AWL> Nodelists other than FidoNet are mostly tiny circlejerks
AWL> of loonies, or specialised tools like NBBNet and TWMBANet...

And the HREOC cant do a damned thing about that.

PE> You can have tiny circlejerks of loonies within Fidonet too.

Indeed, and odd hybrids like LOCUSER which isnt fido at all.

PE> How far do you think FOURTH_REICH gets?  LOCUSER doesn't get
PE> much more coverage. There is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON for these
PE> do-your-own nets to start up. Fidonet is absolutely adequate.

Thats not strictly correct, the most obvious reason is where they
want to do some detail differently, like say not have a ZMH. All
the relative size stuff proves is that not enough care enough about
the fido technical detail to feel the need to do it differently.
Still says SFA about any say the HREOC has in the matter.

PE> Any echo being carried by another-net could be just
PE> as easily carried by the same people within fidonet.

AWL> P4:
AWL> - require legal/technical responsibility for all messages

Theoretically, but in practical terms no more than with an othernet.

AWL> - bans echo of encrypted messages (through normal channels)

Nope, there are in fact some which allow them. Its like the
commercial traffic, its not actually banned, just that you
cant impose it on those who arent willing to carry it.

AWL> - requires ZMH mailer

And since you are perfectly free to setup an othernet, with whatever
detail on stuff like this you like you are fucked, and the HREOC cant
do a thing about it, coz there is nothing to stop you having your OWN
net with no ZMH, the node number matching your entire phone number,
etc etc etc, so you are fucked.

AWL> Fido-in-general
AWL> - nets defined geographically

Again, you can do whatever you like in your own net.

AWL> There are a few largish ones, PODS AmigaNet etc,
AWL> but they have nothing like the coverage of FidoNet...
AWL> So Rod's go start your own line fall flat...

Nope, the law says nothing about size Alex. All that proves is that
plenty are happy with the detail of how Fido does its technical stuff.
They dont feel the need to have their own different conditions. Some
do tho. So you are fucked, coz its obviously possible, they do it.

PE> He was talking about starting your own fidonetinternet
PE> gateway if you don't like the way Michael is operating his.

AWL> He was talking about setting up an OtherNet so I could
AWL> have rules like nodenumber=phonenumber and no ZMH etc...

I was saying both actually, I ALSO said that if you dont care
for how Fido/internet gating has been volunteered, you have just
as many options on doing it the way you want to see it done. More
in some ways if you stop behaving like a child and get a Fido node.

PE> You can do this, in fact Michael publicly asked for anyone
PE> in the entire Zone 3 to take over, because he is dropping it.
PE> Now's your big chance, because there are ZERO competitors.
PE> It will only cost you a few $K per year, and if you can afford to
PE> blow it on lawsuits, you can afford to spend it on gateways instead.

AWL> A gateway that would cost you "a few k a year"
AWL> would probably cost me 10 times as much.

Why ?  Anyway, thats your problem, you aint entitled to demand
that Mike had to do it the way you insisted it had to be done.

AWL> Also that is a recurring cost, our 10k is probably
AWL> going to be reusable (with a little luck we should
AWL> get full costs (if not we can survive the experience))

Hope you aint holding your breath, you have buckleys.

--- PQWK202