Subj : Re: What happened?
To   : Charles Pierson
From : Nick Andre
Date : Sun Nov 15 2020 03:37 pm

On 15 Nov 20  13:35:23, Charles Pierson said the following to Nick Andre:

CP> Generally speaking, I would agree. Although I have mentioned expanding mobi
CP> access in ways, such as QWK or similar offline readers, or even a potential
CP> BBS package in places, and at best, I've seen indifference, usually it's mo
CP> common to be asked why I would want such a thing.

I'm not disagreeing but have yet to see anyone not embrace another QWK or BBS 
package. Most Sysops love tinkering with new BBS-related things. Every time a 
new version of Mystic, Synchronet or my mailer D'Bridge is published, Sysops 
just can't *wait* to get their hands on it.

But again, Fido Sysops are usually reluctant to have any Internet platform
integrate with Fidonet. Doesn't matter if it has admins blocking spam or
whatever. Some Sysops just don't like it. Some don't even like having Echomail
being made available on someone's web server for Google searching. Theres just
something about wanting to keep it close-knit and away from Internet platforms
and search engines. And BBS Sysops *love* their setups. They find something 
and stick with. You will pry D'Bridge and Renegade from my cold dead hands.

I know you didn't mention Telegram but its kindof the same reason why we don't
use NNTP for Echomail distribution or distributed DNS or XML-formatted
nodelist segments or embedded graphics and links in messages or whatever
bright ideas are mentioned every few years or so in this echo and elsewhere. 

Its also why UTF-8 is a disaster and even getting an idea as to whats
"standard" in Fidonet requires a lot of digging around a mess of FTSC 
documents. As a Fido developer I can tell you its not easy writing Fido 
software. Kludges and tacked-on illogical crap like MSGID/REPLY nonsense,
abandonware being used by many Sysops that strips Seen-by lines and generally 
a bunch of bandaids upon bandaids to keep it going. Thats to say nothing about
the upcoming 2038 date problem.

Every couple of years, someone such as yourself will ponder here or 
elsewhere why new ideas are often rejected or why its difficult to attract
newcomers. Simple answer is if Sysops want the Internet, they use the
Internet. Sysops love their software, its personal to them.

And Fido software itself is just too "techie" for the average person. To get a
node number, a newcomer must agree to a slew of things in Policy 4. You try
explaining that to a non-techie person, about mailers and editors and
nodelists. Not happening my friend.

Nick

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
 * Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (1:229/426)

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