Hello Matt,

MM>I think we can help sell bbsing if we can say it offers
MM>more freedom than facebook.

I hate to bust your bubble, but facebook has exactly
the same policy as fidonet, their Terms requiring all
to use their full, real, legal name.  And you have
only sysops to blame for starting it.

I find it a sin and a shame that sysops reserve for
themselves the right to keep their own real names protected
by the use of a handle/alias while denying that very same
protection for others.

A "real names only" policy is an *ABUSE_OF_POWER* that is
harmful to all, and especially to the most marginalized people
in society.  Such policies are not empowering.  Just the opposite.
The only purpose of such rules is as an authoritatrian assertion
of power over vulnerable people.  And who are those "vulnerable
people"?  Certainly not sysops or fidonet administrators. who
would rather look upon themselves as being gods.

What is at stake is the right of all individuals to protect
themselves.  Not just sysops and fidonet administrators.

As an example of how fucked up fidonet is today, the self-
proclaimed zone 1 coordinator says it is okay for sysops and
moderators to use a handle/alias - in every echo.  I have an
email from her addressed to me to prove it.  In response to
that email, I am issuing the following rule for the CONSPRCY
echo -

I AM THE OFFICIAL MODERATOR OF THIS ECHO.  ALL OTHER PARTICIPANTS
ARE CO-MODERATORS.  PLEASE FEEL FREE TO USE THE HANDLE/ALIAS OF YOUR
CHOICE.  IN THIS ECHO, AND ELSEWHERE.

My rule is not limited to sysops.  And please note that my rule
is in full accordance with the zone 1 coordinator's ruling -
all sysops and moderators are allowed to use a handle/alias,
regardless of echo.

You want to test it?  Feel free to post messages under
the handle/alias DING DONG.  Or any other handle/alias
of your choice.  I won't stop you.  Nor will I try.
In fact, I encourage you to do so.  As well as others.

Of course, Bob Klahn might have a little someting to say
about that if you show up here as a DING DONG ...

--Lee

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