> Are RdG and GW Culling the Herd?

   Not precicsly. It's more like "Go with the flow, or go".
   The flow is toward Virtual Advanced.  "Be there or be square." 

> The keyword VBBS is never mentioned, it is as if it never
> existed in VNET.  Never does it state in the netguide that
> you must upgrade from VBBS to VA.  NEVER!

  And it will not be mentioned again either. The old software is history.
Virtual Advanced is the new standard. Those who wish to live in the past, are
welcome to do so. But, we would prefer that everybody "Go with the Flow". (as
it were).

> It does state that ONLY VA will be allowed in VNET.
> It does say that VA named and the related disscussion bases
> "Must Be Approved," it says nothing about VBBS bases however.
> Does this mean RdG (and GW) do not require RdG's approval in
> advance of the setup of those bases now?

  It is fairly easy to derive from the text of the netguide, that the old
software, and any topics formerly considered "Official", in that regard, will
no longer be "Official". And sence we are leaveing the old software behind,
there is little reason to look back.

  I am not aware of any policy, as yet, that would effectivly ban the use of
"VBBS" in the titles or topics of Virtual Advanced message bases but, My
guess is that such thing will, at the very least, be frowned upon.  We are
moveing "Forward" with Virtual Advanced, not staying behind with the old
software.  Well, I am anyway. 

> For those of us wishing to run VBBS under VA for ANY reason,
> this could be a major problem.

  Those of you running VBBS under VA, should seriously consider doing it all
with VA. If VA dosent support it, then your choices are limited. Upgrade, or
stay behind with unsupported software.  If FidoNet is more important to you
than VirtualNET, then we'll see you in a gated sub some time.

>  Even if we only use VBBS for  backward (inclusive) compatability with
> gated networks where VA is not being used at all by starting a copy of
> VBBS in a different directory and using it only for tossing into gated
> subs from that network.

  There is no backward compatability. The past is the past and we have
something better now. It's time to leave copper wires behind and start using
fiber optics. Trying to maintain compatability with the old software will do
nothing more than hold us back.

> What exactly are the standards anyway?  Does his DB format
> use Jammer, Hudson, or what, can we use a QWK packet creator
> other than his, a FIDO tosser other than his, can we even
> use HIS correctly, flawlessly?

  His data base format is propriatory, (I think), and the use of unauthorized
software, which interfaces with the VirtualNET, directly or indirectly, is
grounds for getting dumped. That, of course, is how I read it. I may be wrong
but, that is how I read it.

>  Is this (making ALL systems  use VA) going to FIX the problems or just
> remove the more vocal complainers and their abilities to voice those same
> complaints.

  In a word, "Both". If the complainers don't upgrade, they will be gone, and
we won't have to listen to their gripeing anymore.  Those who DO upgrade, will
see most of their problems replaced with new ones, and they will be able to
gripe about the new software, just like always. 

  (Well, that's what's going to happen you know!) 

>  I feel the aims of the  net, and the aims of the sysop are not the same
> in this regard.  If this does not kill VNET and make a shambles of other
> Type 1 (prior to VA) networks then the author is very clearly failing in
> what seems to be his intent.

  How may times have we heard the "Doom-Sayers" make that statement before?

  I have to beleive that the "aims" of the sysop are, by and large, the same
for all but perhaps, a very select few. They want to run a reliable, capable,
uncomplicated and quality BBS system for themselves and their users, with all
the new features that they are looking for in a BBS system.

  With Virtual Advanced, you can get that. (or closer to it), With the old
software, you get to wallow in the past and serve an ever declining number of
users who, will be looking for bigger and better BBS's to call. Why do you
think the Internet is such hot competition for us? Because it's bigger,
better and more capable.  Virtual Advanced will move us in a direction that
is more likely to succeed with that level of compitition.

> I see RdG as the author of two fine program suites, one of
> which he is not wishing to support anymore and the other
> which is unsupportable by third parties due to the author's
> wishes to "do it myself."  We as sysops are between a rock
> and a hard place...

  How many times have third party vendors, supplied some "Great and badly
needed software" for us, and then had there systems crash and burn, never
returning or, either jumped ship, (elvis), or thought they could push Roland
around into doing things THEIR way? (Neil). uh ha......  Not to mention the
"Several" times that Roland has found himself being raked over the coals
because of an upgrade that caused problems with third party utilities or,
where third pary utilities caused problems with the upgrade or, even the
network?  To be honest, I don't think I could blame him.

  Yes, I have a couple of goodies out there myself. If they continue to work
after the upgrades, Great!, if not, or, if I can't make them work after an
upgrade then, I am not, as a few are doing now, going to throw a tantrum over
it. I'll state my disaprovals, (If any), and then go about my business.

  Yes, I have had my disagreements with Roland, (The old 5.6 beta series
immediatly comes to mind)   , but is has NEVER been about WHAT he did, it
was always the fact that we were not informed of it prior to it happening.
Rescently though, I have noted that Roland is activly trying to keep us
informed, at least about some the major changes and new goodies he has up his
sleeve.  But what does he get for making the effort? More flames.  I would
have thought that people would have been more appricative.  I know that I am.

> I see this as a way for him to finally regain control of
> unregistered VBBS copies, regain monies he feels he is owed
> for those copies, and a clean break for an sysop that wishes
> to leave VNET.

  Do you have a problem with Roland being able to earn a living?  Do you have
a problem with sombody being able to receive some compensation for his
efforts?

> We have our orders, Let's Lead, Follow or Get Out Of The Way!

  Bow down before the King or, write your own Decleration of Independence. 
Thus far, I have no reason to revolt. The taxes, (Upgrade fees), are not
excessive, and he had not plundered our boards or our users. (As it were). 

> Let's not take the time to talk about it any more, there are
> only 7 weeks left and counting till VA ONLY Day.

  Agreed, the time for talk, argueing, complaining, whining and generally
creating a fuss, should stop NOW. Join us in the future of BBSing or, make
your peace and be gone.

> I for one WILL change over, it is not with an easy mind that
> I do so though.  I feel like a gun is being pressed to my
> head, and while we always have a choice (really, you do, even
> with a gun pressed to your head) I feel that the trigger is
> being squeezed, very slowly, even as I comply with these ORDERS
> from on high.

  Well Mike, I look at it this way... Some of us are pointing the gun at our
own heads and, the finger squeezing the trigger is our own. The software and
the network are at a plato. (as it were). If we jump, (Upgrade), we will
either land in a better world or, the gun will go off and we will crash into
the trash heap of defunct software and networks. If we don't jump, we will
continue to stagnate and eventually wind up in the trash heap of defunct
software and networks. if we stay behind, we might as well just squeeze
the trigger and get it over with. There is NO future for us if we stay behind;
but there may very well be a future for us if we take the leap. The odds are
MUCH better by takeing the leap. Let's jump together. 

 Some will undoubtdly choose to go their own way and others will stay on. For
those who choose to write there own Declreation of Independence and go their
own way, I offer my best wishes for a bright and prosperous future. But, I
know they will HAVE to find other BBS software to do it because there will be
no futher upgrades for them. The rest of us will be marching off into the
future of BBSing with, what I believe is, a much brighter future. There will
undoubtdly be some head aches along the way but, we will at least be moveing,
rather than standing still. 

  For those who have complained in the past that an upgrade or another really
didn't have much to it, I urge you to take a look at 2.00. Particularly if you
have, or have plans to do, anything with the Internet.   I LIKE what I
see starting to develop.   It's definitly worth a look-see. 

                                  The <MASTER>

          SYSTEM 1 NETWORK SERVICES  Charlotte, NC  http://www.sys1net.com
                    Two lines! 704-394-2948 and 704-394-9312
             The Most RELIABLE Server in the Network!  USR 28.8 Modems!