On Tue, 26 Jul 2005 00:10:50 GMT, the opaque "J. R. Carroll"
clearly wrote:

Eric,
I got to wondering about this myself a while ago. This was the explanation I
found.

"FidoNet consists of approximately 10,000 systems world-wide which comprise
a network which exchanges mail and files via Modems using a proprietary
protocol. They are connected for the purposes of exchanging E-Mail to the
Internet thru a series of gateway systems which interact with the Internet
via UUCP with cooperating UNIX-based smart-hosts which act as their
MX-receivers.
With some exceptions, you cannot Telnet or FTP to a FidoNet site, only
communicate via E-Mail and Usenet News. "

Oldtime BBSes (Bulletin Board Services) used to hook up to FIDO and
RIMEnet for news posts, the precursors to Usenet. I belonged to a
RIME BBS (Electro Shock Therapy, fittingly enough , and the File
Bank) for a long time (4 years, starting with a 1200 baud modem) prior
to finding Usenet and the Web. Thank the gods for progress and Tech!


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