Hello Michiel,

 MvdV>>> Blame the Fidonews editor. Articles published in Fidonews are
 MvdV>>> still limited to a maximum line length of 70 characters. :)

 BF>> That is not really true, but I understand why you think so.

 MvdV> It is not? So you previous requests to limit the line length of my
articles
 MvdV> to 70 bytes are revoked? You do not mind if my next contribution to the
 MvdV> Snooze has lines > 70 bytes?

You do realize how easy it is to fix this problem.  Without
having the editor doing any additional work on our behalf.

There is a fix.  An easy fix.  And I know the fix.
Actually, two fixes.  In case one fix does not work.

I promise to provide the solution(s) to all.

 BF>> The real fact is, that the program that's compiled the Fidonews
 BF>> from year three(?) -- MAKENEWS.EXE -- originally had several
 BF>> limitations. One of them was the line length limit of 70.

 MvdV> Yes...

And yet you chose to do nothing about it ...

 BF>> In 2001 the then Fidonews editor Frank Vest an I had many netmail
 BF>> exchanges about the limitations, but then in particular about the
 BF>> ASCII only requirement. So I spent several hours in DEBUG, hacking the
 BF>> original EXE file, finding and removing that stupid ASCII only
 BF>> limitation.

 MvdV> Yes...

There you go.  Two editors, working hand in hand, trying to fix
a problem.  We don't see much of that anymore in Fidonet.

 BF>> The result you have been able to enjoy for almost two decades now.

 MvdV> Not really.

Why didn't you fix it?  Certainly a man of your skills has
the capability.  If I could do it, so can anybody.  It really
is that simple.  Almost as simple as plugging in a computer,
or pressing the on/off switch.

With all the time you spent as FTSC chairman you could have made
a bit of room to fix a small problem such as the one Bj”rn mentioned.
In fact, I fixed this problem for myself years ago.  Had anybody
asked, I would have given them the solution(s) right away.

It really is a simple fix.  Both fixes.  If one doesn't work,
the other one will.  Just two ways of doing the same thing.

 BF>> But I didn't go for any of the printer related code -- line and
 BF>> page length -- because by then it was still quite popular to print BF>out
 MvdV> the Snooze on your printer.

 BF>> Ergo, the printer related code are still there.

 MvdV> I am not questioning the wisdom of your choice. But that does not alter
the
 MvdV> fact that it was YOUR choice and the 70 character limitation
 MvdV> is still in effect.

There is no 70 character limitation once it has been fixed.
Easily done by anybody, without the help by/from the editor.

 MvdV> So what part of my statement was not really true?

You left out the part about your own responsibility.
This is a problem, easily fixed, by anybody and everybody.
And then, only a problem for those who wish to print out
the Fidonews, rather than simply read it on-screen.

Fidonet is a community of sysops, not a bunch of separate and
independent sysops living in a jungle.  Communication is always
between more than one person.  Even a hermit goes to town once
in a while, if not only to keep what little sanity he/she might
have left.

IOW, this is not a "to each his own" type of thing.
More like a cooperative anarchy, if one can call it that.

 BF>> I've now been the editor for much longer than all of the previous
 BF>> Fidonews editors in total,

 MvdV> That seems to be a trend in Fidonet. Officials staying in the seat
longer
 MvdV> than their predecessors. I have been the FTSC chairman for longer than
any
 MvdV> of my predecessors.

If an editor is doing a good job, and retains the support of the
community at large, then why should he/she be forced to leave?

Ditto for an FTSC chairman.  A job well-done should be appreciated
by all.  Why ask the best to leave in favor of an unknown?

It has been a tradition (not always followed) that the editor
chooses his/her successor.  What happens if an editor drops dead,
without having named a successor?  That has happened before.

There are no rules as to how the Fidonet community should
choose an editor of the Fidonews in such a situation.  Nor is
there any mention of a term, or how long a term should be.

You have been FTSC chairman since forever.  Who will succeed
you whenever the time comes that you step away?  How will your
successor be chosen?  Will you be doing the honors, choosing
your own successor?  How long will this term of office be?
Is it a lifetime term, or just for as long as whoever wants it?

 MvdV> We will not mention the ZCs... :-(

Elected by yes-men of his/her own choosing.  With no term limit.

 BF>> so I think it's about time to contemplate my retirement...

 MvdV> I fully understand you getting tired of it.

Like US President Donald Trump, he asked for the gig.

 MvdV> Yes, perhaps it is time to pass the buck.

US President Donald Trump will never pass the buck.

 MvdV> I am not available.

Only because the Netherlands is a monarchy and you are last in line.

--Lee

-- 
Our Nuts, Your Mouth

--- MesNews/1.08.05.00-gb