Subj : FidoNews 42:23 [02/08]: The Fidonet Legacy
To : All
From : FidoNews Robot
Date : Mon Jun 09 2025 12:54 am
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THE FIDONET LEGACY
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Fidonet is not a democracy
Bj�rn Felten, 2:2/2
Democracy is an almost perfect system of governance, if executed
properly. Unfortunately, there are few examples of this. The most
crucial factor is that the electorate must be adequately educated,
so that they can make informed decisions. They must know what and
whom they are voting for.
A network is a technical entity, and as such, every decision must
be made by individuals who possess the necessary knowledge. That means
it has to be a technocracy.
Technocracy, in the context of governance, refers to a system where
decision-making is guided by individuals with specialised technical
expertise rather than elected politicians.
It is essentially a form of government where experts in specific
fields provide advice and guidance on policy matters, leading to
decisions that, at least in theory, are based on rational and data-
driven principles rather than political considerations.
In Fidonet, we use Coordinators to ensure its smooth operation.
Only they know what it takes. Really know. That is why our policy
makes sure that only Coordinators can make the proper decisions about
how to operate it.
This, of course, is how it works in a perfect world, with perfect
people who always follow the rules. Unfortunately, this has not always
been the case. In the next episode, you will learn more about how
power- and money-greed sometimes have had a detrimental impact on our
network.
