Guest Editorial

Is there a Fidonet Policy?
By Frank Vest

From: "Frank Vest" <flv@texoma.net>
Date: Monday, February 12, 2001 10:26 PM

It's been argued that Fidonet is governed by a Policy known as P4. It's been argued that Fidonet is organized by a Policy known as P4. It's been argued that Policy 4 (P4) is outdated. It's been argued that P4 should be done away with. It's been argued that P4 is the Policy of Fidonet and should be followed. It's been argued....

Let's forget arguing for, against, the existence of, the need for, does it, should it, would it, could it and all that. Let's look at reality. Policy 4 exists. It is a document. It was the Policy of Fidonet. It's isn't the Policy of Fidonet anymore.

WHAT!! How can I say that P4 isn't the Policy of Fidonet?!?

I'll answer that and prove it.

Reality is that any Policy must be enforced in order to be a Policy. True, there may be occasions where a person will "slip" through Policy or violate Policy and get away with it. But, a Policy must be enforced. When a violation is discovered, action must be taken to correct or the Policy is nil. Violations of P4 are happening as this is being written. They are known and no correction has been taken.

What violations, you ask?

P4 states that to become a Node in Fidonet, one must read and agree to abide by Policy 4. There are those in Fidonet that have stated publicly, and even bragged, that they did not read nor agree to abide by P4 in order to get their Node number. In fact, there is a Region in Fidonet that, from the talk, will give a Node number to anyone that asks. Reading P4 and/or agreeing to abide by it doesn't matter. This is known and not corrected.

P4 states that that a certain hour of each day be set aside for transfer of Netmail only. This is known as ZMH (Zone Mail Hour) and is coordinated to have each Node in Fidonet available for Netmail transfer at the same hour each day dependent on time zones. This is violated by Internet only Nodes since they aren't available for dial-up connections. It is further violated by others that allow transfer of other than Netmail during the ZMH. This is known and not corrected.

I'm sure there are other violations that are know and ignored. The point is, that if P4 is ignored when desired and enforced when desired, it can not be a Policy for Fidonet and is no more than a document.

So, where does that leave us?

Simple. it leaves us without a Policy or any way to "govern" this organization except by the "cooperation" of the Nodes that are in Fidonet.

I will be so bold as to state that, from this point on, there is no Policy for Fidonet. Each Node in Fidonet can create a Nodelist and submit it to anyone that is willing to incorporate it into their mailer's Nodelist compiler. Any Node that wishes to add another Node to Fidonet can do so by simply submitting a segment to anyone willing to accept. There are no ZCs, RCs, NCs or any other *Cs in Fidonet. Restrictions are non-existent and anyone can do anything that they please. If someone doesn't like what is being done by someone else, remove that person from "your" Nodelist. No Node can be denied a Node number for any reason no matter how valid, legal, illegal or whatever if someone is willing to add them to their Nodelist. Duplicate Node numbers?? Well, "Life's a bitch", complain to the non powers that be.

Now, I'd suggest that some of the, still active, software authors get busy creating new software that will provide a "control" file to let Nodes filter out unwanted connections and such. Crash, Direct and other versions of Netmail will probably need work as well. The Fidonews is not controlled by any one person as Editor, so if you wish your own Fidonews, create it and distribute. Maybe a new software that will allow direct connects to the Internet for Netmail and, somehow, mesh the Fidonet Node addressing system to the Internet addressing system so that any person that has access to the Internet can get through to Fidonet Netmail. I'm sure that there are other things that will be available now that P4 is gone.

Have fun. And remember, There are no rules unless you allow them.

Regards,

Frank

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