Yonah writes:
"...I am also waiting for someone to put up chalkmarks on my driveway - even if I did it myself, I would probably have very few people 'hanging out' as I live on rural street in suburban NYC. (However, I can just imagine coming home one day to find a stranger on my patio with his or her laptop plugged into my outdoor outlet :) ).
But here is an interesting thought. Obviously much has been said about the whole free vs. paid network scenario, but what about people who war chalk corporate nets. Take the following two situations:
- Warchalker A stumbles across an unsecured network run by XYZ company. Someone from XYZ company sees him marking up the street outside their building, and has him arrested for technological trespassing. Granted, one could argue that if the network were truly private, it would be better secured, but the company might still have a case.
-Wachalker B sees warchalker A's markings, with no indication as to whether the net is private or not. He boots up and starts using it, only to be caught by someone from XYZ. Is he liable? Maybe!
I know that your initial intent was KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) but in addition to the 'paid' network symbols of $ that people have been suggesting, we might also need a symbol to indicate that access privileges are unknown.
As for the Pay-per-use Wi-Fi chalk marks, I don't see the point. Starbucks in the US advertises their wireless connectivity like crazy. Other spots that have it would too, courtesy of Boingo, T-Mobile, Joltage, etc.
Wasn't the whole point of the Hobo Markings a cryptic sign for those in the know to get a FREE meal? Hoboes wouldn't tag a restaurant if the food was good, but you had to pay for it, would they?"
>> -Warchalker B sees warchalker A's markings, with no indication as to whether the net is private or not. He boots up and starts using it, only to be caught by someone from XYZ. Is he liable? Maybe! <<
Assuming XYZ knew what the markings meant (which they'd have to, to know Warchalker A was up to something), they would likely have erased the marking. Given that they didn't (in this scenario), Warchalker B could easily scream "entrapment", get any charges dropped, and possibly publicly embarass XYZ if a big enough stink was made.