I mean, I think I wrote[1] that I really dislike the connection between identity and phone numbers. I happen to use Telegram at the moment (I have exactly 5 contacts, one of those is the Telegram 'we updated the software' bot, another one is a random 'Sticker' bot), but I'm an xmpp guy deep down. Matrix looks promising, I just need to find the time/energy to make the switch (and convert the 3 'real' Telegram contacts).
If you look at the thread with tptacek I do have to agree that the safest bet probably is Signal right now - if it leaks the phone number or not. I don't have to like it though...
1: If you look at my comments it seems that I repeat that in every other one, but English isn't my native language. Please blame the language barrier first, then blame the human behind the message.
To me, remarks like this one read as "Eh, if Signal is not to your tastes, no big, but no reason to trash it either." But the article and I and others here are saying, "Yeah, no. This is not the same thing as picking a phone because you like red more than blue. This is more like refusing the blue one because it explodes sometimes when you answer it."
For people for whom lives are on the line, this goes a lot deeper than personal preference.
Yes, you (and I, let's not forget that we kinda agree that this is bad design) might not want to share your private phone number just to contact someone via Signal. But I feel you're painting this a bit too black or white.
If lives are at stake or not, Signal might or might not be the right solution. If people feel that their life is at risk, I hope they know how to evaluate the trade-offs - or have someone around that can explain it.
We both don't like Signal. I don't agree that it should be dismissed and emotional appeals are ~questionable~, can probably be turned around (see first paragraph). Individual decisions need to be made and if Signal is a good fit or not for a specific scenario isn't an good indicator about the general fitness of Signal in general imo.
While you may hope that they know how to evaluate the trade-offs or have someone around that can explain it, many people live life under very risky circumstances and an uninformed choice can be the last choice they make.
No, I am not painting this a bit too black and white. Alive or dead is a pretty black or white thing and many people live lives where death dogs their steps. This is not an appeal to emotion or hyperbole. This is a fact.
If it isn't that big of a deal for you, cool. Glad to hear your life is fairly comfortable. But I do think it matters that informed, knowledgeable people discussing it on a forum with a strong reputation for being a good source of technical information (as well as other kinds of information) is a place where someone needs to make it very clear what the potential consequences are for people who live in dangerous circumstances and don't have the technical background or connections needed to figure this out.
Yes, I'm living a comfortable life (if we define that as "Not worried about dying"). I seriously cannot imagine what people in those situations might go through.
But regardless of one's technical skills, I believe that someone cautious about giving up their phone number would stop and reconsider when Signal wants you to provide your phone number? I also really hope (for the sake of the people you stand up for) that getting a random / anonymous SIM card, a 'just for close friends and family' phone number is something that is well-known and good practice?
I .. don't want to dismiss your opinion. Honestly, I'm _still_ convinced that we feel the same about Signal. Let's turn this around: What would you _hope_ for here? What do you expect or wish for? What do you criticize exactly?
I am not trying to argue with you. But I think this is a distinction worth making. We don't know who all is reading. People in real trouble often cannot ask questions. They may only be able to read. In which case, it matters if someone points out such a detail.
Thank you for engaging me.
Whether you are a journalist or an abused individual hiding from the ex spouse/parents/whomever that abused you, if your life and/or the lives of other people are on the line, this detail (and perhaps others, as I am not super technically literate) is a serious deal breaker.
It has nothing whatsoever to do with some kind of vague, hand-wavy preference, like preferring red phones over blue ones because you like the color red. It has to do with "If I use this, will I or others end up dead, maimed, in jail for a lot of years or otherwise basically have one's life utterly ruined?" Like that movie scene where they blow up everything "because you made a phone call" (Enemy of the State, IIRC).