On Tue, 27 Dec 1994, Amanda Walker wrote:
To a large degree, in fact, it depends on the contents of the article being
signed (just as does a paper document, wherein multiple signatures may denote
any number of different sets of semantics depending on the context and
contents).
As an interesting data point, the check account for the local public
access Internet provider here in Brisbane requires two signatures on
checks for them to be valid. However, nowhere on the check does it say
"There must be two signatures on this check for it to be valid". Someone
who received a check with only one signature would not know that something
is amiss until they actually took it to a bank to clear it. So, even in
the real world, information about multiple signatures is not supplied on
the message (the check). It is determined by context (the clearing
process).
Cheers,
Rhys.
P.S. I used the yankee "check" instead of the aussie "cheque" so I
wouldn't confuse anyone. :-)
--
Rhys Weatherley, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
E-mail: rhys(_at_)fit(_dot_)qut(_dot_)edu(_dot_)au "net.maturity is knowing
when NOT to followup"