Hi all!
  I just posted the following message privately to Bob Stout via inet
email.  After a but of thought, I felt I should post it for all to see.
I sincerely beg the pardon of ANYONE whom I might have offended by
making this (originally private) message public.
Thanks
Peter
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Hi Bob!
  I would like to vote for Jonathan de Boyne Pollard as moderator.  I
would also like to encourage you to relax your rule regarding the need
for an internet email address.  I think that you have done an excellent
job as temporary moderator.  However, if you will forgive my saying it,
I think that adding new rules as to who may become moderator is rather
bad form.  I think your point was valid and that you have every right
to express the opinion that, given the unreliability of Fido mail in
comparision with inet mail, the moderator should have an inet mail
address.  However, to make such a hard rule, subject to change by the
next moderator, is not a good precedent.  Allowing the exiting moderator
to set rules regarding who may replace him seems rather unethical.
(Please pardon me.)  Allowing such gives the exiting moderator far too
much power in determining his replacement.  By following the Fidonet
rules, we are all protected by a level playing field.  For example the
Constitutions of most Countries specify the requirements for being
nominated as President or Prime Minister.  However, the incumbent would
not usually be allowed to unilaterally add new rules as to who may be
nominated to replace or run against him/her, since this could be used to
thwart the very choices and changes that elections are meant to
guarentee. Again, I think that your point is QUITE valid, and very well
meant, but I believe that is an issue for the voter as a body to decide,
not you or I on a unilateral basis.
Thank you very much.
Peter
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