Why CAs or public keysigning?

[Eugene Smiley]

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Ben F. wrote:
> On 18-Jun-2003, Eugene Smiley wrote:
>> A - B
>> A - C - B
>> A - C - D - B
>>
>> A - B is the strong link. A - C - D - B is the weak link. If=
 D is
>> removed it has zero effect on the strong link or the =
validity of
>> B. The connection is as strong as it's strongest link A - B.
>
> What you're calling a "link", most people would call a "path"=
 or
> "chain".  A link, in this context, is a direct connection =
between
> two of the nodes in the path. Each of the hyphens in your
> diagram is a link; each complete line of nodes is a path.
>
> I've no idea what you think is meant by the phrase "A chain is
> only as strong as its weakest link", since you seem to think
> "chain" and "link" are the same thing.

Read back through the archive, I never said this. What you =
attribute
to me was said by Greg Mullane. I was agreeing with his =
statement,
"A "weakest link" refers to a chain, not a web. A chain is only=
 as
strong as its weakest link, but a web is as strong as its =
strongest
strand or 'link'." Therefore my use of the word 'link'.

> However, though your terminology is confused, you are correct
> that a shorter path (or chain) through the web is generally
> stronger -- simply because there are fewer possibilities for a
> weak link along the path.

I'll concede the "confused terminology". ;)

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