[GHFigs]

I included no clues as to my identity, less because of fear of retribution, and more because invasion of privacy is all the more frightening when it is committed by an absolute stranger with no chance of discovering their identity.

Disgusting. Sowing fear is not education.

[Confusion]

Making people aware of what they fear (and what they should fear) is exactly something that education does. People aren't wearing seatbelts, because they aren't afraid enough of what may happen in case of an accident. Proper education on the consequences would instill fear. People only take precautions to prevent against harm based on their fear of being harmed. There is no other motivator for such behavior.

[gloshuertos]

Really? Users shouldn't be afraid of the consequences of something they believe to be benign? I didn't send Starbucks patrons home weeping to cry themselves to sleep. I fully concealed my identity in the same way an actual attacker would.

[GHFigs]

There is no distinction between you and an "actual" attacker. You seem to have labored within a nimbus of self-righteous nerd egotism that someone more criminally minded might not have but you are not in any way more entitled to violate a person's expectation of privacy.

You are not a hero. You have not done anybody a favor. You did this for the same perennial excuse of "spreading awareness" trotted out by any number of noxious social irritants and did so not by the means most efficient or effective, but the means readily available and most likely to satisfy your urge to feel superior to your fellow man.

You may actually care about the problem and take it seriously in other circumstances, but that is not reflected here. There is no security problem for which "exploit the problem to harass strangers in coffee shops" is the solution.

[adbge]

> There is no distinction between you and an "actual" attacker. You seem to have labored within a nimbus of self-righteous nerd egotism that someone more criminally minded might not have...

That sounds exactly like a distinction to me. A fireman would break into a house to save a child. A burglar would break into a house to steal valuables. One intends harm, the other doesn't.

> did so not by the means most efficient or effective, but the means readily available and most likely to satisfy your urge to feel superior to your fellow man.

There's no such thing as true altruism. Why he did it isn't relevant. People feel good about doing good deeds. Sure, they say "I want to help people," but they really mean something more along the lines of "I want to feel good about myself."

Further, why would it be necessary for him to choose the most effective or efficient means? He owes these people nothing.

> There is no security problem for which "exploit the problem to harass strangers in coffee shops" is the solution.

Maybe not the best or even a good solution, but it's certainly still one. ;)

[GHFigs]

One intends harm, the other doesn't.

...but then...

Why he did it isn't relevant.

I am at least as uncertain as to what your position is as you are. Also...

He owes these people nothing.

Nothing, of course, except the common courtesy of not violating their privacy. Yes, even in New York.

[mike-cardwell]

Is there also no difference between somebody entering your house without your permission to warn you about something, because they fear for your safety, and somebody entering your house to burgle it?

You should probably replace "harass" with "inform" in your comment. It would be more accurate, and less emotive.

[GHFigs]

Suppose you wake up tomorrow and discover that someone has left a note in an unfamiliar hand on the bed beside you. The note reads "You should put bars on the windows. Something bad might happen." It is not signed. You cursory search of your home reveals nothing obviously amiss. All the windows are shut and locked. You have no idea how someone could have gotten in.

Suppose you leave it be for the day. You've got more important things to do than blindly react to mysterious messages, haven't you? So day slips into night and before long it's morning again. You find another note:"Really wasn't kidding about the bars thing. I won't send another message after this -- it's up to you to take your security seriously." Same as before, nothing obviously missing, all windows and doors closed and locked. You have no idea who this is or why they are doing this. You have no idea if you can trust them.

How do you react?

[mike-cardwell]

Differently to how I would react if I was burgled.