Hello Everybody,

For as long as I can remember, Zone 1 has always
had a policy of using real names in Fidonet. I do
not know why, as nobody has ever bothered to explain
to me the logic behind this.

Former Z1C Janis Kracht had mentioned that it was
okay for sysops and moderators to exempt themselves
from this policy, as they were free to use whatever
name they wanted to go by. But other participants
and lurkers were not free to do so, as policy didn't
cover them at all. In which case they had to use
their real name in order to participate, or even
just to lurk without posting messages.

And then I finally figured it out.

Sysops and moderators were using their real names
as pseudonyms in Fidonet. What a novel thought!

Which might explain why there is no mention of real
names anywhere in P4 or any other Fidonet policy document.

None of us are real.

Of course, the Beatles sang it better.

Nothing is real.

Strawberry Fields. Forever.

We are all a figment of your wild and overactive imagination.

Remember that, and you will be just fine.

--Lee

--
Often Licked, Never Beaten

--- MesNews/1.08.05.00-gb
* Origin: news://eljaco.se (2:203/2)

Hi, Lee Lofaso!
I read your message from 24.07.2019 13:27

LL> Former Z1C Janis Kracht had mentioned that it was
LL> okay for sysops and moderators to exempt themselves
LL> from this policy, as they were free to use whatever
LL> name they wanted to go by. But other participants
LL> and lurkers were not free to do so, as policy didn't
LL> cover them at all. In which case they had to use
LL> their real name in order to participate, or even
LL> just to lurk without posting messages.

But how a person in Fidonet can prove that his name is real? IMHO, I
can't do it even if I wanted to. ;-)

Bye, Lee!
Alexander Koryagin
fido7.fidonews 2019
--- FIDOGATE 5.1.7ds
* Origin: Pushkin's BBS (2:5020/2140.2)

Hello, alexander koryagin.
On 24/07/2019 20.32 you wrote:

From alexander koryagin To Lee Lofaso

Hi, Lee Lofaso!
I read your message from 24.07.2019 13:27

Former Z1C Janis Kracht had mentioned that it was
okay for sysops and moderators to exempt themselves
from this policy, as they were free to use whatever
name they wanted to go by. But other participants
and lurkers were not free to do so, as policy didn't
cover them at all. In which case they had to use
their real name in order to participate, or even
just to lurk without posting messages.

But how a person in Fidonet can prove that his name is real? IMHO, I
can't do it even if I wanted to. ;-)

You dont have to prove it, it is enough that you tell us so. ;)

Bye, Lee!
Alexander Koryagin
fido7.fidonews 2019

--
'Tommi

---
* Origin: nntp://rbb.fidonet.fi - Lake Ylo - Finland (2:221/360)

Hello Alexander and others,

Wed. 24 Jul 2019, 17:32:45, Alexander Koryagin wrote to Lee Lofaso:

But how a person in Fidonet can prove that his name is real?
IMHO, I can't do it even if I wanted to. ;-)

Of course you almost allways can.
Scan your passport, convert the image to UUCP 7-bit ascii,
send that by NetMail tou your NC.
If you are real paranoide, make your official registration number unreadable by editing the scanned picture of your passport.
The same goes for your birthday and place.
Only the name is necessary.

But there are more sophisticated ways,
i.e. a video chat in which you show your passport.
Or go visit your NC life, i.e. at a sysop meeting.

My NC knows I am an active living person with a real name,
we have met each other more than one times.
I visit him every year several times when I am on route with my car.
I even met my Host and my Z2C in real life ;-).

Greetings from Henri.

--- WimpLink 1.05p
* Origin: Henri's FidoNet SysOp (Test)Point on the i (2:280/1208.1)

Hello Tommi,

Former Z1C Janis Kracht had mentioned that it was
okay for sysops and moderators to exempt themselves
from this policy, as they were free to use whatever
name they wanted to go by. But other participants
and lurkers were not free to do so, as policy didn't
cover them at all. In which case they had to use
their real name in order to participate, or even
just to lurk without posting messages.

But how a person in Fidonet can prove that his name is real? IMHO, I
can't do it even if I wanted to. ;-)

You dont have to prove it, it is enough that you tell us so. ;)

I can only tell you a name somebody else has given me.
Does that count?

--Lee

--
Sleep With Someone New

--- MesNews/1.08.05.00-gb
* Origin: news://eljaco.se (2:203/2)

Hello Alexander,

Former Z1C Janis Kracht had mentioned that it was
okay for sysops and moderators to exempt themselves
from this policy, as they were free to use whatever
name they wanted to go by. But other participants
and lurkers were not free to do so, as policy didn't
cover them at all. In which case they had to use
their real name in order to participate, or even
just to lurk without posting messages.

But how a person in Fidonet can prove that his name is real? IMHO, I
can't do it even if I wanted to. ;-)

Me neither. Somebody gave me a name, without my knowledge or consent.
In some strange language I had no way of understanding. What my real
name is I have no way of knowing, as I have long since forgotten. So
I guess I am stuck with the one I've got. From a stranger I had never
met.

--Lee

--
We're Great In Bed

--- MesNews/1.08.05.00-gb
* Origin: news://eljaco.se (2:203/2)

From Lee Lofaso To Tommi Koivula

Hello Tommi,

Former Z1C Janis Kracht had mentioned that it was
okay for sysops and moderators to exempt themselves
from this policy, as they were free to use whatever
name they wanted to go by. But other participants
and lurkers were not free to do so, as policy didn't
cover them at all. In which case they had to use
their real name in order to participate, or even
just to lurk without posting messages.

But how a person in Fidonet can prove that his name is real? IMHO, I
can't do it even if I wanted to. ;-)

You dont have to prove it, it is enough that you tell us so. ;)

I can only tell you a name somebody else has given me.
Does that count?

I believe in many countries that one is considered as "the real name". So it should be ok in fidonet too. :)

--Lee

--
Tommi

--- HotdogEd/2.13.5 (Android; Google Android; rv:1) Hotdoged/1557368964000 HotdogEd/2.13.5
* Origin: smapinntpd/linux @ nntps://news.fidonet.fi (2:221/6.0)

Hi, Tommi Koivula!
I read your message from 24.07.2019 17:27

LL>>> Former Z1C Janis Kracht had mentioned that it was okay for sysops
LL>>> and moderators to exempt themselves from this policy, as they
LL>>> were free to use whatever name they wanted to go by. But other
LL>>> participants and lurkers were not free to do so, as policy didn't
LL>>> cover them at all. In which case they had to use their real name
LL>>> in order to participate, or even just to lurk without posting
LL>>> messages.
ak>> But how a person in Fidonet can prove that his name is real? IMHO,
ak>> I can't do it even if I wanted to.

TK> You dont have to prove it, it is enough that you tell us so.

I don't undestand why they invented a worthless rule.

Bye, Tommi!
Alexander Koryagin
fido7.fidonews 2019
--- FIDOGATE 5.1.7ds
* Origin: Pushkin's BBS (2:5020/2140.2)

On 2019 Jul 25 20:35:28, you wrote to Tommi Koivula:

But how a person in Fidonet can prove that his name is real? IMHO, I
can't do it even if I wanted to.

You dont have to prove it, it is enough that you tell us so.

I don't undestand why they invented a worthless rule.

it wasn't and still isn't worthless... it is a safety thing... if someone posts
something illegal, there's a known entity to look at since their name is on the
post...

)\/(ark

Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set
them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them.
... An army marches on its stomach. - Napolean
---
* Origin: (1:3634/12.73)

Hello mark,

But how a person in Fidonet can prove that his name is real? IMHO,

I

can't do it even if I wanted to.

You dont have to prove it, it is enough that you tell us so.

I don't undestand why they invented a worthless rule.

it wasn't and still isn't worthless... it is a safety thing... if someone posts something illegal, there's a known entity to look at since their

name

is on the post...

Their username is tied in to their email address. So it would
not take much to find out whodoneit.

--Lee

--
Our Nuts, Your Mouth

--- MesNews/1.08.05.00-gb
* Origin: news://eljaco.se (2:203/2)

Re: Real Names
By: Lee Lofaso to mark lewis on Fri Jul 26 2019 03:13:21

it wasn't and still isn't worthless... it is a safety thing... if someone

posts something illegal, there's a known entity to look at since their

name is on the post...

Their username is tied in to their email address. So it would
not take much to find out whodoneit.

what email address? we're talking about fidonet, here... there is no email address in fidonet :eyeroll:

)\/(ark
--- SBBSecho 3.07-Linux
* Origin: SouthEast Star Mail HUB - SESTAR (1:3634/12)

Hi Mark,

The name means nothing, being able to trace it back to the person who wrote it does, in Fidonet tracing it back to the source can be done, so wether the name
is real or not is mute.

Terry Roati - 3:640/1321


On Jul 25, 2019 02:18pm, mark lewis wrote to alexander koryagin:

On 2019 Jul 25 20:35:28, you wrote to Tommi Koivula:

But how a person in Fidonet can prove that his name is real? IMHO, I
can't do it even if I wanted to.

You dont have to prove it, it is enough that you tell us so.

I don't undestand why they invented a worthless rule.

it wasn't and still isn't worthless... it is a safety thing... if
someone posts something illegal, there's a known entity to look at
since their name is on the post...

)\/(ark

Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them. ... An army marches on its stomach. - Napolean
---
* Origin: (1:3634/12.73)

--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v7.0
* Origin: The File Bank BBS! (3:640/1321)

On 2019 Jul 26 14:10:30, you wrote to me:

The name means nothing, being able to trace it back to the person who

wrote

it does,

how are you going to do that on POTS with no callerID?

in Fidonet tracing it back to the source can be done,

explain... the best you can get if non-POTS is an IP address which could be a proxy or TOR... then what?

so wether the name is real or not is mute.

the term is "moot"... "mute" means "to quiet"... "moot" means "object/subject of/to discussion"

BTW: top posting sucks! i refuse to fix top posted quotes to provide proper context of replies... this is fidonet, damnit! ;) :) O:)

)\/(ark

Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set
them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them.
... CON is the opposite of PRO - i.e. Congress and Progress.
---
* Origin: (1:3634/12.73)

On 25 Jul 19 22:39:47, Mark Lewis said the following to Lee Lofaso:

Their username is tied in to their email address. So it would
not take much to find out whodoneit.

what email address? we're talking about fidonet, here... there is no email address in fidonet :eyeroll:

Be patient with Lee, he's still on his "probation status" until he qualifies to obtain a node number.

Nick

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (1:229/426)

Hi, Mark Lewis!
I read your message from 25.07.2019 21:14

But how a person in Fidonet can prove that his name is real?
IMHO, I can't do it even if I wanted to.

You dont have to prove it, it is enough that you tell us so.

I don't understand why they invented a worthless rule.

it wasn't and still isn't worthless... it is a safety thing... if
someone posts something illegal, there's a known entity to look at
since their name is on the post...

But it is a voluntary, unverified name. If nobody checks it, so the rule is worthless.

Bye, Mark!
Alexander Koryagin
fidonews 2019

---
* Origin: nntps://fidonews.mine.nu - Lake Ylo - Finland (2:221/360.0)

Hello Mark,

It is NOT a fidonet problem, if law enforcement want to trace the person it is their problem, again a real name or not makes no differece.

It is impossible to know whether a name is real or not so why try.

Terry Roati - 3:640/1321

On Jul 26, 2019 11:02am, mark lewis wrote to TERRY ROATI:

On 2019 Jul 26 14:10:30, you wrote to me:

The name means nothing, being able to trace it back to the person who

wrote

it does,

how are you going to do that on POTS with no callerID?

in Fidonet tracing it back to the source can be done,

explain... the best you can get if non-POTS is an IP address which
could be a proxy or TOR... then what?

so wether the name is real or not is mute.

the term is "moot"... "mute" means "to quiet"... "moot" means "object/subject of/to discussion"

BTW: top posting sucks! i refuse to fix top posted quotes to provide proper context of replies... this is fidonet, damnit! ;) :) O:)

)\/(ark

Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them. ... CON is the opposite of PRO - i.e. Congress and
Progress. ---
* Origin: (1:3634/12.73)

... Platinum Xpress & Wildcat!..... Nice!!!!
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v7.0
* Origin: The File Bank BBS! (3:640/1321)

Hello Alexander,

But how a person in Fidonet can prove that his name is real?
IMHO, I can't do it even if I wanted to.

You dont have to prove it, it is enough that you tell us so.

I don't understand why they invented a worthless rule.

it wasn't and still isn't worthless... it is a safety thing... if
someone posts something illegal, there's a known entity to look at
since their name is on the post...

But it is a voluntary, unverified name. If nobody checks it, so the rule

is

worthless.

There are several free fake name generators one can use, with real
details that can be checked and verified, making any check worthless.

So what is the point in having a "real names only" rule?
Makes absolutely no sense whatsovever.

Unscramble the letters of my name.

Then know my true identity.

--False Oleo

or is it

--Loose Flea

Let me take you down
To where I'm going to.
Strawberry Fields?
Nothing is real.
And nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry Fields?
Forever.

--
Big Or Small We Lay Them All

--- MesNews/1.08.05.00-gb
* Origin: news://eljaco.se (2:203/2)

On 2019 Jul 27 11:48:20, you wrote to me:

But how a person in Fidonet can prove that his name is real? IMHO,
I can't do it even if I wanted to.

You dont have to prove it, it is enough that you tell us so.

I don't understand why they invented a worthless rule.

it wasn't and still isn't worthless... it is a safety thing... if
someone posts something illegal, there's a known entity to look at
since their name is on the post...

But it is a voluntary, unverified name. If nobody checks it, so the
rule is worthless.

there was a time when users were checked in some manner when they signed up for
access to a BBS... i remember going through postal mail validating user accounts that had sent in copies of their IDs... then there were the BBS get-togethers which were breakfast at a local resturaunt or a BBQ/cookout at someone's house... folks were bringing their friends and getting them signed up...

but it really depends on the BBS, too... that and the period of time... today's
world is a lot different from the one in the 80s and 90s...

)\/(ark

Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set
them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them.
... For some reason the little weinerheads make us laugh.
---
* Origin: (1:3634/12.73)

Hi, Mark Lewis!
I read your message from 25.07.2019 21:14

But how a person in Fidonet can prove that his name is real?
IMHO, I can't do it even if I wanted to.

You dont have to prove it, it is enough that you tell us so.

I don't understand why they invented a worthless rule.

Some may think its worthless but that the ways is been for a long time. Look
at the internet newsgroups majority of the kiddies took over and their is no accountability.

it wasn't and still isn't worthless... it is a safety thing... if someone posts something illegal, there's a known entity to look at since their name is on the post...

But it is a voluntary, unverified name. If nobody checks it, so the rule is worthless.

There is no way to 100% verify that the user is giving their real name, but I check the accounts before validating the users. My users on my system are
held 100% accountable when they do not follow the rules.

Bye, Mark!

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A43 2019/03/02 (Linux/64)
* Origin: New Mystic BBS (1:275/201.1)

Hello Phil,

But how a person in Fidonet can prove that his name is real?
IMHO, I can't do it even if I wanted to.

You dont have to prove it, it is enough that you tell us so.

I don't understand why they invented a worthless rule.

Some may think its worthless but that the ways is been for a long time.

Look

at the internet newsgroups majority of the kiddies took over and their is no accountability.

Accountability? What accountability? Apparently you have not heard
about doxing. While not illegal, it is considered highly unethical.

doxing - search for and publish private or identifying information,
about (a particular individual) on the Internet, typically with
malicious intent.

Think about what that means. An individual, using his/her real
name, on message boards and other sites (such as Fidonet), available
to be read by anybody and everybody.

Think about how such information can be used, and misused.

And realize the perpetrators will never get caught or be held
accountable for their actions.

it wasn't and still isn't worthless... it is a safety thing... if
someone posts something illegal, there's a known entity to look at
since their name is on the post...

But it is a voluntary, unverified name. If nobody checks it, so the
rule is worthless.

There is no way to 100% verify that the user is giving their real name,

but

I
check the accounts before validating the users. My users on my system are held 100% accountable when they do not follow the rules.

Not only is this "rule" worthless, but it is downright dangerous!
Why should celebrities have the "right" to use an alias/handle while
others are forced to use their real names when posting messages?

Google Play used to have "real names only" rule, but no longer does.
Facebook is still trying to learn its lesson, which is costing itself
dearly with its current policy.

Fidonet needs to do away with its archaic demand for real names only.
Most sysops are already aware of this, but some remain in the dark ages,
not realizing that times have changed.

--Lee

--
Erections, That's Our Game

--- MesNews/1.08.05.00-gb
* Origin: news://eljaco.se (2:203/2)

Hello, Phil Taylor.
On 10/08/19 15:37 you wrote:

Some may think its worthless but that the ways is been for a long
time. Look at the internet newsgroups majority of the kiddies took
over and their is no accountability.

This is why I was back to fidonet, the high quality of the echo areas compared by the internet newsgroups.
When I left fidonet trolls, haters and similar had no chances to remain in fidonet too long, moderators did their work and sysops did what moderators asked for "bad useser".
Unfortunately now I found a different fidonet, rules was avoided by a strange concept of freedom and trolls are free to ride. :(

There is no way to 100% verify that the user is giving their real
name, but I check the accounts before validating the users. My
users on my system are held 100% accountable when they do not
follow the rules.

This is also my policy, but it's hard to promote fidonet in a country where fidonet was missing for a long time without promising better quality than internet.
But I don't surrender. :)
Keep strong!

--
Ciao! :)
Fabio.
--- Hotdoged/2.13.5/Android
* Origin: ]\/[imac boss android point (2:335/364.3)

Hello Fabio,

Some may think its worthless but that the ways is been for a long
time. Look at the internet newsgroups majority of the kiddies took
over and their is no accountability.

This is why I was back to fidonet, the high quality of the echo areas compared by the internet newsgroups.
When I left fidonet trolls, haters and similar had no chances to remain in fidonet too long, moderators did their work and sysops did what moderators asked for "bad useser".
Unfortunately now I found a different fidonet, rules was avoided by a strange concept of freedom and trolls are free to ride. :(

Oh, c'mon man! Trolls just want to have fun! Just like Cindi Lauper!

There is no way to 100% verify that the user is giving their real
name, but I check the accounts before validating the users. My
users on my system are held 100% accountable when they do not
follow the rules.

This is also my policy, but it's hard to promote fidonet in a country

where

fidonet was missing for a long time without promising better quality than internet.
But I don't surrender. :)
Keep strong!

Gosh. You are dense.
Unscramble the letters of my name.
What do you come up with?

1. Loose Flea
2. False Oleo

Now you tell me.
Which one is real?

--Lee

--
Pork. The One You Love.

--- MesNews/1.08.05.00-gb
* Origin: news://eljaco.se (2:203/2)

Unscramble the letters of my name.
What do you come up with?

1. Loose Flea
2. False Oleo

3. Leo F. Asole

Ward - Writing from the sailing vessel "Fiene"
--- AfterShock/Android 1.6.8
* Origin: Baby-Glacier (2:292/854.1)

Hello Ward!

11 Aug 19 11:25, you wrote to Lee Lofaso:

Ward - Writing from the sailing vessel "Fiene"

You should be at sea, but I presume there is to much wind to leave the
harbour.

Kees

--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5--b20180707
* Origin: As for me, all I know is that, I know nothing. (2:280/5003.4)

Ward - Writing from the sailing vessel "Fiene"

You should be at sea, but I presume there is to much wind to leave the
harbour.

Correct.

Yesterday there was a force 10, today is better but I see no-one putting out to
sea.


Ward - Writing from the sailing vessel "Fiene"
--- AfterShock/Android 1.6.8
* Origin: Baby-Glacier (2:292/854.1)

Hi, Phil Taylor!
I read your message from 10.08.2019 14:37

ak>>>> But how a person in Fidonet can prove that his name is real?
ak>>>> IMHO, I can't do it even if I wanted to.
TK>>> You dont have to prove it, it is enough that you tell us so.
ak>> I don't understand why they invented a worthless rule.

PT> Some may think its worthless but that the ways is been for a long
PT> time. Look at the internet newsgroups majority of the kiddies took
PT> over and their is no accountability.

Strict accountability has a totalitarian smell. IMHO the main rule of
free people - you are free in choosing your talking partners. Don't talk
with a person you don't like. Don't participate in echoes you don't like.

ML>>> it wasn't and still isn't worthless... it is a safety thing... if
ML>>> someone posts something illegal, there's a known entity to look
ML>>> at since their name is on the post...

ak>> But it is a voluntary, unverified name. If nobody checks it, so
ak>> the rule is worthless.

PT> There is no way to 100% verify that the user is giving their real
PT> name, but I check the accounts before validating the users. My
PT> users on my system are held 100% accountable when they do not
PT> follow the rules.

Besides, now every person can easily create his own Fidonet node and
write anonymously anything he wants. Who should check him?
There are also people who use NNTP news servers for posting to Fidonet.
Their users often located in different countries and nobody can check them.

Bye, Phil!
Alexander Koryagin
fido7.fidonews 2019
--- FIDOGATE 5.1.7ds
* Origin: Pushkin's BBS (2:5020/2140.2)

I think maybe most the sysop do not really care what you think. I can say
that Fidonet has been running fine before you came.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A43 2019/03/02 (Linux/64)
* Origin: New Mystic BBS (1:275/201.1)

Hello Ward,

Unscramble the letters of my name.
What do you come up with?

1. Loose Flea
2. False Oleo

3. Leo F. Asole

Ward - Writing from the sailing vessel "Fiene"

I try to forget that one.

Lee - Writing from a pirogue without a paddle.

--Lee

--
Sleep With Someone New

--- MesNews/1.08.05.00-gb
* Origin: news://eljaco.se (2:203/2)

Hello Phil,

I think maybe most the sysop do not really care what you think. I can say that Fidonet has been running fine before you came.

Running fine? I don't think so. It is a community of sysops
from around the world who have a shared interest. With no rules
other than whatever rules they want to play by (as indidivuals).

There is no constitution or set of bylaws they have agreed to
abide by. A few have put together some documents amongst themselves,
in a vain attempt to force their views on others, but nothing that
would stand up in any court of law as being legit.

This silly "real names" rule is just that. Silly. Here is something
I wrote back in 2003, to Ross Cassell (a big shot in Fidonet at the
time) on this very subject -

Hello Ross,

I have obtained a QWK packet from Jeff Binkleys BBS that proves
this, Jeff is one of several downlinks Dale is providing this stuff
to and is in on this with Dale.

We're SOOOOOOOOO surprised. [/sarcasm] And Georgia is just riddled
with the same holes, isn't it?

I dont know where the Georgia reference fits into this, other than
thats whe Hardegree and Massey live, but since they are downlinks of
Dale and Dale is problem here???

Well, lemme see. Stan Hardegree is a resident of Georgia. And Georgia
has a state law that makes it illegal for folks to pose as aliases on
bulletin boards such as fido. Don't believe me? See Article 6 of
Chapter 9 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. This
law is also known as the "Georgia Computer Systems Protection Act".

As noted in FidoNet Policy Document Version 4.07, such illegal activity
is not allowed anywhere on fido. As such, Stan Hardegree can be deleted
from fido. Of course, that also means that Dale Ross can also be
removed from fido, since he was the one responsible for allowing Stan
Hardegree to pose as Ivan Prokhorov and CD Flanagan in various fido
echoes.

But what the hey. Dale Ross is a fun guy. He even went so far as to
say that he is anybody who has ever used Todd Cochrane's bbs. Can you
imagine that? Dale Ross is Ross Cassell. Dale Ross is Lee Lofaso.
Dale Ross is anybody and everybody who has ever been a participant in
fido. He should be given a medal. As well as a one-way ticket to
the doghouse. :)

--Lee

You might not recognize some (or even any) of the names I mentioned,
as this post was written in 2003 in an echo I have long forgotten.
But the points I made are exactly the same, and just as relevant, in
today's fidonet.

I gave you a cite. You can either take my word for it, or go look
it up yourself. And be amazed at what you find.

What all this means is that we can now delete everybody in fido
and start all over again. With new names of our own choosing.

Whattaya think?

--WhatsMyName

--
Erections, That's Our Game

--- MesNews/1.08.05.00-gb
* Origin: news://eljaco.se (2:203/2)

Hello Alexander,

But how a person in Fidonet can prove that his name is real?
IMHO, I can't do it even if I wanted to.

You dont have to prove it, it is enough that you tell us so.

I don't understand why they invented a worthless rule.

Some may think its worthless but that the ways is been for a long
time. Look at the internet newsgroups majority of the kiddies took
over and their is no accountability.

Strict accountability has a totalitarian smell. IMHO the main rule of
free people - you are free in choosing your talking partners. Don't talk with a person you don't like. Don't participate in echoes you don't like.

Others prefer to expand their horizons.

it wasn't and still isn't worthless... it is a safety thing... if
someone posts something illegal, there's a known entity to look
at since their name is on the post...

But it is a voluntary, unverified name. If nobody checks it, so
the rule is worthless.

There is no way to 100% verify that the user is giving their real
name, but I check the accounts before validating the users. My
users on my system are held 100% accountable when they do not
follow the rules.

Besides, now every person can easily create his own Fidonet node and
write anonymously anything he wants. Who should check him?
There are also people who use NNTP news servers for posting to Fidonet. Their users often located in different countries and nobody can check

them.

Everybody has a name. Here is something I wrote long ago, back in
2003 or thereabouts. In an echo that is now long forgotten -

Hello Ross,

I have obtained a QWK packet from Jeff Binkleys BBS that proves
this, Jeff is one of several downlinks Dale is providing this stuff
to and is in on this with Dale.

We're SOOOOOOOOO surprised. [/sarcasm] And Georgia is just riddled
with the same holes, isn't it?

I dont know where the Georgia reference fits into this, other than
thats whe Hardegree and Massey live, but since they are downlinks of
Dale and Dale is problem here???

Well, lemme see. Stan Hardegree is a resident of Georgia. And Georgia
has a state law that makes it illegal for folks to pose as aliases on
bulletin boards such as fido. Don't believe me? See Article 6 of
Chapter 9 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. This
law is also known as the "Georgia Computer Systems Protection Act".

As noted in FidoNet Policy Document Version 4.07, such illegal activity
is not allowed anywhere on fido. As such, Stan Hardegree can be deleted
from fido. Of course, that also means that Dale Ross can also be
removed from fido, since he was the one responsible for allowing Stan
Hardegree to pose as Ivan Prokhorov and CD Flanagan in various fido
echoes.

But what the hey. Dale Ross is a fun guy. He even went so far as to
say that he is anybody who has ever used Todd Cochrane's bbs. Can you
imagine that? Dale Ross is Ross Cassell. Dale Ross is Lee Lofaso.
Dale Ross is anybody and everybody who has ever been a participant in
fido. He should be given a medal. As well as a one-way ticket to
the doghouse. :)

--Lee

What all this means is that we can now delete everybody in fido
and start all over again. With new names of our own choosing.

Whattaya think?

--
We're Great In Bed

--- MesNews/1.08.05.00-gb
* Origin: news://eljaco.se (2:203/2)

Hello Everybody,

Oden, we have a problem.

M > Rules for the Fidonews Echo
M > Revised: 2004-05-31
M >
M >Description:
M >
M >This is the Fidonews Echo. Area tag: FIDONEWS
M >
M >Moderator:
M >
M >The Fidonews editor, as listed in the nodelist and in the banner of
M >the most recent issue of the Fidonews weekly publication, is the
M >permanent moderator of this echo.

One of your sons, known as Bj�rn (not Bling), seems to have forgotten
to include a long-standing rule. The rule of real names. And you know
what that means.

M >Policy:
M >
M >The Echopol1 policy applies where applicable, with the exception that
M >characters above 0x7e hex, 126 decimal (sometimes known as HI ASCII)
M >*are* permitted (i.e. para V.18.a does not apply).

All characters get to play, in both the echo and the newsletter?
What about languages? If the devil can play his fiddle, then Cajuns
should be able to play theirs, oui?

M >Availability:
M >
M >Every sysop is encouraged to make this echo available to any user,
M >that's interested in reading and writing in it.

Well, give the devil his due!

M >Purpose:
M >
M >The purpose of this echo is the discussion of recent articles (within
M >the last two weeks) in the Fidonews publication.

Okay, okay. Got my shiny new pencil out the drawer. Haven't used
it since grade school, but there's still a bit of lead in it. Just
gotta find a sharpener so I can write with it.

M >General Rules:
M >
M > 1. The moderator's ruling is final.
M >
M > 2. No vulgar language. This includes, but is not limited to, flames
M > and profanities.
M >
M > 3. Discuss only articles printed in the Fidonews Publication. A certain M > amount of straying from this is however expected and encouraged.
M >
M > 4. In the event that some ingenious person figures out a way to bypass
M > these rules, the moderator reserves the right to make a rule to
M > end the situation.
M >
M > 5. Articles are not to be submitted nor will they be accepted in the
M > echo. If you can write a comment in the echo, you can just as easily M > make that a personal letter to the editor -- everyone in the echo
M > will still see it, only a few days later.

See there? No real names rule. None at all.

M >Fidonews Editor, 2:2/2, Moderator

We are free! Free at last! Free to use whatever real names we want!
Just like we always have!

Maybe that is why the rule was dropped, as the moderator realized it
was never needed in the first place. Or perhaps, just perhaps, he knew
it all along, just wanted to find out how long it would take everybody
else to figure it out. Talk about sneaky.

For those who still don't get it -

Anyone can do a name change. You don't even need to be married.
Just start writing your new name without any court action, and at
no cost. See how easy that is?

And the groovy thing is, using a new name expands your horizons,
as you can always use it again. And again. And again. As many times
as you like. And knowing it is always your real name, regardless of
which one it is. Or just keep collecting them, and put them all in
a drawer for you to use at your own discretion.

I have so many real names I have lost count. Now that everything
has gone digital, I am not limited by space. In fact, I have created
a program that automatically creates new real names. Just for me.

But that is another topic for another day ...

--Lee

--
I won't fan the flames of hate, ~Joe Biden

--- MesNews/1.08.05.00-gb
* Origin: news://eljaco.se (2:203/2)