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When I was 13

When I was 13 I opened up my BBS. I ran it for 5 years til the Internet grabbed hold of me in 1989 through the Freenets. I was a member of net 110, and I was damn proud. Most kids who ran BBSes only had them for 6 months or to trade warez. I chose not to. And, my board received some respect from the old farts of 110 and they gave me a node. I don't even remember the node. It was probably 500 for all I can remember.

The one thing I do remember was the incredible fact of echo mail. It linked me to so many people. What I also remember is that bickering and politics. I look at internet politics, and it's the same just not so British I guess. The British parliament is accustomed to name calling, and far more bitter epithets than the US House and Senate. However, the House and Senate have their moments.

I was just looking at an issue of Fidonews. It's been a while since I have. I'm kind of chuckled to see the same old fighting for control of the net. Whose net is it? I always thought you put FidoNet on your BBS so everyone who logged on could use it. And, I don't think anyone gives a real shit about FidoNet these days. Frankly, the squabble is over a net that is a dying breed (pun intended). It has its use, but the Internet has really taken a liking to the mainstream, and the Fidonet is really more or less the old school club of SysOps.

I think my point is that why are you fighting. Why aren't you finding a way to show why FidoNet is a professional network, and it still has its uses in some way. Maybe, Fidonet isn't as big in the US, but certainly the other zones who can't afford systems with Windows 95, 98 or NT certainly are still using DOs and Win 3.1. Frankly, you are a bunch of children, and I'm almost ashamed to even say I was part of the net. I'm 22 now. What's the deal boys and girls?

"I swear - by my life and my love of it - that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine." - John Galt in Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

Aaron Freed -- page@simon.sfsu.edu --
http://simon.sfsu.edu/~page/ [faulty URL [jb 4/25/01]]

ED. It sure is something to think about, is it not? Why all the fighting and the bull that is generated.