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   
      
   --- MesNews/1.06.00.00-gb   
    * Origin: news://felten.yi.org (2:203/2)