From: Stewart Honsberger <blackdeath@13softhome.net>
Subject: FidoNet + Policy 4 (Subject changed from Fred)
Date: Tuesday, May 04, 1999 12:58 PM

Quoting a message by mnp5@plateau.dyndns.org (mnp5) in alt.bbs:

>>However P4 may have not been ratified, it is what we use to govern ourselves.
>>If you were not violating the spirit of the policy, then they should not have
>>a problem.
>
>Yeah, but fidonet is a democratic network (last I checked) and p4 should
>have been put to a public vote.  Since I've voted for both my NC and RC
>I feel that it's most appropriate if policy documents (which govern the
>whole network and have wide-ranging consequences) are voted on as well.

Following Policy 4 is a clear-cut case of the blind leading the blind.
P4 would presume that *C's have some sort of power. We have no power -
we're clerks. We maintain the nodelist. We can't kick people out, we
can't enforce any sort of behaviour. P4 would have you beleive that we
can.

Since I've been a member of FidoNet, there have been two people kicked
out of our net. Not "excommunicated" from FidoNet, just removed from our
network. One by the former NC, and one by myself. Both were removed due
to an overwhelming majority vote by the network (it should be pointed
out that neither person voted on their own behalf).

If I'd kicked the one guy out without consulting the net, it would have
been my last act as NC.

If our RC kicks anyone out without consulting the region, it'd be his
last act as RC.

If Satti tried to replace our RC, or any NC in our network, it would be
absolutely meaningless. We recognize Satti and his policy about as much
as we recognize American law.

Contrary to popular beleif, FidoNet is NOT a democracy. It is not a
dictatorship, a totalitarian regime, communist - nada. FidoNet is a
co-operative anarchy of hobbyist systems. Nothing more, nothing less.
Those that try to stranglehold their positions of perceived power are
ignored by those who know better.

My system, my money, my rules.

--

= Stewart Honsberger (AKA Blackdeath)
= Web: http://sprk.com/blackdeath ICQ UIN: 3484915
= Remove 'thirteen' to reply privately

... Political Correctness:  Euphemism for censorship