Editorial

With this issue, I am resigning as Editor of the FidoNews.

In the established practice of all FidoNews Editors in Fido history, I am urging the International Coordinator to accept the appointment of Henk Wolsink as the new FidoNews Editor effective with issue 1533, and am asking that the FidoNet Nodelist reflect this change.

The reasons for my resignation have become obvious to many over the last few weeks as an ill-informed effort to force information out by coercion and harrassment in various echoes has taken a new and more menacing twist.

In the fine traditions established by their apparent idols and role models of Winter and Germer in Zone 1, several have now moved beyond the realm of FidoNet and made the distinctive effort to force their ways into the private lives of others...even persons who are not a part of FidoNet.

This includes a number of acts, including the distribution of a private phone number by persons once trusted; harrassment of a local businessman (who has never been involved in FidoNet in any form) by the posting of his private business phone; the distribution of a description of personal vehicles, as well as license numbers; the use of investigators to delve into the privacy of matters outside the realm of FidoNet or even myself; and, a credible claim that pictures have been taken of the interior of the home of the family that I rent from, as well as other less well-documented actions that have been observed or reported to me.

All of this, simply because I hold opinions that are different from the 'mob mentality' currently engaged in the destruction of Zone 1 FidoNet in the name of "democracy".

What protection might have been offered by FidoNet Policy has been rendered useless by an administration more interested in how many hats someone wears than by what constitutes smooth operations and excessively annoying behavior.

It seems that the idea of the free discussion of ideas in FidoNet has been replaced with the concept of the invasion of personal privacy, and the posting of personal details that have nothing to do with Fido itself...or worse, with those who have nothing to do with whatever differences may exist.

Moreso, the idea seems to be to 'argue the person' and not 'argue the idea'...nor are these attitudes directed at myself alone.

This time, however, innocent bystanders are involved, and because of the threats being made, both directly and by inference, I cannot with good conscience risk the personal safety or the privacy of my landlords and friends beyond this point.

Would that I had not had the recent surgery, and were able to move into my own residence, things would be different...but that is not the case, and I am otherwise helpless to act at this time to protect the family who has taken me in.

But, I can at least let it be known the reasons why I have been forced to take these actions.

The past few issues have carried the title "This edition published under duress" for the simple reason that efforts of this sort were carried out not to benefit FidoNet, but rather to prevent me from posting my own opinions without endangering the privacy of others.

And a free press is critical to any real democracy, regardless of the self-serving mouthings by those who have engaged in this unprecedented effort to invade personal privacy.

As a result, and effective with this issue's publication, I will withdraw from active participation in FidoNet, save in those echoes where I have previous commitments; as well, I will be considering my withdrawal from FidoNet altogether, since extortion, witchhunts and terrorism seem to be the new 'standard' by which we are being allowed to move towards.

With that, I release the FidoNews to Henk Wolsink, in the hopes that a free press will not be smothered or threatened by remaining inside of Zone 1 any longer.

-zf-

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