Educational program - Fido: big brother of the Internet.

Recently, in various  electronic
and  traditional publications are increasingly appearing
phrases FIDO or FIDOnet - name  some
commercial computer network FidoNet.      
We also did not lag behind  this tradition,
especially since we now also have access to it
direct relationship.                         
  In Samara  echo conference SMR.GENERAL
we  came across  on  message,  containing
"forward" (taken from another conference)
tions) article about Fido. The author of the message is also there
Mike Shirobokov  asked everyone,  who  may
publish it.                          
Well, how could you not respond? And here she is: 
                                          
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* Forwarded by Mike Shirobokov (2:5057/14)
* Area : MISTRESS.RUS (MISTRESS.RUS)      
* From : Irene L. Nikitina, 2:5030/23.1   
         (Wednesday January 08 1997 21:00)
* Then : All                              
* Subj : Article about FIDO. Which I liked
  curled. By request.             
==========================================
==========================================
* Forwarded by Irene L. Nikitina (2:5030/ 
                                     23.1)
* Area : SPB.SYSOP (SPB.SYSOP)            
* From : Andrew Smetankin, 2:5030/153     
         (08 January 97, Wednesday 16:26) 
* То   : All                              
* Subj : Статья о ФИДО. Которая мне понра-
         вилась. По просьбам.             
==========================================
 * Originally Ву: Evgeny Pliss            
 * Originally То: All                     
 * Originally Re: Статья о ФИДО. Которая  
             мне понравилась. По просьбам. * Original Date: 05 Jan 97  01:16:50     
 * Original Area: N5020.SYSOP.TALK        
 * Forwarded by : Blue Wave/DOS v2.30     
                                          
 НЕДЕЛЯ  (Московское  приложение  к газете
"Известия")  N45 / 1996,  Рубрика "Компью-
теры".                                    
                                          
      ФИДО: СТАРШИЙ бРАТ ИНТЕРНЕТА.       
     ===============================      
                                          
  Уже почти шесть лет рядом с нами спокой-
но, без ажиотажа, без лишней рекламной шу-
михи работает сеть,о которой многие,как ни
странно,  не имеют никакого представления.
Сеть, которую можно без преувеличения наз-
вать старшим братом Интернета. Well, who hasn’t yet understood that there is no God except
Internet,  and  WWW - His prophet? Ay-ay-ay,
How about you not ashamed! Serious people from
leading  western  firms spending crazy
money  to explain to people that
Network is modern, fast, reliable,
comfortable, after all - fashionable. They generally
do not  understand  how  we used to live without
Internet.  Now  almost every
home  computer,  sold in the West,
comes with a high-speed modem and package
programs for  work  in Internet. Stan-
standard cost of connecting to information
online  Network resources  in The USA has already fallen to
$29.95  per month, regardless of time
work on the line. Talking about the largest
The world network is full of newspapers, magazines, television
vision and radio. Waves of this information
nogo tsunami gradually reaching Russia
these but, frankly speaking, not very much yet
a lot of  whom they sway. Why? C public access
Our Internet connection is still tight: if
afford  an average 486th computer for
$600 a mass buyer can, in principle,
then pay $60 a month forluxury an hour or two
many people cannot spend one hour a day on the Internet
by  pocket. Moreover, the Russian presence
in  The network is not yet very noticeable, but the official
al and the most common language -
English - most of us only know
at  level  "May name  from Vasya, ah liv in
Moscow.
taught. So their Internet is for our wide
which audience is still not very suitable. So what?
us  do - consider   ourselves  poor
relatives on the outskirts of the information
society and wait patiently until
Will the internetization of the entire country come?From correspondence to  Fido Irina Toptigina
(Kyiv):                                   
I was once leafing through a collection of dictations for
5-9 grades and found the following text:
Italian worker Carlo Soriani, returned
leaving  from work, I found a freezing puppy.
He  squeaked so pitifully that Carlo could not
washing  took it home. Puppy from day one
relentlessly  ran  for  Carlo.  3a  this is ma-
lazyfriend was named Fido - which is translated
water means  "true". When the dog is under
growing up, he spent every morninghis master
on to work. In the evening a faithful friend met
his  owner. But one day Fido never
waited Carlo. He died from the fascist
bombs during the bombing. Years passed, but
Fido came to the bus stop every evening and
waited... The city residents decided to build a pa-
pendulum  true friend. Was on the pedestal
the inscription was made: "Fido. An example of devotion-
ty".                                      
                                          
            Pedigree of Fido.             
           ------------------            
  The Fido network was invented by the young los
-Angeles  programmer Tom Jen-
nings  in  1984 year.That's when they
John   Madill  from  Baltimore written
a program that allows you to quickly and without special
hassle of exchanging electronic messages -
mi.  To their acquaintances this idea seemed interesting.
resnoy, and  online by August 1984
Fido there were about  30  nodes,  in  February
1985 - 160, and ten years later, in February
ral 1995 - more than 37 thousand around the world
ru: from Spain to Australia. The first grew
Siysk node  Fido appeared in 1990 in
Novosibirsk. About the same time
nodes emerged nodes  in Chelyabinsk, Moscow and Le-
ningrad.                                 
(NOTE: Contrary to popular belief
Gende, Jennings never had a dog
nicknamed Fido).                          
                                          
                                          
From correspondence with FidoAlex Sotnik (Berlin):
Tor Tep by European regions Fido:     
                                          
    State   Number of nodes     
                                          
l.  Germany  6608                 
2.  Russia   2S29                 
3.  Holland   lOlЧ                 
4.  Украина          90S                  
S.  Великобритания   809                  
6.  Швеция           S74                  
7.  Дания            S22                  
8.  Италия           462                  
9.  бeльгия          297                  
l0. Испания          286                  
                                          
Эта десятка (из 35-тиregions) is
more than 80% of the total number of nodes in Ev-
rope - there are currently 16291 of them.       
                                          
                                          
            Tops and roots.             
           ------------------            
  After publication in the central press
a number of unsuccessful materials,  written
people, as a rule, far from computers
tern community in general  and  Fido in
in particular  (if we ourselves  we produce,
ourselves and consume... - remark /281.281)
this network  is drawn in  consciousness average
citizen  as  some  virtual
a space  inhabited by gloomy hackers
we whomdon’t feed bread - just give it
with  help Fido  and  modem hack
electronic protection, rob a bank or
write  malicious virus, from which
your computer will burn out, your monitor will burst and you'll be gone.
beloved woman is born. The authors of these publications are
tions represent  fidoshnik as pimply
a teenager with a lot of complexes, stooped
a beaten, bespectacled guy who, in addition to a computer,
nothing   not  interesting days and  nights
staring half-blindly at the monitor, generally
sharing only with one’s own kind for lack-
stupid   simple mortal  slang  (type:
"The mailer from the filelist node fracked - sypies
solid, not a single retrain!"). Undoubtedly
but, if desired, you can dig up per-
characters and more colorful. But to write in such
tone about the entire Network - at least  upper
glamor. As one of the fathers of Fido Ren wrote,
di bush: "If something floats on the surface -
ty, then it’s not necessarily cream.”        
                                          
           Fido cannot be purchased.            
          ----------------------------           
  Not a single city in the world can boast
such an extensive Fido network as Moscow. Theme
however, we have about such a large (more than 700
nodes)  and  already  not the first year of existing
networks relatively few people know. Rather
in total  because  that Fido, unlike the modern
external Internet,non-commercial network,and
therefore,  not  concerned with questions
profitability and widespread self-promotion.       
                                          
  From correspondence with Fido Harry Bush (Riga):  
... it is impossible to bring it into agreement,
responsible,  serious and boring _work
those_ Fido - this colorful, multilingual, emo-
national,  sometimes  complex and
angry, witty, self-willed, free-willed
I beat  and the lazy global party, which
Raya finds joy in  the very  opportunity
communicate with each other through created and
ephemeral structures rebuilt by it
networks... I like it all! But - parties -
ka, carnival,  party, even on occasion
corner   of the store,  a little nonsense and
quite a serious professional seminar,
snide  irony and occasionally excellent
humor,  disputes about politics and a small fight
on the  staircase  landing - everything is there, and
here is the conveyor no work. Even power
the notorious coordinators are also in some
sense  toy... although emotions - oh-oh-
-oh...  Do not  do not exaggerate the danger
"capture"  Fido by such sharks of capitalization
ma...                                     
  In Fido  there are no words "warranty" and "material"
personal  responsibility", and that says it all
but...  Role  Fido is probably in something else,
here it is very easy to experience all the delight of entering
waiting in CyberSpace...                    
                                          
 Anyone can connect to Fido for free
willing. A beginner is required to have at least a
minimal  level of competence in modem-
but computer-software  affairs, which
if desired quite  easily achieved.
It is precisely this desire, it seems to me, that
is  another  difference fidoshnik from
Internet user: last one to buy
yourself access to the Network.  To be in Fido,
it is necessary  to apply certain efforts
Liya, invest soul  into her hobby. Fido
you can't  buy,  and  this is undoubted
dignity. Potential fidoshnik  himself
installs and configures programs, not
necessary for work, and if something goes wrong,
it turns out that  then he can always countfor  help from  more experienced colleagues. This Network
initially   is arranged  so that holds
solely  on  her voluntary efforts
participants. Network performance as a whole
depends on the normal operation of the set of
separate stations. On the Internet in case of an accident
one  transit node mail will be automatically
technically redirected through any other
amateur Fido network such luxury for yourself
allow  not  can for purely technical reasons
reasons:  no  no satellite channels, no
transatlantic   cables,  nor  super
computers. However, thanks to this
This network device in Fido has a special
system of relationships,  implying
responsibility of each system operator
tora not only for their actions, but also for
actions of those who go online through it
node  So when I next time
I hear a rather well-worn saying about
that both good and free does not happen, it is obligatory
I’ll ask carefully: “What about Fido?”                  
                                          
            Communication tool.           
           ---------------------          
  In the 70s - 80s  in  Moscow and Leningrad
there was a very interesting phenomenon, in
a narrow  circle of those dedicated to it called "ether".
On  some  old  telephone exchanges
there were mysterious numbers that did not belong
not a single subscriber. Several people
callers  on  such a mysterious number
way (in fact it was a defect in the installation-
roaring  PBX) were able to communicate
at the same time.  Fi-
boring conferences. By subscribing to the conference
rencia  (that is, taking it from any
be Fido node on your computer), you
you get the opportunity read all messages
from her subscribers. If you decide to include
get into conversation and write something yourself
If you write,  then  your message will also go viral
all subscribers conferences.  Noticed
that at a big celebration the company is inescapable
quickly  breaks up  into small groups of
interests. The same thing happens in Fido.
Only   groups  here  occurs more,
than at the coolest party: alone today
only  Russian speaking  conferences  in Fido
there are more than S00. Topics discussed in them
a wide variety are given: books, music,
kitchen,  cinema,  cars,  tourism, creative
honor, love, religion, games, jokes,
children,  school, learning, foreign languages,
culture, dreams, fishing and hunting, playing
guitar, art song, Internet trips,
oriental  martial  arts,  psychology,
magic,  UFO, medicine, photography, sports,
television, sex, science, astrology, Shah-
swearing, politics and much more.       
                                          
  From correspondence in Fido  Irina  Kalyazhnova
(Moscow):                                 
  And how do our mothers live without FIDO? And not
only mothers... Terrible horror!              
                                          
Dasha Shuleko (Moscow):                   
  I talked with a woman who really needed
was from me one piece of paper with information.
There is no photocopiernearby, so I think the scanner is
neighbor  -  without  problems, I’d better send it to her
fax, so as not to bother recognizing symbols
ly... And then I realize that she doesn’t have a mod-
ma.  And  computer too. End of story
sad - I gave her this piece of paper,
so that  she copied it to me by email
sent by mail. I never saw this one again
women, not your piece of paper.                   
                                          
  Here everyone will find  a theme to their liking,
will meet like-minded people  and, of course,
opponents. Experienced fidoshniks joke: “Fido
-  this is network of friends. Because strangers
people throw mud at each other like that
not  for  what."  Indeed,  in some
conferences  so  or otherwise related
politics,   passions sometimes splash through
edge... I had to watch how fi-
doshniks, long-time “faithful enemies”, previously known
which  only  by  correspondence,  with  personal
meeting they discovered that there was no
lo  general. But in any case, reading the con-
ferences are a voluntary matter: signed up -
I didn’t like it - I unsubscribed.               
 For example, if  you  not ready daily
scroll through hundreds of letters from teenagers,
do not  subscribe to a conference about sex.
And  if you subscribed, well, be patient... And
if it seems to you that in the existing set-
re  conferences are not reflected, say, the topic
feminist  movement, that no one to you
prevents  from creating such a  conference yourself.
For programmers, and simply for users
Fido expanse - almost half of the conferences
dedicated to  various computer models,
application programs, operating systems
mothers languages and programming technologies
niya, networks,  electronic  components,
computer  "hardware", etc. Special
group  conferences forms a kind of virtual
nal  market where feeders can do anything
be buy/sell friend  friend, be it
a baby stroller or stroller that has become unnecessary
processor  Pentium Pro. In the same group
there is very useful  conference, in
which fidoshniki  make up  "black" and
"white" lists of companies selling computers
mi, components (and not only them). Fir-
ma  gets into the "black list" if not
how many  person (it is desirable that at least
one from them  was well known in Fido)
speak about  her supported by facts
negative  opinion, for example: “I came to
company  F,  to buy hardware X.
tsat stood in the sales area for minutes, waiting
giving the seller.  Managers  pretend that
terribly busy and don't notice the client. Nako-
Netz, from the utility room, picking his teeth, lazy
 the seller came out. Ten minutes he looked
on the  side, condescending and illiterate
explained to me why the Y piece of iron is much
cooler than the hardware I need X. In the end
it turned out  that the piece of iron Y have been around for a week
out of stock. As a result, I spent a lot
mu  nerves  and  three hours of time. I suggest
enter the company  F. to the "black list". If
 this letter will be followed by several more,
then the company will be blacklisted.
In a similar deliberative manner creates-
xia  and the "white list" which includes
companies  with competent staff, attentive
related to customers, offering good
best choice at decent prices and normal
warranty service, etc.  Both are listed
ka  are published weekly in the conference,
which, in addition to schoolchildren and students,
melting also heads of automation departments
tions of some  firms and banks, as well as
sick journalists. Many Fido conferences
so interesting that local providers
Internet systems provide their subscribers with
ability  to read them.  Of course, for
money.                                   
                                          
        Who lives in the little house?        
       ----------------------------       
  The oldest fidoshniks  already coming  five
mid-sixties, and the youngest are knocking on
keys already  years old. Active,
the loudest and most visible contingent -
youth under 20 years of age: it is for them that
nom and judge Fido. Thanks to their tireless
my youthful enthusiasm was formed and
became widespread
what subculture of the network. Neophytes zealously mastered
they have jargon, a way of speaking, some
postulates  about about "what is good and what
this is bad" regarding programs, operations
systems  systems,  alcohol drinks and so on.
This is quite understandable: people want as much as possible
rather become “one of our own”.                
                                          
  Is it even possible to talk about any
collective portrait of a fidoshnik? Fido yes-
leko is not homogeneous, and the easiest way is to make sure
in this by connecting to it.              
                                          
            Where do they connect to Fido?        
           -----------------------       
  If you have a modem, then you should already
know  what a BBS is. I'm hinting: a lot
These BBSs are also Fig.
before.  If you don't have a modem yet, then if you do
when purchasing, ask the seller what a BBS is
(read  "BBC"), and  ask for
phones some of them. If the seller
doesn't  know, askyounger buyers
or employees of the company's technical department
(by the way,  fidoshas may be among them
nicknames).  Ask your friends and acquaintances
ours related to computers. If they don't
in  course,  then let them inquire about
this from your  friends  and acquaintances. Special
attention pay  to students (especially
technical universities): well those are exactly all
know. Search. If you are really interested
was interested in Fido, then you will find access to him
stupid yourself.                                 
                                          
  From correspondence in Fido, Alex Exler:        
  I know a lot of “new fidoshniks” who
generally  not  know  (and don’t want to know) that
is a BBS.                                
                                          
Vitaly Vinnitsky:                         
  But these “new feeders” themselves found out about
Fido or were they involved by someone? If the last
no, then, of course, it is possible without BBS. What if
first... maybe based on magazine articles?
                                          
Dmitry A. Senkevich:                       
  Another fidoshnik could have lured - so-
it happens. People fall for Fido completely.
in different ways - the ways of the Lord are unconfessed -
we.                                       
                                          
                        Maxim KOCHEGAROV  
                                          
P.S.                                      
Some of what has been said may seem ma-
incomprehensible, obvious only to myself
-  fidoshnik with experience 2.5 years, and
simply  incomplete,  insufficient.  I and not
I claim  to be comprehensive: for this purpose
I needed  not a newspaper article, but a whole
book. So if you have any problems
something  questions about the history of Fido, organiza-
tion of this network, its culture or technical
any aspects - write to me at the editor's address -
tions. In addition, I will be glad to hear your
proposals regarding the arrangement of
sha computer   headings by phone
209-35-80 every Wednesday from 11 to 15 o'clock.  
                                          
(Heart  thanks to all  my friends and
acquaintances by Fido  for  that
their presence makes this Network even more interesting
her. Special thanks to Dmitry Moro-
Zovsky (Cronyx company) for the address in Inter-
nete and friendly support).              
                                          
... And  the story with "ether" ended before
freely  ingloriously:  dedicated to a narrow circle
they were unable to keep  their discovery in
secretly,  and  it became almost impossible to use it
perhaps:  it was very difficult to understand something
from  screams  several dozen people,
absolutely not listening to each other. Yes and on-
genus, hanging out on the air,  was  no longer
that...  Soon the ATS workers paid attention
mania  for the abnormal workload of some
lines and soon there was no “ether”... K
Fortunately, fidosh conferences similar
fate  does not threaten: each has its own rights
for example,  in which  outlines a circle of topics,
relevant in this conference, and gives-
This is a list of violations that you should allow
not  worth it.  Composes  rules, regularly
introduces subscribers to them and follows them
performance moderator (from the Latin word-
va, meaning “to moderate”, “to mute”),
often   - part-time - and creator
conferences. 3a violation of the rules - warning
punishment (for example, for a wrong message
me  conference), reprimand (for swearing or
use  conferences  in commercial
purposes), and in some cases even turn off
from the conference (for repeated appointments)
destruction or for publishing confidential
correspondence  without the consent of the sender). Red-
ko, but still there are conferences without
moderators we won’t talk about them -
as a rule,  there is little merit in them
attention.                                 
Origin: Good people, we ourselves are not local...
  (2:5020/281.281)                 
 Remainsjust to add that our beloved
My  Spectrum is not deprived of attention in Fido.
There are  at least two echo conferences
renditions dedicated to him.  This is SPB.SPECCY,
distributed  in  St. Petersburg   and
ZX.SPECTRUM, distributed across the territory
ries of the entire ex-USSR.                        
  In the conference ZX.SPECTRUM the conversation was
talk about a variety of topics: how to be new
to the Spectrum,  what software appeared
news, discussions  various projects
(both software,  and аппаратных), и
многое другое.                            
MUSIC BY : VISUAL/MS/XTM                  
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