Ol' WDB's Column

OL'WDB's Column
wdbonner@pacbell.net

Today as I read through the tangled mess of opinions in various echoes I became more and more aware that there is total chaos in certain posting mentalities' comprehension processes. It has long been my own way of life to live and let live, accept anyone as a warm human being, and promote a strong tie of good will. True, with some I have failed, and with others have resolved any differences. In fact I am at the moment in harmony with everyone I know in the world; except those I can count on one hand, who seemingly cannot agree with anyone, about anything, even each other most of the time.

After reading many times some wise crack, or if you will, "Smart Alex" negative and usually demeaning reply or remark to our *C's and our Editor, denying any "authority", "chain of command", or that "hierarchy" exists in our elected (or appointed), Fidonet officers, I was appalled. It is hard to understand how a Zone or Region can hold an election and it be totally denied those mentalities' minds.

Reading that Policy4 is without spirit and in general is meaningless, is hard for me to comprehend the line of reason. I had to read and agree to abide by those guide-lines in order to be accepted into my net, and be given a Fidonet address. True some things have changed and our officers have made allowances for changes in technology. This doesn't require us to junk the entire document.

Those that scream you can't change the Policy unless every Zone on earth approves the changes are wrong in my opinion. Common sense tells us that the Zones are varied and vastly different in culture. How one Zone reasons with the translated words of Policy, and the technology of that area, just may not be, and most likely isn't, identical to other Zonal interpretations. That is why it is a GUIDELINE and not cut in stone.

The proclaimed freedom by those nay-sayers from their perceived "evil Fidonet officers, and Policy4's guidelines", that we are expected to go by in our use of Fidonet, leaves me with one word to those mentalities... If you can't comply with the guidelines, the instructions of your NC, RC, ZC or IC... GOODBYE!

Ol'wdb