That's interesting, I would much rather read "the black body specific intensity is given by B_lambda (T) = (2 h c^2 / lambda^5) / [exp(hc / (lambda * kT)) - 1], where lambda is the wavelength, T is the temperature, c is the speed of light, h is Planck's constant (energy divided by frequency for any particle), kT is the temperature in units of energy, and exp(x) = e^x, than "the black body specific intensity is given by twice Planck's constant times the speed of light squared over the wavelength to the fifth power, all over 1 less than e raised to the Planck's constant times C over the wavelength thermal energy power. There's a reason formulas are the language of mathematics and physics. They are concise, easy to parse, and unambiguous. Contrary to your example, it is easy to see scaling relations without having to add the words for what type of proportionality it is (again, there is a symbol for proportionality that lets you write a simple, easy to understand formula for it). Moreover, you can easily manipulate formulas to show something new. Not so with sentences.

I certainly agree to some extent. If you check out the links this goes beyond simple will-power and excitement. It is more biological. This isn't the first time this has been talked about either and even Sci-fi writers though about this issue for long trips in our era (Earth room in Danny Boyles 'Sunshine' comes to mind).

Mood lighting in over-seas flights help with sleeping on modern aircraft too, regardless of the excitement of passengers arriving in a time-zone much different from the one they left in. This is just a silly example that seems to fit with their findings. Yes, long-haul flights are 7 to 20 hours long but it is the closest most of us come to that kind of scenario.

Unfortunately there isn't much to the article. It started off like it had a real purpose but it is barely an introduction to Jaron Lanier.

However, what's important to his arguments and a lot of us who feel 'anonymity' is important is this: Anonymity isn't about hiding. It's about being safe to be yourself.

Your BBS example is important because reasonable parties involved resolving an act that isn't called for. Services like Facebook can do whatever they please the data you provide them with, especially since they can make a penny with marketing it. It gets worse when corporate or government interest moves in to collect this data. It isn't that -you- have anything to hide, but you don't have control where that data goes, or even knowledge to whether it is being protected with the civil-liberties you're supposed to have.

The only thing I can think to compare it to is speeding on the highway. You might be the type who goes 110 in a 100 zone. You might be the type to follow the guy in front of you who is going 130 and hope he gets the ticket. Either way, it's your choice and you know that you're not breaking a terrible law. You can do your best to spot a cop, and adjust accordingly. You're still you, your car, your plates...Your choice. Lets say now that your car is speeding down the highway and you're late, so you speed up a bit. But nope, 80$ warning ticket for 10km/h over the limit. On top of that, you're on your way to an interview and you drive a Toyota Tercel, unfortunately the job is a sale position for a company that makes steering wheels for Honda. The staff see that you like to speed, drive a Toyota and dont plan ahead as not to be late.

Okay, I really reached on the analogy. I don't like the idea of companies getting involved with my personal life. Neither do I want the government and it's fluxing ideals to collect every opinion I've had and judge me for it. This is a real possibility today.