Text 36947, 91 rader
Skriven 2016-10-05 21:19:55 av Lee Lofaso (2:203/2)
Ärende: Spinning FidoWeb
========================
Hello Everybody,

An interesting exchange was overheard between Michiel van der Vlist
and Dale Shipp pertaining to the not so secret FidoWeb -

                    -=begin quote=-

DS>It is not about addiction, nor control.  It is about being a useful
DS>repository of information about echos.

MVDV>Echolists have been used in attempts to control and those
MVDV>claiming an echolist is useful definitely display symptoms
MVDV>of addiction.

The nodelist has been used in attempts to control.  So what?

MVDV>>The users have left for greener pastures decades
MVDV>>ago and they will not come back.

DS>Perhaps in your world, but not in mine.

MVDV>In Z2, which is now about 90% of Fidonet, users, for all
MVDV>intents and purposes, are an extinct species. The last one
MVDV>was spotted in the wild around 1996.

That is very sad.  As I said, users are still an important part of the
fidonet echos that I care about.

DS>The echo I helped moderate for perhaps 15 years is still strong and
DS>viable --- with mostly users and not sysops.  It has consistently
DS>ranked amoung the top five echos in message volume.  There are other
DS>topically oriented echos with a decent amount of participation by
DS>users.

MVDV>You claim to run a bbs but you do not publish the
MVDV>connection info. You also do not tell us which echo you
MVDV>claim to (co)moderate. Your claims are not verifiable.

I share the connection info with my users.   I did not claim to be a
moderator at the present time.  I handed over that role about five years
ago, more or less.  The claim is verifiable by looking at entries in the
Elist a decade or two ago, or by looking at archives of the echo from
that time period.

                      -=end quote=-

Anybody can create a nodelist.  There are several free software
programs available to do just that.  Can a nodelist be used in an
attempt to control?  Yes, given the fact that virtually anything
can be used in an attempt to control.  However, the use (or misuse)
of a nodelist makes things so much easier.

FidoNet is, and has been, supported by both sysops and users.
This should continue, and be promoted.  Not just by some, but
by all.  It is sad that most users have left FidoNet, not just
in zone 2, but in all zones.

More should be done in order to welcome users to return, as well
as to welcome new users.  One way to start is to quit using the
term "users" and begin using more positive terminology, such as
"probationary sysop" - as every "user" is a potential sysop.

Another welcome change would be to allow everyone to participate
in whatever echo they wish - regardless of how much a small handful
of elitist sysops might complain.  General chat echoes are meant
to be for everyone, sysops and probationary sysops alike.

The elimination of moderators would also be a plus.  FidoNet has
never had a tradition of screening messages before posting.  So why
start now?  FidoNet is not usenet.  Those who have the need for a
nanny can use that medium instead.

No elist/echolist has any official status in FidoNet.  Nor should
there be, as any such elist/echolist would only invite abuse.
Those who feel the need to have an elist/echolist can create one
for themselves.  The same software used by Thom LaCosta is freely
available for all, and really quite easy to use.  But hey.  A
scratch pad and a pencil works just as well, and even works when
the electricity goes out.

FidoNet is about communication.  People communicate with other
people.  Whether through the use of technology or by word of mouth,
it is still communication.  Or rather an exchange of communication.
That means sharing a connection with others.  Without that connection,
there can be no communication.  And what good would that do, for a
network that claims to be all about communication?

--Lee

--- MesNews/1.08.05.00-gb
 * Origin: news://eljaco.se (2:203/2)