what is the difference between the two kinds of brackets?

[Alex Martelli]

James Stroud <jstroud at mbi.ucla.edu> wrote:
   ...
> > I wonder if its the philosophical difference between:
> > 
> > "Anything not expressly allowed is forbidden"
> > 
> > and
> > 
> > "Anything not expressly forbidden is allowed"  ?
> > 
> > - Hendrik
> 
> The latter is how I interpret any religious moral code--life is a lot
> more fun that way. Maybe that percolates to how I use python?

FYI, in Security the first approach is also known as "Default Deny", the
second one as "Default Permit".
<http://www.ranum.com/security/computer_security/editorials/dumb/>
explains why "default permit" is THE very dumbest one of the "six
dumbest ideas in computer security" which the article is all about.

But then, the needs of Security are often antithetical to everything
else we wish for -- security and convenience just don't mix:-(


Alex