
\section{European Autonomy and Domestic Meddlers}

\dropcap{S}\kern3pt ince\plainmargintext{by Tom Jennings,�
1:125/111, June 89. An article I wrote for FidoNews, the�
electronic newsletter of the FidoNet communications�
network.} I see my name is getting dragged into this, I thought�
I'd respond on the subject of Zone 2's autonomy, which is really�
an issue of control.

First of all, no one need worry about trademark abuse; I am in�
contact with all parties involved, and there is nothing to worry�
about. Things will be settled to everyone's benefit and�
satisfaction. No further discussion is needed on this matter. 

It is none of our business\margintext{What's going on is,�
provincial law'n'order control freaks in the U.S. were (and still�
are) trying to make (in this case) European FidoNet members�
behave `like us', the `correct' way. Same old story. It's�
especially embarrassing in an international environment. The good�
part is that it really {\rm is} an inter-national environment,�
and people {\rm are} learning. It's not a pretty process to watch�
though, and real damage does get done along the way. Oh well.}�
how Zone 2 (or any other zone) runs their network(s), other than�
how they interface to us, just as it is no business to net 125�
how net XYZ runs theirs, unless it somehow physically affects our�
operation. If they have different criteria for joining a network,�
what business is it of ours? To meddle ahead of time ``in case�
they do something awful'', is silly; they are no more (or less)�
likely to do something stupid than we in Zone 1 are. Europe is�
not just the U.S.-only-different; it is a totally different�
environment, socially, technically, legally and politically.�
Europe is none of our damn business. 

Zone 1 is not the police force of the world. Have we not learned �
our lessons from other arenas? We do not ``have'' a unified 
world-wide network, nor is such a thing even desirable. What we�
do have is a number of cooperative networks, that can cooperate�
in a world-wide networking effort. This is a critical difference. 

Unfortunately, meddlers and control freaks will not give up until�
everything not exactly like themselves is squashed or�
controlled\margintext{It's funny for me to read two years later�
and see how fast and how far the law'n'order mentality has gone�
in this country. Ha ha.}. Or they are in turn removed. We have a�
growing bureaucracy in our Zone 1 that wants to reorganize us�
from being a bottom-up network, where sysops choose their net�
hosts and other /0's, and determine how to run their own BBS,�
nets and lives, to one (according to POLICY4) where the existing�
bureaucracy picks their own region and net hosts. Bureaucrats�
always tell us, if they can control this one more thing, then all�
the problems will be solved.

Our network has never run smoothly, and I propose that it will�
{\it never} run smoothly; this is good, not bad. It means we're�
alive, only dead rigid bureaucracies are pure order. (Or pretend�
they are.) Excessive order is not good for any organism. It�
stifles creativity and free expression. Let's take a hint from�
history, OK?

\hbox to\bigcol{\hfil\endblob}

