Text 22656, 123 rader
Skriven 2011-10-24 15:45:43 av Richard Webb (1:116/901.0)
  Kommentar till text 22655 av Janis Kracht (1:261/38)
Ärende: FidoNews Vol. 28 No. 43 Editorial
=========================================
Hi Janis,

On Sun 2011-Oct-23 22:19, Janis Kracht (1:261/38) wrote to Richard Webb:

<snip>
JK> Ah.. Well, I can hope that with the designs that the internet brings
JK> us we'll see more innovations - there is still software to be
JK> written - such as software that will allow people to pack up
JK> messages on a web forum, reply offline, and upload them to the
JK> source like qwk mail.  Vince Perellio was recently inquiring about
JK> just that for a friend of his, in the the facebook fidonews group. 

YOu know that's so weird, we've had it for years, the usenet users use the same
nntp to transfer the articles they want
from their favorite newsgroups, a little less efficient, but all of a sudden
these web forum guys are starting to figure
out that they need to reinvent a wheel we gave 'em 20 years
ago!!!

I'm still working on my next in the toolbox series on Tom
HEnderson's group and how a similar concept might work to
give those folks what they want with the folks like FIdonet
helping them reach an audience that won't come to a java
based web site, etc. etc.

>> much rather think      of our "today"'s entrepreneur's as the body
>> of fidonet, finding ways      to make things better for the
>> community they love.

>Indeed, I would too, and think entreprenurship will survive, but wonder if the
> telecom giants will be so adept at
> delivering service "right here right now" to us that we'll
> eventually lose the desire to innovate in the telecom world.

JK> hehe.. could be.. but then sometimes you see silly commercials on TV
JK> for things like Iphones.. (I'm locked out of my house!  I don't know
JK> how to change a tire!) Eh.. Can people get any lazier or less
JK> responsible ??? <bg>  Like the Iphone will be their saviour...

OF course, as long as we can sell you something, no reason
to have to learn anything.  We'll provide even simple
knowledge, or access to somebody who has it, all for a
price.  My kids didn't get access to a vehicle to drive
until they knew how to change a tire; check the oil; check
tire pressure, etc. etc.  IT was a requirement.  IN fact, at times they'd ask
my dad and I why we were that way about it, and tell us we were unfair.  tHeir
statement "this is unfair dad."  My response, yes, it's unfair to the other
youngsters that their parents don't teach them these things and instill some
responsibility.

> expect.  Their cellular carriers brought in portable cell
> sites to the sports stadium where they were temporarily
>located, and they had their e-text and their phones.  But as I posited in that
> piece, they can't always ramp up fast
> enough or with enough infrastructure.

JK> Yeah, I can believe that.

There's always going to be the big one that overwhelms, you
can't get enough equipment there fast enough!

> I'll tell you a little story here from my week marooned on
> hospital Island in NEw ORleans.  I'd slip out to the little
> patch of cement that was above the water where us evil
> smokers congregated, and on the way I'd see folks bartering
> or paying good money, not just for cigarettes, but for use
> of somebody's cell phone if they had a carrier that could
> give them a dial out.  THE going rate seemed to be a $5 bill for a chance at
> getting a connection.
<snip>

JK> Oh yeah..I can only imagine what that was like.

> across her shoulders and tell her to come up to the radio
> room on the fourth floor and we'd get her fixed up with a
> message to whoever she was wishing to contact, no money need change hands.
> I had plenty of takers that week believe me <grin>.

JK> No doubt in my mind there will always be a place for ham radio..
JK> though I guess as you say, it's getting younger people interested in
JK> it that is the problem. I think Fidonet is more fortunate in that
JK> respect.. we do still draw young folks.  We need to get them
JK> involved _in_ fidonet though.  I try to do this every chance I can.

True, and those we get often aren't introduced to the real
training they need because the mentoring doesn't happen.
They prepare for the license examinations off a web site or
in classes that work on the principle of rote memorization,
whereas back in days of yore you had a mentor.  This as the
ham radio world fragments into various interests.  BAck in
the days when mentoring was the primary entry route
everybody learned the same basic skill set, because it was
required.  NOT so today.  There are folks who are interested in digital
communications who may get licensed who never
learn anything at all about the analog side, i.e. how to
conduct themselves during organized network activity, etc.
At a time when mentoring is most needed we have less of it.
Fidonet is fortunate in that regard, if you're interested
enough at all to get involved you have somebody to turn to
which can help you understand what's happening.  Witness
some of our recent discussions in fn_sysop and z1c with a
fairly new sysop and nc and our working to get him up to
speed on the history and culture that made FIdonet what it
is.

>> I have to admit though, I did love Richard's line about
>> Scotty's      transporter :) :) :)  (being a trekkie and all that
>> <grin>)

> YEah I know, I'm more like BOnes, I'm not sure I'd want my
> atoms scattered around by that thing, maybe it wouldn't put
> me back together correctly <grin>.

JK> hahaha :)
I can see it now, as it's trying to put the guy's lower half together it goes
blue screen <g>.



Regards,
           Richard
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 * Origin:  (1:116/901)