MvdV>> When Fidonet was at its best with over 30.000 nodes
 MvdV>> there were 6 zones. Now there still are 6 zones.

 > You are looking at the wrong "level". As Nodes leave, Networks
 > shrink and die, and an NC is removed.

 MvdV> One should not wait for the last one to leave before closing down
 MvdV> a net. 

why not? there may be others in that area that will (re)join and thus keep
that net going...

 MvdV> The ideal size for a net is 100 nodes. 

says who?

i was in a net with some 200 or so members... i've also been in a net with
about 50 or so and which has fallen to less then 10 members... believe me,
the smaller nets can be so much friendlier and enjoyable...

 MvdV> The nodelist segment is
 MvdV> not too big for one man to manage and there is a sizable "pool"
 MvdV> of nodes to fill the host and hub positions. If a net shrinks, it
 MvdV> becomes ever more difficult to find competetent and willing
 MvdV> people to play hub. The net becomes ever more vulnerable. When
 MvdV> the numbers drop below 10, it comes in the danger zone. When the
 MvdV> host drops out, there is the danger of not being able to find a
 MvdV> suitable replacement. And if that happens those that are still
 MvdV> there are left in the cold. To avoid that it is wise to consider
 MvdV> merging nets before they shrink to a dangerously low number.

where'd you get all this stuff from??

[trim]


 MvdV> Suppose - just for the sake of discussion - that Zone 6 were to
 MvdV> be merged into zone 3. What is now zone 6 would be made into one
 MvdV> region (60) and the now ZC6 would become RC60.

 MvdV> Now it is the ZC6 that compiles the nodelist segment for that
 MvdV> area and who sends it along for inclusion in the world list.

 MvdV> Then the same person would continue to do that but labelled as
 MvdV> RC60 and send it along to ZC3 for inclusion in the world
 MvdV> nodelist.

 MvdV> What has changed regarding cooperation?

nothing as far as cooperation but much has changed on the political
front... that's the danger these days... there's already way too much
politics in this network and it gets worse as the network gets smaller...
the sneakiness, underhandedness and subtlity of this move is appalling... i
definitely hope that others see this move for what it is...

)\/(ark