If any of you are surpised by Ward's filthy language, he's been talking
like this about me for the past 25 years. This is no surprise to me as he hates me passionately for my citizenship and politics are not like his and
it makes him hate me so. The best thing to do is just to ignore him and his ilk; once you quit feeding their egos they will go elsewhere to get the attention they so desire.

Ward is a pain everywhere he appears and often uses backhanded tactics to
gain illicit access to areas he doesn't belong or just plain threatens
people until they give in.

Ward has no power in this echo and don't let him make you think he does.

That is why I am relentlessly moderating him so Ward realizes that unless he cleans up his act, I do not want him here.

If he threatens you in private (which he has been known to do), just ignore him. Ward misses the zone wars of the late 90s and he still thinks that
being a zone coordinator--which is nothing more than an overglorified
nodelist clerk--gives him some sense of power in this now-decentralized network.

I recommend using a twit filter if you are able to; it'll make
participating in Fidonet much more enjoyable since the Fidonet
administration is neutered in every way and cannot police their own.

This is the last I will mention this in the echo publicly.

I apologize for the filthy language being used in here by Ward and possibly others but I will do my best to stop this.

-- Sean
FIDOGAZETTE Moderator

___ MultiMail/FreeBSD v0.52

--- Maximus/2 3.01
* Origin: Outpost BBS (1:18/200)

I recommend using a twit filter if you are able to; it'll make participating in Fidonet much more enjoyable since the Fidonet administration is neutered in every way and cannot police their own.

Sorry, what's a 'twit filter'? I mean, the name is pretty self explanatory,
but I have never heard of it. Could you please provide me the info I would
need to use one? There is more than one twit on Fido that I'd like to
filter...

Sorry for going off-topic again, and thanks in advance!

McDoob
SysOp, PiBBS
pibbs.sytes.net

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: PiBBS (1:229/110)

Sorry, what's a 'twit filter'? I mean, the name is pretty self explanatory, but I have never heard of it. Could you please provide me the info I would need to use one? There is more than one twit on Fido that I'd like to filter...

Mystic has a built in twit filter as do many readers like golded. You can use it to simply skip messages from people you'd rather not read.

If no twit filter is available you can simply use the next key.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-5
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)

Mystic has a built in twit filter as do many readers like golded. You
can use it to simply skip messages from people you'd rather not read.

If no twit filter is available you can simply use the next key.

Basically, filter the twit on this side of the keyboard? ;)

I'll look into this, thanks!

McDoob
SysOp, PiBBS
pibbs.sytes.net

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: PiBBS (1:229/110)

Shaun,

Sorry, what's a 'twit filter'? I mean, the name is pretty self
explanatory, but I have never heard of it. Could you please provide me
the info I would need to use one? There is more than one twit on Fido
that I'd like to filter...

Putting someone in a twit-filter is admitting defeat in an on-going debate. It has its merrits to not do that because to paraphrase Ransy Pausch "The best gold is at the bottom of barrels of crap".

There always be something interesting that comes, for example I never twitted the one whose name we're not supposed to speak.

\%/@rd

--- DB4 - Jan 09 2022
* Origin: Hou het veilig, hou vol. Het komt allemaal weer goed (2:292/854)

Ward,

Putting someone in a twit-filter is admitting defeat in an on-going debate. It has its merrits to not do that because to paraphrase Ransy Pausch "The best gold is at the bottom of barrels of crap".

There always be something interesting that comes, for example I never twitted the one whose name we're not supposed to speak.

After I read the last few messages you've sent, you must realize that you'd
be one of the twits I wish to filter, yes? Being on fido for three decades
does not make it okay to be a jerk. Being a ZC, RC, or any other position of responsibility should actually preclude being a jerk!

I fully agree with your quote. Clearly, you're not *always* a jerk. Often, but not always. And my belief system tells me to give everyone a second chance. This is why you haven't already been filtered off. Do try to make the best of it. :)

Meanwhile, this is very much off-topic.

McDoob
SysOp, PiBBS
pibbs.sytes.net
--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: PiBBS (1:229/110)

Shaun Buzza wrote to Sean Dennis <=-

Sorry, what's a 'twit filter'? I mean, the name is pretty self explanatory, but I have never heard of it. Could you please provide me
the info I would need to use one? There is more than one twit on Fido
that I'd like to filter...

A 'twit filter' is a program that scans your message bases and removes
messages to or from a person listed in a configuration file for the filter. One program is TWITKILL for Squish.

Sorry for going off-topic again, and thanks in advance!

It's okay; it's an honest mistake. Ward, Michiel, and others have been in Fidonet for decades and their sole reason for existing is to hate everyone
who is not like them.

As Ward was famous for saying ages ago: "If you don't like my messages, hit
the NEXT key". I recommend doing so as dealing with those characters is
just a waste of time.

-- Sean

___ MultiMail/FreeBSD v0.52
--- Maximus/2 3.01
* Origin: Outpost BBS (1:18/200)

Ward Dossche wrote to Shaun Buzza <=-

Putting someone in a twit-filter is admitting defeat in an

This is off-topic; take it elsewhere.

-- Sean
FIDOGAZETTE Moderator

___ MultiMail/FreeBSD v0.52
--- Maximus/2 3.01
* Origin: Outpost BBS (1:18/200)

Shaun Buzza wrote to Ward Dossche <=-

Meanwhile, this is very much off-topic.

Thank you. I'll drop this also as I have a newsletter to publish.

-- Sean
FIDOGAZETTE Moderator

___ MultiMail/FreeBSD v0.52
--- Maximus/2 3.01
* Origin: Outpost BBS (1:18/200)

Alan,

Mystic has a built in twit filter as do many readers like golded. You
can use it to simply skip messages from people you'd rather not read.

Most BBS packages have one. Since 1992, I've run GT Power, Virtual Advanced (VADV32), and now Synchronet. They have a "trashcan file" where you can put things like obscenities (I've known individuals who would rather logon with vulgar names than their real name), and if they try to provide that name, they're told "it's in use, or not allowed" (more likely the latter if it's vulgar).

The original author of GT Power, Paul Meiners, wrote in the documentation (which he lamented that he wrote terrible documentation), that "this file
will test your creativity!! <GRIN!!>". <G>

I've known women who had such a filthy mouth that they'd make a sailor
blush. To me, profanity is the attempt of a feeble mind to express itself forcibly. My late Mom and late wife had enough of a command of the English language that they didn't have to resort to such filthy talk...and my late
wife could tell someone off, and not use one word of profanity. It's like
the saying "If you can't say something nice, don't say it all". However,
some people in the world aren't happy, unless they make other folks lives miserable.

My wife and I had the privilege to meet Sean several years ago, a few
years before she died...and I've never had a problem with him. He's also
a fellow amateur radio operator...so we have that and our BBS's in common.
And, his CHEEPWARE software has some neat stuff with it...my programming
ends at setting the clock on the microwave oven...I guess I'll starve to
death if I forget how to do that. <G>

If no twit filter is available you can simply use the next key.

Yep....the <ENTER> key gets used regularly.

Daryl

... I'm not deaf...I'm ignoring you.
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (1:2320/33)

Sean,

A 'twit filter' is a program that scans your message bases and removes messages to or from a person listed in a configuration file for the filter. One program is TWITKILL for Squish.

GT Power had a utility called SPOTKILL -- where you could tell the system
to delete messages to or from an individual, change the alias to a real name (if known), or mark the message to stay local, and not echo out. Even though
I no longer run GT Power, I still have a majority of their utilities online.

Unlike FIDONet, the GT Power Network (especially in its heyday) would
have echo sponsors/moderators, like other message networks. But, the way
GT Power was set up, all messages would go to the sponsor/host system
first for moderator approval. If approved, they would be allowed to echo
out to the rest of the network, and to all systems that carried it.
Otherwise, the only system where the message would be shown was where
the message originated...as the moderator would've likely zapped it.

With FIDONet and other FTN (and also QWK Networks), any number of systems
may see the message before it gets to where the moderator is. They may be
able to implement "a feed cut", but unfortunately, these "twits" usually
try to get a workaround.

Daryl

... I tried an internal modem, but it hurt when I walked.
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (1:2320/33)

Mystic has a built in twit filter as do many readers like golded. You
can use it to simply skip messages from people you'd rather not read.

Most BBS packages have one. Since 1992, I've run GT Power, Virtual Advanced (VADV32), and now Synchronet. They have a "trashcan file" where you can put things like obscenities (I've known individuals who would rather logon with vulgar names than their real name), and if they try to provide that name, they're told "it's in use, or not allowed" (more likely the latter if it's vulgar).

BBBS also has a twit filter. It is a non destructive filter. Each user can set up a filter on names or subjects they'd rather not be bothered with. Then those messages are just skipped when reading mail online or downloading a packet for an offline reader.

It doesn't work for user 0 though, so I press enter/next a lot.

If no twit filter is available you can simply use the next key.

Yep....the <ENTER> key gets used regularly.

Yes, the old standby!

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-5
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)

Hello Sean,

On Tuesday January 11 2022 18:51, you wrote to Shaun Buzza:

Ward, Michiel, and others have been in Fidonet for decades and their
sole reason for existing is to hate everyone who is not like them.

This is off-topic, please take it elsewhere.


Cheers, Michiel

--- GoldED+/W32-MSVC 1.1.5-b20170303
* Origin: http://www.vlist.eu (2:280/5555)

Hello Alan,

Tuesday January 11 2022 23:03, you wrote to Daryl Stout:

It doesn't work for user 0 though, so I press enter/next a lot.

So the sysop's mail cannot be filtered? I can see the reasoning for that but that also defeats the use of a twit filter/killfile.

Glad to see you in here!

-- Sean

... Gravity brings me down.
--- GoldED/2 3.0.1
* Origin: Outpost BBS Sysop Console (1:18/200)

As Ward was famous for saying ages ago: "If you don't like my messages,
hit the NEXT key".

Actually, that is re-writing history.

Several of us were ambushed continuously, for years, by the one whose name we're not supposed to say and when complaining about that, we were told by the powers that be, to "Use the next key".

That's all.

\%/@rd

--- DB4 - Jan 09 2022
* Origin: Hou het veilig, hou vol. Het komt allemaal weer goed (2:292/854)

Meanwhile, this is very much off-topic.

Thank you. I'll drop this also as I have a newsletter to publish.

We're waiting ... anxiously ... desperately ... for whatever relevant stuff it's going to contain other than re-hashed recipes, messages from the CATS-echo (it's available, I think) and some of your historic rants about me.◄
Take care,

\%/@rd

--- DB4 - Jan 09 2022
* Origin: Hou het veilig, hou vol. Het komt allemaal weer goed (2:292/854)

Ward and company helped to engineer the "decentralization" of Fidonet. These days, you can get a node number and a feed from anywhere and
there's really nothing anyone can do about it.

That is also a re-writing of history:

1) How to get a nodenumber is well described in P4. You should try it
yourself one day after all these years of escaping the scrutiny of a net

You can 'not' get a nodenumber anywhere.

2) What's so bad about getting multiple feeds and getting them from anywhere
or anyone? The days of the 'Khontrol' have been gone for years. Fidonet is
now mostly peer-to-peer ... a lot of people saw to that. It was invoked by
the Fidonews-debacle.

And yups, there's nothing anyone can do about that ... it's a free world.
Freedom of speech is a thing.

In your case, Dossche's Laws on Online Communication #6 #7 and #17 apply. You should really read them... Especially the #17.

Take care,

\%/@rd

--- DB4 - Jan 09 2022
* Origin: Hou het veilig, hou vol. Het komt allemaal weer goed (2:292/854)

It doesn't work for user 0 though, so I press enter/next a lot.

So the sysop's mail cannot be filtered?

That seems to be the case. Filters I enter don't work for me although I see nothing in the docs about it.

I have another account on the BBS so I can check how things work/look for an everyday user and the filter works as expected.

I can see the reasoning for that but that also defeats the use of a twit filter/killfile.

Only for my own regular account, user 0. It seems the sysop must read everything!

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-5
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)

On 12 Jan 2022, Ward Dossche said the following...

told by the powers that be, to "Use the next key".

I Can't find my 'Next' key. :-(

Mick Manning
-(< BluesNET - The Musician's Network >)-

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/12/24 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: Central Ontario BluesNET (1:229/307)

On 2022 Jan 12 18:20:24, you wrote to Ward Dossche:

I Can't find my 'Next' key. :-(

it is beside the ANY key ;)

)\/(ark

"The soul of a small kitten in the body of a mighty dragon. Look on my majesty, ye mighty, and despair! Or bring me catnip. Your choice. Oooh, a shiny thing!"
... Don't be sexist. Chicks hate it.
---
* Origin: (1:3634/12.73)