Text 33642, 106 rader
Skriven 2016-06-01 03:12:30 av Lee Lofaso (2:203/2)
Ärende: European Autonomy?
==========================
Hello Everybody,

Allen Prunty had a few words of wisdom to share in another echo
which deserve a wider exposure -

I think the below text has a lot of wisdom.

Allen


* European Autonomy and Domestic Meddlers
Tom Jennings, 1:125/111
Jun 89

Since I see my name is getting dragged into this, I thought I'd
respond on the subject of Zone 2's autonomy, which is really an
issue of control.

First of all, no one need worry about trademark abuse; I am in
contact with all parties involved, and there is nothing to worry
about. Things will be settled to everyones benefit and
satisfaction. No further discussion is needed on this matter.

It is none of our business how Zone 2 (or any other zone) runs
their network(s), other than how they interface to us, just as it
is no business to net 125 how net XYZ runs theirs, unless it
somehow physically affects our operation. If they have different
criteria for joining a network, what business is it of ours? To
meddle ahead of time "in case they do something awful", is silly;
they are no more (or less) likely to do something stupid than we
in Zone 1 are. Europe is not just the U.S.-only-different; it is
a totally different environment, socially, technically, legally
and politically. Europe is none of our damn business.

Zone 1 is not the police force of the world. Have we not learned
our lessons from other arenas? We do not "have" a unified world-wide
network, nor is such a thing even desirable. What we do have
is a number of cooperative networks, that can cooperate in a
world-wide networking effort. This is a critical difference.

Unfortunately, meddlers and control freaks will not give up until
everything not exactly like themselves is squashed or controlled.
Or they are in turn removed. We have a growing bureaucracy in our
Zone 1 that wants to reorganize us from being a bottom-up
network, where sysops choose their net hosts and other /0's, and
determine how to run their own BBS, nets and lives, to one
(according to POLICY4) where the existing bureaucracy picks their
own region and net hosts. Bureaucrats always tell us, if they can
control this one more thing, then all the problems will be
solved.

Our network has never run smoothly, and I propose that it will
never run smoothly; this is good, not bad. It means we're
alive, only dead rigid bureaucracies are pure order. (Or pretend
they are.) Excessive order is not good for any organism. It
stifles creativity and free expression. Let's take a hint from
history, OK?

                   -=end quote=-

I have lots more stuff written by Tom Jennings.
Should I share?  It is all public information, freely
available on the 'net.  Has been there for years.

Want to know whose idea it was to have zones in Fidonet?
Tom Jennings.  It was all his idea.  But no matter.
He walked away from FidoNet in 1993, well after P4 was
put into place (with his blessing).

There is a reason why Tom Jennings wanted to create
zones.  There is a reason why Tom Jennings opposed the
creation (or recreation) of a one-world FidoZone.

It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out the
reason was KONTROL.  Tom Jennings did not want his buddies
in the US to lose KONTROL over "their" FidoNet.  And zones
was the way to protect them.

A conspiracy theory?  Am I beginning to sound like Donald
Trump?  Perhaps I am.  But in this case, I am right.

Today there are 4 FidoZones.  And each of those FidoZones
has its own dictator/chieftan/whateveryouwanttocallit.
The reality is there are only 2 FidoZones, but four gives
the appearance of something larger even though it isn't.

TJ's talk about trademarks is all bullshit.  Do the math
and it is easy to understand why.

P4 is not a legitimate document, with the writers of the
document too chickenshit to sign their own names.  It was
never ratified by the sysops, nor were sysops given the
opportunity to have a say in the matter.  It was a done
deal, forced upon sysops of that time, and upon future
sysops.  Much better to ignore P4 as cyberjunk, as that
is exactly what it is.

FidoNet is a free association of sysops around the world.
It has no formal structure, and is not a political entity.
And also not a geographical entity.  Just a (mostly)
friendly group of hobbyists having a good time.

--Lee

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