Articles

• A Slanted Look at BBSs
• 2002 Off Centre Rally - The Big U

A Slanted Look at BBSs
By Frank Vest
1:124/6308.1

A Sysop and a User in the Fidonews echo recently had a small conversation about Fidonet. The Sysop views Fidonet as a network of Sysops where a User is sometimes a pain in the butt. The User seems to feel that Fidonet is somewhat opposite of this.

I'll agree that Fidonet, in the technical sense, is a network of Sysops. The Sysop configures the software, hardware, has the phone line(s) installed, gets the internet access and all the stuff that makes the Fidonet Node function. That's why the name "Sysop", from "Systems Operator".

On the other hand, let's look at a bit of the history of Fidonet. Tom Jennings said that the most basic part of Fidonet is the BBS.

What many a Sysop doesn't realize/recognize is;

Fidonet was created for the BBS. Fidonet did not create the BBS. There were BBSs around before Fidonet. The purpose, and creation, of Fidonet was to allow communication between these BBSs.

This is much the same as the internet. The internet didn't create networks. The internet was created because networks needed/wanted a way to communicate between each other.

Even the Fidonet Nodelist reflects this. After the Node number in the Fidonet Nodelist is a field for the BBS name (or, name of the system). If Fidonet were only a network of Sysops, why bother with a BBS name field there? That field could just as easily be left out, or be made a "user" flag.

Yes, I realize that this is changing.... sad, isn't it? The "BBS Name" field is being used for the IP address of internet Nodes. I am not saying that this is bad... just sad that the field, that was once used by programs to make lists of BBSs and find the name of a BBS in your area, is being replaced. However, this article isn't written to discuss the format, or use, of the Nodelist.

Anyway;

Without the Users in Fidonet, there would be little reason to have 600+ message echos. One message echo would do just fine. All of the Sysops could connect there to complain about policy, each other and whatever. Netmail would be where Sysops complained in private about other Sysops. The one message echo would be where the Sysops praise the ones they complain about in Netmail. Um.. er.. uh.. that sounds familiar... :-)

Yes, Users can be a pain in the butt. Of course, that is why the Sysops who still run a BBS make rules for their BBS. That is why BBS software generally has security levels, "banned lists" and other security options to deal with the pain in the butt User. In the long run, however, the User is the reason for Fidonet to exist... just as much as for the internet to exist. Without the Users, the Internet dies. Without the Users, Fidonet dies. Of course, there are those that think that Fidonet will still be operating. They are correct. Fidonet will be running as a bunch of Sysops with 600+ message echos having no messages except the occasional "Is anyone here?" posted by some Sysop that happened to be bored that day.

Personally, if it weren't for the Users on my BBS, I'd probably drop Fidonet and the BBS. I enjoy having Users call my BBS, play the games, read the message areas and other stuff. That's why I run a BBS and why I joined Fidonet. YMMV.

2002 Off Centre Rally - The Big U
Submitted by David Drummond, 3:640/305

Day 10 - Tuesday 13th August (Mt Isa)

Said farewell to Ron, then David and I went with Al Geritz up to the hospital to collect Rick's bags from the publican from Urandangie. Had a short chat with him. He confirmed that Rick came off on a straight stretch where there wasn't any bulldust. He said they got him onto a tarp, then slid that onto the mattress and 8 guys then got him into the back of the truck. He said he would bring the bike into town on Friday or Monday. There was another bike he had to take to town as well, which had a big hole in the sump.

We got Rick's jeans, sneakers and camera out of the bags, and took them up to him. He looked much better this morning. He didn't need anything else, except his belt if we could find it. He asked us to throw away his helmet.

We then went with Al to Campbell's coaches, weighed in Rick's bags at 25kg and sent them to Brisbane, addressed to Ron Durkin. We put Ron's mobile number down as well. The girl said they would ring him when it arrived. She then said she thought she knew David from somewhere. He immediately denied it, but she persisted. It eventually transpired that she had been a student at Martin College and remembered him as the "I.T. Dude". Al was much amused by this and vowed to never let David forget it!

Back at the campsite, Al packed up and left, with our well wishes. He hoped to get as far as Winton.

We washed our sheet (silk sleeping bag liner) and pillow cases, then headed out to Lake Moondarra, the water supply for Mt Isa. There isn't any camping allowed at the dam, but by golly it has some nice recreation areas - beautifully grassed with lovely big shade trees. We walked over the dam wall and back, then sat by the water's edge with the black swans, ducks and pelicans, to eat our lunch and relax.

Back in town, we did some shopping for dinner, checked the post office to see if my part had arrived (it hadn't), and went up to the hospital to visit Rick. He wasn't feeling too bad, although he said "Pain is my friend". The doctor was about the pull out the drain on his lung, so we didn't stay long. He had been trying to find out what would happen about his thumb, but hadn't been able to get an answer.

Ate in tonight, for a change. We had bought a bowl of Garden Salad which we had with chicken fillets cooked on the barbeque in the camp kitchen. We finished off with a bowl of fruit salad and cup of Milo.

Went up after dinner to see Rick again. He was fairly bright. The nurse explained that he wouldn't be flown anywhere for a while, because of the problems with his lung, so he should expect to stay in Mt Isa for several weeks. When he is well enough, he could coach back to Brisbane (25 hours) or train, but that would be very expensive. She said they never set collar bones, and they couldn't do his thumb until his lungs are better, because of the dangers of anaesthetic. Rick encouraged us to continue with our holiday. "I'm a big boy now" he said.