Hello Michiel,

 MvdV>>> AFAIK, the only encoding in use in Fidonet that covers both
 MvdV>>> cyrillic and the 'o' diaeresis is UTF-8.

 KE>> I have the impression, that the majority that prefers Cyrrillic for
 KE>> their conversation, mainly use other encodings than UTF-8

 MvdV> I think your impression is correct. In the echos where Russian or
Ukranian
 MvdV> is the dominant language, CP866 is the default character encoding. For
 MvdV> files they often use KOI8-r.

For articles published in the FidoNews that is not the problem.
It is the editor's refusal to allow articles not in English.
Although he has made exceptions, such as some written in Dutch.

 KE>> Those who are able to read UTF-8 encoded messages are free to do so in
 KE>> echo areas that promote that encoding. Publishing UTF-8 encoded
 KE>> messages in general areas like FIDONEWS, where UTF-8 readers are a
 KE>> minoriity, is even worse than mixing 8-bit encodings in one message.

 MvdV> That is a matter of opinion. As a techie I would say that mixing 8 bit
 MvdV> encodings in one and the same message or in one and the same file is
 MvdV> technically incorrect and therefore "worse".

The editor's aversion to 7-bit rather than 8-bit is understandable,
as he is neither an Englishman nor an American.  But then, the same
can be said of most FidoNetters.  So why the insistence on English
only?

The US does not have an official language.  Why should FidoNet?

Just because a small handful of English-speaking people from the
US started FidoNet does not mean that everybody else has to follow
suit.

In Louisiana, French-speaking people were the first to arrive.
Aside from the natives who were already there.  Today, the majority
of the population in Louisiana speaks English, with very few who
speak Cajun French.  And even fewer who speak native tongues.

The editor of the FidoNews should reconsider his position.

If not, this community should resort to the alternative -

This community should hire an associate editor who is willing
and capable of taking on the responsibilities of handling non-English
articles.

Once this has been accomplished, then it will be up to the writers
to give the newly-hired associate editor something to do.  With all
languages welcome.

--Lee

-- 
Stop Workin', Start Jerkin'

--- MesNews/1.08.05.00-gb