At Neustar we used Skype for instant messaging as well as video conferencing. For the most part I ignored the mottos people posted on their profiles, but at one point I asked a young Chinese woman about her choice of an unattributed \u201cGive me liberty or give me death.\u201d She was surprised at being questioned, and said she\u2019d chosen it years ago, that some celebrity had said it. When I suggested the speaker was Patrick Henry, an early American revolutionary, she nodded, \u201cinteresting\u201d though with no look of recognition. When I pressed her as to why she\u2019d chosen these words she said it sounded cool. A young Chinese man had \u201c\u2019Those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.\u2019 \u2013Benjamin Franklin\u201d I asked why he\u2019d chosen this, and we initially exchanged notes resolving his questioning why I wanted to know \u2013 he wondered if perhaps he\u2019d misunderstood the quote, then clarified that freedom is not free. He should fight for it or lose it. When I pressed what fighting for freedom would mean he said you shouldn\u2019t let anyone one else speak for you, that you should speak for yourself.<\/p>\n
I have no motto on Skype, but on Slashdot I have \u201cWir sind geboren, um frei zu sein. \u2013Rio Reiser\u201d Sometimes I find myself wondering just what I mean by this.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
At Neustar we used Skype for instant messaging as well as video conferencing. For the most part I ignored the mottos people posted on their profiles, but at one point I asked a young Chinese woman about her choice of … Weiterlesen