To all who participate in and support the POLITICS echo:

I'm writing to formally introduce myself as the new Moderator of this forum. My name is Gregory Deyss (1:267/150), and I now have the honor and the responsibility of guiding this echo forward.

I want to begin by offering sincere thanks to Mike Powell, who has moderated this echo with dedication and consistency. Mike has helped shape what POLITICS has become: a space where passionate voices can rise, clash, and coexist under the flag of free expression. His decision to step into a supporting role as Co-Moderator reflects both humility and his ongoing commitment to this forum. I deeply respect him for that.

This echo isn't just another political forum. It's a crucible of opinion, a place where ideas are forged, tested, and sometimes torn down. And that's precisely why it needs to endure.

My mission moving forward is simple:

Preserve the integrity and spirit of this echo.

Ensure moderation remains balanced, fair, and active.

Keep this echo accessible and relevant to those who want to engage in meaningful discourse across the spectrum.

I won't be moderating with a heavy hand, but I will be clear and intentional. Keep things on-topic. Bring your best arguments. Expect pushback, and offer it in return. This echo will not be diluted, sanitized, or buried.
It will be protected.

To those who've contributed, argued, ranted, and reasoned over the years your presence matters. And your voice is still welcome here.

With respect and resolve,
Gregory Deyss
Moderator POLITICS Echo
Net Coordinator, Net 267 (New York State)

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Windows/64)
* Origin: Capital Station BBS csbbs.dyndns.org (1:267/800)

Hello Gregory!

Saturday May 31 2025 18:09, you wrote to All:

I'm writing to formally introduce myself as the new Moderator of this

May we know who elected you in the first place?

Alex

--- GoldED+/W64-MSVC 1.1.5-b20250409
* Origin: Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Heroes! Dump Trump! (1:129/14.1)

On 31 May 2025, Alex Galiyev said the following...

Hello Gregory!

Saturday May 31 2025 18:09, you wrote to All:

I'm writing to formally introduce myself as the new Moderator of this

May we know who elected you in the first place?

Well, That is a helluva way of saying hello.

Dear Alex,

Thank you for your question
"May we know who elected you in the first place?"
posed with a polite tone and a touch of snark.
It's a fair inquiry, and one that deserves a clear answer.

In Fidonet, moderators are not elected by popular vote unless the echo's own rules explicitly require it. The Politics echo has no such rule. In nearly all cases, the current moderator appoints their successor, and the change is then submitted to the Zone 1 ELIST Keeper for formal recognition.

In this case, the Politics echo was in danger of being de-listed.

Recognizing the importance of keeping this space alive, I wrote a NetMail to Mike Powell, the then-moderator, expressing my interest in taking the reins and maintaining it's existence.

Mike agreed. The appointment was submitted and accepted.

The ELIST now reflects this transition:

MODerator: Gregory Deyss, 1:267/150

COMODerator1: Mike Powell, 1:2320/105

This follows standard Fidonet procedure, as it has for decades.

I understand that leadership changes can raise questions, especially in politically charged environments, but rest assured this change was done by the book, with full transparency, and with the sole aim of strengthening the echo for everyone involved.

And while I do appreciate the pop-culture drama

"I find your lack of faith disturbing."
"I assure you, what I bring is not fear, but focus."

Let's now return to what matters: meaningful political debate. I look forward to hearing your views, Alex, and those of others who still believe this echo can serve as a space for serious discussion.

With respect,
Gregory Deyss
Moderator, Politics Echo
1:267/150

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Windows/64)
* Origin: Capital Station BBS * Telnet://csbbs.dyndns.org * (1:267/150)

Hello Gregory!

Thank you for your response. So you took over this echo without anyone electing you, simply to demonstrate your power and punish us - that's dictatorship.

Your slaves want to know what your plans are for enforcing the rules compared to how Mike handled them. Can we continue having the same style of conversations without you enforcing the actual rules, or do we now have a Mr. Strictland taking over?

Alex

--- GoldED+/W64-MSVC 1.1.5-b20250409
* Origin: Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Heroes! Dump Trump! (1:129/14.1)

Let's get one thing straight because it seems YOU are struggling with reality:

There was NO ELECTION needed, and certainly NONE REQUIRED.
This isn't a popularity contest. It's not a sandbox.
This is the POLITICS echo, and I was appointed by the previous standing moderator, Mike Powell, in full accordance with FidoNet policy.

That's how it works and always has.
So your argument about who elected me is not just irrelevant it's pointless.

Now I've got to ask

What's with the anger?
Why the over-the-top outrage?
Why the personal attacks?
Why the language about "slaves" and "dictators"?

What exactly are you so afraid of?

Are you mad that someone actually took responsibility?
That someone has the backbone to enforce structure and raise the standard?
Or are you just upset that the echo isn't your private playground for sarcasm and self-indulgence anymore?

Look this echo was dying. It was headed for the chopping block.
I stepped in and helped save it. That's not control. That's leadership.
If you want to rage against something, rage against the apathy that almost killed this forum. Don't take shots at the guy who revived it.

And let's be very clear:

I'm not here to be liked.

I'm not here to babysit egos.

I'm here to moderate with integrity, purpose, and clarity.

You're welcome to contribute, to debate, to disagree even passionately.
But if you're going to come at me with whining and weak insults, expect to be challenged, not coddled.

The POLITICS echo now has direction again.
I suggest you find yours too.

Gregory Deyss
Moderator POLITICS Echo
1:267/150
Respected by the Backbone. Appointed with Purpose.
And clearly living rent-free in your head.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Windows/64)
* Origin: Capital Station BBS * Telnet://csbbs.dyndns.org * (1:267/150)

Hello Gregory!

Saturday May 31 2025 21:34, you wrote to me:

You did not answer my question about the rules enforcement. But I will respond to your message:

Let's get one thing straight because it seems YOU are struggling with

Here come the dictator's narratives - note how his tone shifted from that of a friendly person.
The man dreamed of a bit of power, and he obtained it.

What's with the anger?

You aren't elected, Fidonet policy dates back to 1989 and is irrelevant, and dictators like Ward Douche have done nothing to improve it. You're simply using this to seize a bit of power.

Why the personal attacks?

Personal attacks? Please clarify that - did I call you names?

I'm not here to be liked.

Great! So don't complain when I'm asking you questions. You asked for questions, I'm asking questions, and now you're getting mad. Let's keep it professional please.

Alex

--- GoldED+/W64-MSVC 1.1.5-b20250409
* Origin: Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Heroes! Dump Trump! (1:129/14.1)

In a node down in Coatesville, all grumpy and glum,
Lived a fellow named Alex with sarcasm and thumb.
He typed out his thoughts with a sneer and a shake,
He cried, You're a tyrant! You're clearly a fake!

But the mod - that was me was appointed, you see,
By Mike Powell himself, with a nod and decree.
There were no elections, no ballots, no poll,
Just action, precision, and me in control.

Now Alex, dear Alex, he banged on his keys,
Throwing insults like hail in a digital breeze.
He said I was angry, he said I was cruel,
While breaking each line of the echo's own rule.

He scoffed at the rules from that June long ago,
With a grin full of smug and a face full of show.
"Outdated!" he barked, "Irrelevant trash!"
Yet rode on its rails like a tick on the sash.
His netmail? Delivered by Backbone's old grace.
His node? It exists 'cause of that very place.
He mocks it, he bites it, he spits in its face-
Yet sucks at its teat like it's silk and it's lace.

He jeers at the code with the pride of a fool,
While drooling out posts built on that same rule.
Oh, the heat from his take is a laughable joke-
Cause if June 89 ever really went broke?
He'd vanish like smoke in a storm-ridden breeze,
With no one to whine to, no network to tease.
So next time he barks, let him taste the whole fact:
He's a clown on a bridge that's still holding his act.

Gregory Deyss
Moderator of POLITICS
1:267/150
Making Politics / Great Again / From Fidonet to the Swamp!

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Windows/64)
* Origin: Capital Station BBS * Telnet://csbbs.dyndns.org * (1:267/150)

Hello Gregory!

Sunday June 01 2025 00:30, you wrote to me:

Wow, such a disgrace. Thank you for showing us who you really are.

# POLITICS official rules:
# Please refrain from "drunk posting" or posting while stoned.

Answer the question: How and whether will you enforce the published rules on POLITICS compared to your predecessor?

Alex

--- GoldED+/W64-MSVC 1.1.5-b20250409
* Origin: Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Heroes! Dump Trump! (1:129/14.1)

Sunday June 01 2025 00:30, you wrote to me:

Wow, such a disgrace. Thank you for showing us who you really are.

# POLITICS official rules:
# Please refrain from "drunk posting" or posting while stoned.

Answer the question: How and whether will you enforce the published rules on POLITICS compared to your predecessor?

That is my fault there. I submitted the rules I had onhand to reflect the
new moderator and take my name out of the file. He didn't write those.

I had to add that rule after we had one user, who has not been around as of late, who was very apparently under the influence of something... drink,
drugs, or some other impairment... and was impossible to have any
conversations with. They themselves couldn't keep track of what they were saying, sometimes mid-post, and would argue with people who were trying to *agree* with them.

So I added that rule in sarcasm knowing it was not enforceable.


* SLMR 2.1a * S & M: You always hurt the one you love.
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Hello Mike!

Sunday June 01 2025 10:12, you wrote to me:

That is my fault there. I submitted the rules I had onhand to reflect
the new moderator and take my name out of the file. He didn't write those.

Understand now.

So I added that rule in sarcasm knowing it was not enforceable.

=)))

Alex

--- GoldED+/W64-MSVC 1.1.5-b20250409
* Origin: Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Heroes! Dump Trump! (1:129/14.1)