If a user sends a "private message", the user has no control over the number of intermediate systems through which that message is routed. A sysop who sends a message to another sysop can control this aspect by sending the message direct to the recipient's system, thus guaranteeing that only the recipient or another individual to whom that sysop has given authorization can read the message. Thus, a sysop may have different expectations than a casual user.
translated: we have a hierarchy of rights. sysop-gods have a right and expectation to private mail. the user-peons have neither.
Disclosing or in any way using information contained in private netmail traffic not addressed to you or written by you is considered annoying behavior, unless the traffic has been released by the author or the recipient as a part of a formal policy complaint.
"annoying behavior" -- what a cute PC euphemism. who's the idiot academic who came up with that? try "moral & ethical bankruptcy" instead.
As far as I can tell, the ability (perhaps the right) to fuss around in other folks' business and other folks' mail is one of the factors (along with the ability to create and enforce any number of rules and regulations) which makes people think it's fun to run a BBS.
the "paternal paranoia instinct". ask wells or kleinpaste for a lecture on it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- To find out more about the anon service, send mail to help@anon.penet.fi. Due to the double-blind, any mail replies to this message will be anonymized, and an anonymous id will be allocated automatically. You have been warned. Please report any problems, inappropriate use etc. to admin@anon.penet.fi.
In article <9310010728.AA15983@anon.penet.fi> you write:
If a user sends a "private message", the user has no control over the number of intermediate systems through which that message is routed. A sysop who sends a message to another sysop can control this aspect by sending the message direct to the recipient's system, thus guaranteeing that only the recipient or another individual to whom that sysop has given authorization can read the message. Thus, a sysop may have different expectations than a casual user.
translated: we have a hierarchy of rights. sysop-gods have a right and expectation to private mail. the user-peons have neither.
Translated back to the real world: The sysop can always choose to pay for a direct connect to deliver mail items directly from his machine to the target machine, rather than route mail through intermediate systems. That priveledge, (and this is the important bit, so I'll shout) AND THE COST of providing such a facility may or may not be extended to customers of the system. FIDONet is, in general, payed for out of the pockets of ordinary folks. A typical BBS system is owned by an ordinary folk (bad singular), who owns the system. It's their system, they make the rules (what internet folks call "Acceptable Use Policy") that customers of the service have to abide by. If the Sysop wants his stand alone BBS to join an network (ANY NETWORK), then their system has to abide by the Acceptable Use Policy of that network. If a customer of a service doesn't like a service (any service), he can: (a) put up and shut up (b) go to somewhere that does provide satisfaction (c) start his own service on the basis there is a market opportunity The bottom line of communications is: someone has to pay for it. You're sitting out there, shouting from an anonymous remailer, access to which somebody else probably paid for anyway, about things of which you have little comprehension. If you feel FIDONet policy is wrong, and you want to do something about it, get involved. Otherwise, don't use FIDOnet, and don't just winge. (Never thought I'd have to get into this kind of discussion in a high quality mailing list like this one. Please note none of the above is intended as a statement of support for FIDOnet politics, which are as <fill in your choice of description here> as internet politics...) ----------------------------------------+------------------------------------ David Buckley of Electric Solutions Ltd | Email: dbuckley@cix.compulink.co.uk Services to the Computing,Electronics | dbuckley@esl-hub.demon.co.uk and Entertainment industries. | 2:254/90@fidonet -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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David Buckley