MSGID: 1:229/426 4DC7573C
On 09 Mar 19  23:14:05, Joacim Melin said the following to All:

JM> I made an attempt to create a more up to date Fidonet homepage. I actually
JM> created this almost a year ago with the intention of replacing the current
JM> fidonet.org page but the move of the domain never seems to happen and I got
JM> tired of the site just waiting.   
JM> 
JM> Enjoy and please report any factual errors and/or suggestions. 

While I appreciate the effort, and understand that the current fidonet.org 
website may be obsolete - There are two big problems I see with this.

The first problem is that by registering yet another Fidonet domain, 
you have added to the list of totally unnecessary Fidonet domains, each
claiming to be the "right place to come to". Fidonet should only have one
official page on its official domain - fidonet.org, so newcomers are not
confused and Internet SEO is not all over the map with pages of results for
Fidonet pages.

I am privy to the situation behind fidonet.org. I am quite familiar with the 
frustration over the situation and understand exactly why changing that 
coveted WWW record in DNS to point to another site is not straightforward, and
one aspect of the domain's operation affects Fidonet in Russia. Its not 
apparent behind the existing crude site but a lot happens behind the scenes.

Yes... I "Git" how Fidonet works in Zone 2, but lets wait for the knowitalls 
to chime in telling me how easy it is to fix the domain.

The second problem is the content on the site itself. You have completely 
personified and wrote the site as if to represent the opinions and thoughts of
everyone in the network with certain language and phrasing you use.

I know that was likely not your intention but thats how it comes across. And 
with that sentence, you can apply that objectively to the vast majority of 
stupid conversations that happen in almost every Echo in Fidonet.

The Fidonet website cannot be written with any opinion, and this is probably
the most difficult challenge of writing the website. It needs to be
completely simplistic, factual and without opinions/personification added.

Other suggestions...

For example. Look at the massive number of edits to the Wikipedia entry for 
Fidonet. There is *no way* you, me or anyone can sit down and write a website 
themselves without taking into account:

- There exists two distribution models, Nab and FidoWeb, each with their own 
pros and cons. Explain this on the website why the two came to be.

- There are many Echomail areas dead and empty with the exception of monthly 
moderator posts. Explain on a website why this is so.

- Any discussions on policy or Fido workings is most likely to cause flame and
troll fests. Explain on a website or to the newcomer why there is FN_SYSOP and
FIDO_SYSOP when both accomplish the same thing.

Again... I appreciate the effort. But I am not happy yet another Fido domain 
was registered or a website done without all of these considerations. Your 
site could easily of been put up on some other hostname or domain.

Also, there exists the echo FIDONET.ORG which is moderated by myself and Ward 
where we both welcome suggestions and discussions about that domain or making 
the kinds of improvements you're shooting for.

End of rant.

Nick

--- Renegade vY2Ka2