I have a secret life. In that life, it is still the early 1990’s, and the internet is just a gleam in Al Gore’s eye. I send mail to other countries by bouncing it over many systems. I pack, and transfer mail from other systems for other systems. I’m a Network Coordinator for FidoNet’s Net229, and I’m watching my hobby fall apart.

There are 6 Zones in FidoNet. They are as follows:
1. North America
2. Europe (including Russia)
3. Australia
4. South America
5. Africa
6. Asia

Each one of these Zones has a Coordinator, called a ZC. They tend to make the big decisions in FidoNet, and have the final say about what goes on in their respective zone. One of these ZCs is elected, by the ZCs themselves, to be the IC. (International Coordinator) The IC is currently also the Z2C. he’s like a board Chairman, and he’s trying to kill my hobby.

He was recently voted out of his position (this week) and he came back with a decree, basically as a representation. Zone 2 currently holds the vast majority of nodes in Fido, about 8,500 of the 10,000 He said his vote should have far more weight than the other ZC’s vote, because he spoke for more sysops.

Basically, this would make him the all-powerful GOD of FidoNet. Most FidoNet users don’t care about the politics, they just want to get their mail, and talk to each other in their quaint, old-fashioned ways.

Needless to say, many people are quite upset about this, we were hoping Ward (the Z2C/Former IC) would transfer his IC hat easly, but it looks like he’s going to be a big baby about it, and fight tooth an nail to hold on to his monarchy.

I’m guessing most of you have no idea what I’m talking about, or really don’t care, but I needed to get it off my chest. questions can be directed to me in comments, I’ll try to answer.