Subj : Notice that...
To   : Oli
From : Al
Date : Tue Feb 08 2022 09:46:40

>>> The nodes are too lame to do anything about the stupid people on top or
>>> their useless non-democratic policy.

Nodes really can't do much since *C's are appointed in most cases. Today there isn't a large pool of appointee's to chose from.

>> Fidonet is not and never was a democracy. It is an anarchy of sorts. As
>> long as it is a cooperative anarchy it can work.

> It was once meant as cooperative anarchy, but it didn't last long. Also
> anarchy doesn't exclude democratic principles. What I mean with
> non-democratic is the for example the idea that a ZC appoints the RCs and
> the RCs select the ZC. I don't know how you call it, but it is neither
> democracy nor anarchism.

The way P4 is written is a recipe for disaster. It's an authoritarian dream come true. We have tried and failed to update policy.

In spite of that fidonet is working, at least as well as it can.

> Fidonet seems to be more guided by the Peter principle. Somehow most of the
> time the management consists of people who are not fit for the job, show
> toxic behavior or both.

Nodes do have the power to effect change, if that is what they wanted to do. There would have to be a concensus among nodes and that is the hard part.

>> Most nodes don't care to get into the politics of fidonet and as long as
>> the mail flows that's good enough. Just leave the politics to the
>> politicians and there are enough of them to make noise.

> That is too simple. Politics and power did disrupt the flow of mails for
> parts of the network (see Fido Classic in R24)

It is simple but I think that is true. Fidonet politics can get nasty/ugly and most nodes just turn away from that.

> Unfortunately most nodes are not interested in their network. They are
> often not even interested in conversations. Many just still hang around
> until they (or their machine) drop dead.

Yep. Unless there is a will for change nothing will change.

> I still wonder what the end game for Fidonet is.

I suspect it will live on much as it is.

>> We can only elect those who choose to run.

> A "No" / "Against" vote is possible. There is no need to elect someone who is
> unable or unwilling to do anything useful.

That looks like an FTSC vote. Only RC's have a vote. Our RC here asks the nodes in the region for their thoughts and he votes accordingly. He doesn't get much input but he does as the nodes suggest.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-5
 * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (21:4/106)

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