Text 29302, 87 rader
Skriven 2015-12-21 21:45:39 av Lee Lofaso (2:203/2)
  Kommentar till text 29275 av Joe Delahaye (56060.fidonews)
Ärende: Rules of Echomail
=========================
Hello Joe,

 JD>>> Check FTSC

 DD>> FTSC are NOT rules that anyone is obliged to follow - they are
 DD>> documentations of current practice.

 JD> Really?  Current practice does evolve, but, it takes a long time before
the
 JD> 'suggestions' change in the standards.

"Current practice" for one might be totally different from the
"current practice" of another.  What makes "suggestions" become
"standards", and who gets to decide what those "standards" are?
Who gets to enforce those "standards", once those "standards"
are decided upon?  Those are just some of the questions that
come to mind ...

 JD> Any developer worth his salt, will adhere to the present standards,

Who is "worth his salt"?  Who is not "worth his salt"?  What are
"the present standards"?  Are there any standards at all?  Oh, some
folks may agree on some standard(s).  But not everybody agrees on
what those standards are, or what those standards should be.  So
who is to say or decide?

 JD> or risk not having the software being compliant with the software in use
 JD> already.

The world has moved on from the world of DOS.

 JD> Standards are meant to be followed.

Are we to be a slave to the relics of the past, or be free to move
forward to remain relevant in today's world?  The choice is ours to
make, but if we remain where we are we will get nowhere quick.

 JD> That is why most countries, and the world in general, have Standards
 JD> Authorities.  Here that would the CSA

Even the US Constitution had to change in order to remain relevant.
The justices of the US Supreme Court shift their opinions over time,
as society itself changes.  We must treat fidonet the same way.  It
is a community of sysops from around the world.  Not a piece of fine
furniture that should never be tampered with.

 DD>> If they were obligatory we would still be using 300 baud dial up.

 JD> As you well know, that has been changed many years ago.

The world changes.  And we should change with it.

 JD> 300 baud is still used in the nodelist, but as you know, only if you have
 JD> internet connection.

How backwards compatable should the technology fidonet uses continue
to be?  Should fidonet ditch technology that is no longer widely in
use?

Here is a real situation that happened some years ago in South
Louisiana -

A tropical storm came through the area and as a result the local
newspaper lost electrical power.  None of the journalists or other
employees could type their stories or continue their work because
there were no manual typewriters anywhere to be found.  The editor
got on his telephone and called up every business he could think
of, hoping to find folks who had typewriters to lend.  The editor
did not have much success.  Power was eventually restored and the
newspaper wound up being late for publication.  A much thinner
edition than usual.  :)

 JD> My entries in the nodelist have evolved over the years from 1200, 2400,
 JD> 14400 to 56k.  I still have a modem as you can well tell from the
nodelist.

That may be.  But not everybody fits the same boat.  Some sysops
come, then go, then return.  Others are new, and are just getting
their feet wet.  There are limits to how long a technology should
continue to be used.  But, on the other hand, low tech is at times
the best means, and should always be retained.  For example, the
lowly pencil will never be put out to pasture ...

--Lee

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 * Origin: news://eljaco.se (2:203/2)