Talk:Kerckhoffs' Principle/Draft

Translation of second principle

I'd like to take out the first English version given here, leaving the French and the second English version which I think is a better translation. Any comment? Objection? Sandy Harris 02:05, 16 January 2010 (UTC)

My translation would be "The system must not require secrecy, and having it fall into the enemy's hands should not cause problems." Use that? I prefer it to either of the sourced translations. Do we have any French-speaking editors? Sandy Harris 02:28, 16 January 2010 (UTC)

I don't speak French, but I think we have some native speakers and many who are fluent. Howard C. Berkowitz 02:32, 16 January 2010 (UTC)

My take: "It should not depend on secrecy, nor cause inconvenience if it falls into the hands of the enemy." --Daniel Mietchen 13:19, 16 January 2010 (UTC)

For whatever it might be worth, more amusement than value perhaps, two machine translations. Altavista gives "It is necessary that it does not require the secrecy, and that it can without disadvantage of falling between the hands from the enemy." while Google gives "He must not require secrecy, and it can conveniently fall into the hands of the enemy." All the human translations are better. Sandy Harris 16:38, 16 January 2010 (UTC)

Well, this is a confusing one! Maybe : 'The method must not need to be kept secret and should not cause trouble if it falls into the enemy's hands' Celine Caquineau 15:14, 22 January 2010 (UTC)

Formatting of lede

Maybe it's that I'm only halfway through my first cup of coffee, but the formatting of the lede is making my eyes jamgle--I know what a slot machine feels like after the handle is pulled. Cquotes and blockquotes can work if there is only one, or if there's a fair bit of text between them, but this makes my vision jitter.

Nevertheless, the topic is important and there is much solid content. Perhaps a little more summary text in the first sentence or two, before the quotes, might hemp. --Howard C. Berkowitz 14:02, 23 May 2010 (UTC)

Help, not hemp. No, I'm not smoking the article. Howard C. Berkowitz 15:05, 23 May 2010 (UTC)

I've edited some and am now reasonably happy with the intro and "security by obscurity" sections. I don't think the last section is right yet, though. Care to have more coffee, and optionally hemp, and either tackle that yourself or make suggestions? As you say, the topic is important. It would be nice to get this to an approvable state. Sandy Harris 03:56, 25 May 2010 (UTC)

I edited some more & am now reasonably happy with the whole thing. Comment solicited. Sandy Harris 04:33, 25 May 2010 (UTC)