Since we're into puzzles today

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 by Dave Winer.

Marc Canter and many other people think I'm full of it when I say the right number of identity systems for each user is 1. But I am right. And I know it. 

It's a Zen puzzle, almost a riddle, one which a smart user like my pal Ponzi would never be confused by. You have to be a great geek tech genius like Marc to get it wrong.  

Here's the puzzle. If all identity systems you use interoperate seamlessly, grasshopper, how many identity systems do you use? 

Here's a hint. How many email systems do you use? RSS systems? Web systems? The correct answers are 1, 1, and 1.