From: D.@fquest.FidoNet.Org (D.)
Newsgroups: alt.missing-kids
Subject: Re: E-mail
Date: 3 Dec 92 23:46:18 GMT

The real answer, IMHO, is that we need a network for the senior heralds,
perhaps even one for just the principle heralds and laurel.

This would not be hard to do, it just requires a few things:

A machine
some modems
a few phone lines (3-4 minimum)
someone to run the thing.

The power of the machine really depends on the use it will be put
to.  If it is just for textual correspondence, then a moderate AT
class system will do.  It doesn't take a lot of HD space to run a
simple BBS.  If they just want a central hub for email, that is
even easier, I can get UUCP running on just about any machine, and
all they have to do is have it dial in once a day ('just about'. I
don't know of a UUCP for Apple II's unless they can run CPM, and I
don't know of any for C-64s or Atari 8bit machines.)  That's actually
fairly easy to do.

If they want to exchange graphics as well, that takes a bigger disk,
faster modems...

The advantage of simple email is that the connections tend to be
very short.  That means fewer modems, and less ongoing expense.

I'm half tempted to put together a proposal and send it in to Laurel.
If they are willing to try simple email, I can run a test with my home
machine as the hub.  I already have a dedicated phone line and regular
connections.  David could probably do the same with his sparcstation.

The advantage of a regular bbs is that even the apple II and other
8bit folk have access.


As far as discussion of laurel and principle kingdom herald returns and
acceptances on here, I think my opinion differs from some of the others
we've had presented.

I do not see it as "talking behind someone's back", as some have suggested,
to discuss published opinions in a public forum.  It is certainly advisable,
if possible, to include the parties involved in the discussion if they
are available, argueing with facts is more fun and much more rewarding than
argueing from guesses and opinions.

Someone questioned a few of Brigantia's rulings.  The only real difference
between doing it here and doing it in conversation is that here we
can go back and show Brigantia what happened before he came into the
conversation.  (Any member of the list can retrieve the files that keep
track of the list, see the file you got when you signed up for the list
for details.)  In the meantime some of the junior heralds get to hear
some of the senior heralds discuss the arguements for and against the
ruling.  I don't see this as bad.  I do see stiffling such conversation
as less than good.

If we were discussing something other than published rulings, then I might
agree that it were far the best that he be included.  But we weren't.
We were discussing SCA heraldry at its most basic level.  I'd say that
falls within the charter of the list.  I understand that Brigantia's
duties and source of contact with us limits his availablity, but I do
not see that that makes it any different from us discussing a ruling
by Bruce, or one by the BoD, neither of whom have any contact that
I know of with this list.  Part of me wishes they did, part of me is
glad they don't.

Kwellend-Njal