Hello Steven,

 FTD>> Yes, I believe that too.  Adding to the network is good,
 FTD>> substituting, on the other hand, is simply risky business.

 SH> If adding to the network is good, why do those of us who do
 SH> that get static from you and Michiel?

Because you are not just adding. You are taking away too.

 SH> Unless or until Fido can develop a decent graphics user interface

There is plenty of stuff around for those who feel a need for it. FIPS comes to mind.

But that's not the answer. There is still a place for Fidonet, but it is a
niche. Making it look more like the InterNet isn't going to save it. We
hobbyists simply do not have the resources of Microsoft. Trying to compete
with the visual might of Microsoft is a lost cause from the beginning.

No, we should forget that. We can not compete on form, we must compete on /content/.

 SH> and a means of connection other than POTS,

Users do not connect to FidoNet, they connect to a BBS. Either by POTS or
by TelNet. How the BBS's connect to each other is invisible to the user,
and hence does not influence the users decision to post or not to post in a
message area that is distributed by FidoNet.

 SH> it will have no "potential huge base of possible users".

FidoNet will never have a "potential huge base of possible users"
any more. Period. Those days are gone.

 SH> Even the number of Internet users who use modems to connect to
 SH> the Internet are shrinking

That may be so in your part of the world, over here it certainly isn't.

Yes, the number of people that access the internet via adsl or cable is
growing. But the number of people doing so via POTS or ISDN is still
growing faster.

POTS is still a long way from being dead.

Cheers, Michiel

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