Subj : Tiers
To   : FRANK VEST
From : FOXY FERGUSON
Date : Mon Jul 16 2001 07:19 am

FV> I'm not sure, but it seems that this thread is getting off the
FV> topic of routing.

Well, now that you mention it, the thread does seem to have drifted a
bit away from the purpose of this echo.... but perhaps there's been no
harm done.

FV> I have not seen any rules posted here and have not been here for long.

We'll see if we can't get a repost of the rules for ya...

FV> FWIW, My intention was to find out why there were more than
FV> one distribution systems in Fidonet Zone 1. I had hoped that
FV> this might lead to something I could write about, without
FV> calling names or degrading anyone, in the Fidonews. It isn't
FV> working that way. :( Not due to any of you... I just can't
FV> seem to formulate the wording to make an article out of
FV> this. IOW, It's me. :)

Hell's bell's, Frank. I lived thru much of the brou-ha-ha that ultimately
led to the current situation and I ain't at all sure that I could describe
it without implications that some would (not "might", WOULD!) object to
most vehemently!

Planet Connect hadn't even burst upon the scene when I first started moving
Fidonet mail. Most nets were locked into CRPs generally run by the NEC and
some NCs were even refusing node number listings to nodes who didn't want
to join a net's CRP. There were three hubs who passed virtually all of the
mail to one another, forming what was refered to as the NAB, often as just
"the 'bone": Souvestre, Peace, and another whose name I cannot now recall
(predecessor of the guy who came before Timmerman, IIRC. Seaborn might
remember who he was).

I watched when NAB internal disagreements caused the first split, and
when Planet Connect went from nothing to being the carrier of over 80% of
the mail of Fidonet. And then started falling almost as rapidly back into
obscurity. I watched the creation and demise of the Fidospine, and then
yet another splintering of a major distribution system as recently as
April of this year.

Like that ancient Chinese curse, been living in interesting times. :)

Kinda fun trying to second-guess which admin echo will next be hit with what
Kay Shapiro once alluded to (albeit not, perhaps, in these exact words) as
the floating-echo Fidonet Wars.

There's certainly ammunition enough in the mail moving part of this hobby for
those whose panties seem to be in a constant wad over something.

And no doubt many will say I'm one of the worst offenders since I don't suffer
fools willingly and have never been shy about speaking up.

100 yrs from now, who'll give a damn?
--- Platinum Xpress/Wildcat! v1.4c
 * Origin: Pogo's (1:361/1)

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