Editorial

"Dead Horses" and "Wet Apes"

I direct your attention to the "Humor in a Fido Vein" section. Skip to that section first. Then come back here.

Ok... Yeah, those are cute, and kind of funny, but they are also "too true"....

We have an organization called Fidonet. It has what passes for a policy. It has members who thump (wank) policy and members who thump (wank) non policy. Those apes that want no policy are attacked by those that have always had policy. Those apes that have always had policy feel correct in their attack "Because that's the way it's always been around here.". Of course, there must be some kind of policy or guidelines or this Fidonet falls apart. The real problem is... The policy that passes in Fidonet doesn't work right. Why?

It's out of date for the times. Get real, ZMH is not that critical now. Most traffic is done via the Internet. Yes, like it or not, Fidonet is part of the Internet which is just a big collection of nets. Crash Netmail, while still useful, is over rated. How often is it used? In some areas Crash mail is probably still used, but most files, Netmail and echomail go via the Internet in some form. Heck, the Fidonews is hatched out via an Internet link. But don't forget the apes. It is written that policy must be obeyed "Because that's the way it's always been around here.".

So, why can't policy be changed?? Come on, do you want to get sprayed with cold water?!? That's what will happen if you try to change policy. Just ask the apes. It's was tried in the "FIDOECHOPOL" echo a long time back, a proposal was being worked on about a year or so ago for Policy5 and, most recently, an attempt was made in the "FIDOPOLS" echo. Guess what? Yup. That "cold water" and them apes got it then and again.

I guess we're riding a "Dead Horse"here.... Speaking of which...

Fidonet has three backbone mail systems in Zone1. Yes, three... Backbone.na, Backbone.zib and Backbone.ww. It seems that there is always a problem with someone or group there. I don't know about other Zones since they haven't spoken out. Maybe that "cold water" got them too? I just wonder why Fidonet needs three echomail distribution systems? Is it just because some can't work with others? Maybe it's just that they are "Providing additional Echos to feed the dead horse to increase performance". Maybe there have been some problems, but are three backbones the answer? It does seem that the apes who want to control these things continue to stop new apes from climbing them stairs "Because that's the way it's always been around here".

Please note that the "FIDOPOLS" echo is still around. Sure, it will die in time. One backbone will remove it for low traffic in time. Maybe others will for some reason(s) as well. Just another "dead horse" that was killed to be ridden.

Speaking of horses again. I really can't wait until the next election in Zone1. Judging from past elections, there will be a lot of "dead horses" to ride. One thing is for sure, the best way to win an election is to be unknown... or have enough supporters to find more "dead Horses" for your opponents to ride than your opponents find for you to ride. Either way, if you're known to anyone, you can bet that all the "dead horses" you have ridden in the past will be brought back to you and there will be "bigger whips" for use on them as well as "new riders", "changing standards", attempts to "revive the dead horse(s)", "blaming", "harnessing several dead horses together" and all that other stuff. Of course, if there aren't enough "dead horses" for you to ride, someone will be happy to kill some new ones for you. Now, you try to say that you'll change policy, but watch out for that "cold water" and those apes that will attack you and don't even think of discussing things. Just get your flame proof underwear out and saddle that "dead horse" that you will be forced to ride.

It's been said that Fidonet is dieing. Nodelist stats seem to agree.

Maybe so.... with all them dead horses and wet apes around, it does smell in places. Of course, that banana has been hanging there for a while too. Yuck! Bet that's a little ripe! You can bet that this will never ever change because "This is the way we've always ridden dead horses". You can't change policy "Because that's the way it's always been around here".

So what's the final score?? I don't know. You decide. Make it quick, before that final horse dies and that banana gets too much riper. Of course, you'd best watch out for that cold water and them wet apes.

Just remember. When all else fails, "Blame the dead horse's parents".

Me?? I say "Promote the dead horse to a *C position. :)

Oops! Looks like this horse is dead. That's ok. I'll just keep going by "declaring that no horse is too dead to ride".