's no skin off my nose... But instead of broadcasting the fact that i'm away to the world, why not just chalk up a symbol nearby (and probably change the network name, etc while i'm at it to hide the usually private net)
It's the right thing to do. Not all wireless networks will be permies... There will be a constant shifting of boundaries.
Well done sir...
Posted by paulpod at June 26, 2002 12:35 AM