At the start of this week I had been in netmail contact with g00r00 (all
usual stuff) and he had told me about a new version of MUTIL he had been working on that was available for testing. This was a version to address
issues with stuff the current MUTL does that has been reported to cause issues for other systems.

I'd replied thanks and that I would test it at Agency and make a few posts
out to Fidonet and then send feedback. I'd wanted to do this before using it
in one of the HUBs.

The reply I got back shocked and saddened me.

"No need for the feedback. Being a part of FSX-NET has become a conflict of interest for me at this point. You have literally hubs in your network going out of their way to cause issues, for example. And generally speaking fsxNet has become as bad or worse than FidoNet.

So as of now I am going to be breaking ties. Good luck to you, and I suggest you switch over to Synchronet if you want to continue running your multiple
hub single node stuff."

I did reply to this but g00r00 had delinked his node and I think that netmail reply sits in an outbound folder still at the NET 1 HUB.

In my reply I had sought to get some clarity over the 'conflict of interest'
he raised and also refuted the suggestion that fsxNet was a place of
negativity and fighting etc. which I think was the intent of the Fido
reference (sorry Fido readers).

The following day I noted the mysticbbs.com website 'support' page had been updated

[old version]

The Wiki on this site is available and there are several FTN-style BBS
networks that have Mystic support areas such as fsxNet, FidoNet, etc. You may be able to find help in those areas or suggest features and so on. Currently fsxNet has the most active support area for Mystic in its FSX_MYS area.

[snip]

[new version]

The Wiki on this site is available and there are several FTN-style BBS
networks that have Mystic support areas such as ArakNet, FidoNet, FSX, etc.
You may be able to find help in those areas. Currently the author
participates in AgoraNet, FidoNet, ArakNet, ZeroNet, and SciNet.

[snip]

A day or so later when attempting to update content of the Mystic Wiki I found I could no longer login. From what I can tell my user account has been
deleted.

I reached out to g00r00 via email seeking clarification as to if my access to the Wiki had been pulled and asking why? I also included a copy/paste of my netmail reply to his last netmail to me.

Several more days have gone by and I have no response despite his activity in other networks.

I've decided to share this news with you because I wanted you to be aware of what's happened and share some of my thoughts about it.

While I'm aware there were some tensions over recent discussions in FSX_MYS regarding the way MUTIL processes messages I was not not prepared for the swift and sudden cutting of ties that came next.

I feel dismayed and hurt over the way things have occurred and also in the way I have been treated.

From my point of view I wasn't the one in any heated debate over the MUTIL topic. I had been working away offering ideas and suggestions and feedback (as I usually do) about Mystic. In recent days I'd netmailed a message of support for all the development work done to date and got a reply back along the lines of 'thanks this means a lot".. so this response and the subsequent steps taken cut deep.

For those of you who don't know me well... I've been a avid Mystic fan and supporter of the software since 2013 when I first started using it after returning to the BBS scene.

Since then I've established the Mystic Guy YouTube channel recording many training videos that generated a lot of interest in Mystic and BBSing, spent countless hours over many years supporting people getting back into the BBS scene (often with Mystic as their first returning experience), and worked on the Mystic Wiki pretty much as the solo contributor asides the Mystic
author since help was asked for just a few months after g00r00 created the
Wiki in early 2016.

I would hazard a guess that 80-90% of what's on the Wiki right now is content
I have created and published over many many years, and often across periods of many months or years while the author has been absent from the BBS
scene / on hiatus etc.

Some of my most recent editing work on the Wiki cranked up in early 2020 when it became apparent there was a serious date bug causing messages to be incorrectly purged if bases were set to be expired by date. I found the error in some old legacy code and emailed g00r00 about this. At this time he had
been silent / absent from the scene since around 2019. I created warning info and helpful workaround steps at the time on the Wiki and continued to update
it when g00r00 resurfaced at the start of this year.

The Wiki has been a labour of love for me and now 'bang' I'm locked out with
no explanation and that's that. That's pretty shitty IMHO.

It's not the first time since fsxNet was set up in late 2015 that the Mystic author has taken umbrage with feedback posted in echomail by someone and ultimately cut ties with fsxNet or the BBS scene for a period of many months. There's been a bit of recurring pattern in that regards. However during those times my access to work on the Wiki was never revoked.

I can recall three occasions now since fsxNet was set up that a swift and sudden departure has occurred. On all occasions I just carried on, tried to keep promoting and supporting Mystic, helping people with their questions
etc. and working on the Wiki. The hours I have spent are (and I'm not understating this) have been immense over the years... and they been spent happily in the support of people who needed help and in doing so also in the direct and indirect promotion of Mystic.

Honestly the bit the hurts the most is being treated the way I have
this time around. I know I've done nothing wrong. I'm proud of the people who take part in this network and the community vibe we have here.

A recent disagreement in this echomail area (FSX_GEN) that I asked folks to take to netmail was met with apologies from all sides of whatever the debate was about. We are a very long way away from anything like some of the entrenched vitriol I've seen posted in Fidonet from time to time.

Will I continue to use Mystic and try to promote it? You bet. I like software and what it can do and could do in the future. Will I keep helping people? Definitely, it gives me pleasure to support people coming into BBSing for the first time or as a returning member.

I may be feeling hurt and upset because of someone else's unhappiness but it won't deter my overall enjoyment of the hobby.

Please feel free to post Mystic questions into FSX_MYS and I and others I'm sure will continue to try to help you. Be aware g00r00 is not around and may
or may not return. Your mileage may vary as they say :)

To conclude.

We're all living in uncertain and unsettling times. We don't know what each of us is really going through in our personal lives. The stresses we're each under, the family members seriously at risk of this COVID-19 virus, etc. etc.

I'd ask everyone to be mindful of that for each and all of us (g00r00 included). Now more than ever we need kindness in this world. It's hugely powerful as a way of healing and supporting ourselves and the others in our lives. It's something I'm convinced that could all use a lot of now. and in
the weeks and months ahead.

Thanks for reading.. and thanks too for taking the time to be part of this network. I (and others) do appreciate your interest and involvement in it.

Best, Paul

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/03/18 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

On 03-22-20 21:16, Avon wrote to All <=-

At the start of this week I had been in netmail contact with g00r00
(all usual stuff) and he had told me about a new version of MUTIL he
had been working on that was available for testing. This was a version
to address issues with stuff the current MUTL does that has been
reported to cause issues for other systems.

Sorry to hear this Paul, sad news indeed. I hope things can be smoothed over sometime in the future.


... What the f___ was that? - Mayor Of Hiroshima, 1945
=== MultiMail/Win v0.51
--- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
* Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (21:1/109)

Thanks for reading.. and thanks too for taking the time to be part
of this network. I (and others) do appreciate your interest and involvement in it.

Paul, I'm very sorry to have read that message. I can understand how you
feel the way you do, given the amount of support and work you have done
for mystic to be treated like this.

Please note, there are those of us who value you and the work that
you've done for this network, for our projects and for our hobby.
Without your encouragement and support I probably wouldn't have stuck
with Magicka nearly as long as I have, even though it's on a bit of a
break right now.

Andrew

--- MagickaBBS v0.13alpha (Linux/x86_64)
* Origin: HappyLand - telnet://magickabbs.com:2023/ (21:1/126)

Hello Paul!

On 22 Mar 2020, Avon said the following...

So as of now I am going to be breaking ties. Good luck to you, and I suggest you switch over to Synchronet if you want to continue running
your multiple hub single node stuff."

Very sad, Paul, and just like you say, you've done nothing wrong.

Quite the contrary -- you're one of the main reasons why so many people are running Mystic -- always kind, helpful, supportive and constructive! A
thousand thanks to you for that.

It seems to me that if g00r00 wants good feedback on Mystic, fsxNet is the place to be. Not Synchronet.

Time will tell what happens to Mystic development over time. But I can tell
for sure that g00r00 will be at loss locking you out of the equation. Apart from himself, no one has done as much for Mystic as you have.

Please keep up the good work -- and -- we're all still here, for you and for each other!

Best regards
Zip

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/03/18 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Star Collision BBS, Uppsala, Sweden (21:1/202)

Re: g00r00 & fsxNet
By: Avon to All on Sun Mar 22 2020 09:16 pm

Hey Paul,

Thanks for reading.. and thanks too for taking the time to be part of this

network. I (and others) do appreciate your interest and involvement in it.

Sorry to hear about whats happened with James. Somewhat surprising for many reasons - and disapointing at the same time.

I'm sure I'll concur with others that this is a great net, and its because of if is one reason why many of us are (still) here. BBSing is redundant these days but as a hobby, to reminisce or whatever there reason, its great to be with a group of others who are doing it too.

You have a great motivation to keep this hobby alive, and I would like to see that continue - and I know there are many here willing to help you with it. ...deon


... The happiest time of anyone's life is just after the first divorce.
--- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
* Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)

Re: RE: g00r00 & fsxNet
By: apam to Avon on Sun Mar 22 2020 07:36 pm

Paul, I'm very sorry to have read that message. I can understand how you feel the way you do, given the amount of support and work you have done for mystic to be treated like this.

I guess I missed something, but I do agree. Paul is one hell of a guy he took
time out to help me when I was first starting out with Mystic and I'm sure
many, many other that have run or run Mystic right now.

He's a throw back to the 80's and 90's of when a sysop would go out of his
way to help someone else!

In my mind, Paul you one hell of a great guy and thanks for being here and
sharing your time with us between family & work.

Thank you!

-= Havok =-

... The English have an extraordinary ability for flying into a great calm.

---
þ Synchronet þ Gray Matter BBS || graymatterbbs.com:2380
* Origin: fsxNet FTN<>QWK Gateway (21:4/10)

Thanks for reading.. and thanks too for taking the time to be part of
this network. I (and others) do appreciate your interest and involvement in it.

Best, Paul

you are the reason that i am a mystic supporter. your videos have helped me immensely, as has the mysticWIKI... however, for this end user, AVON has been the light that guided me to mystic software...

please know that many of us THANK YOU...

M@STERMiND

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/03/18 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

:(

Sorry you had to deal with that Paul, you've been very helpful all around and did not deserve that.

|07E|10m|07b|10a|07l|10m|07e|10d |12-----------------------------------------------------
|09Black Lodge Research BBS |11blacklodgeresearch.org:4022
|11fsx|08Net: |0721:4/166 |11sci|08Net: |0777:1/133

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Black Lodge Research BBS (21:4/166)

We're all living in uncertain and unsettling times. We don't know what each of us is really going through in our personal lives. The stresses we're each under, the family members seriously at risk of this COVID-19 virus, etc. etc.

I'd ask everyone to be mindful of that for each and all of us (g00r00 included). Now more than ever we need kindness in this world. It's hugely powerful as a way of healing and supporting ourselves and the others in our lives. It's something I'm convinced that could all use a lot of now. and in the weeks and months ahead.

Thanks for reading.. and thanks too for taking the time to be part of
this network. I (and others) do appreciate your interest and involvement in it.

Best, Paul

I am most appreciative of your dedicated efforts in promoting and education
of the Mystic BBS Software. Your patience and time invested is definitely an asset for Mystic.

I, for one, applaud your leadership in FSXNet and Mystic. We all need to be cognizant of the strengths and failings of each of us and that is what bring the dynamics of human interaction which produces creativity and ingenuity. However, our emotional aspects sometimes get in the way and produces negative results and alas disruption of harmonic interactions with each other.

I will be a member of this community for as long as my health holds up and
will assist where I can.

You've done great and I salute you.

Ruben Figueroa aka Zazz
Mystic Prison Board Sysop
telnet://pbmystic.rdfig.net:24
Web: www.rdfig.net

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/03/16 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Mystic Prison Board BBS*Mesquite Tx (21:1/134)

The reply I got back shocked and saddened me.

I'm sorry to hear that.

The Wiki has been a labour of love for me and now 'bang' I'm locked out with no explanation and that's that. That's pretty shitty IMHO.

That is so wrong, and yes it is shitty.

Thanks for reading.. and thanks too for taking the time to be part of this network. I (and others) do appreciate your interest and involvement in it.

I have made comments to g00r00 re: changing mail in transit. I'm still getting the odd dupelicate I think because it has been changed in transit.

I don't say these things to be some kind of hard-ass I say it because that is the way it needs to be. I really wanted this for Mystic. I still do.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-4
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (21:4/106)

I feel dismayed and hurt over the way things have occurred and also in
the way I have been treated.

Paul, I'm very sorry. It's your YouTube videos that led me back to BBSing,
and to Mystic. Without those videos, this network and the wiki--I don't think
I wouldn't have had the time or energy to figure this stuff out.

I certainly appreciate all the the work that g00r00 has done with the
software, but without the user support you provide I'd probably have just missed out on returning to this amazing hobby.

Thank you.

|08.|07..|15.. |05Alpha |07- |13Card & Claw BBS |07- |08Berkeley, CA USA

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/03/16 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Card and Claw BBS | cardandclaw.com:8888 (21:4/158)

I don't normally respond to these, most of what's covered is generally out side
of my purview. Despite that, you have my commiserations, its never a nice spot
to find yourself put in.

Spec


*** THE READER V4.50 [freeware]
--- SuperBBS v1.17-3 (Eval)
* Origin: Scrawled in haste at The Lower Planes (21:3/101)

For sure it's something sad, i guess for both of you. Each one for different reasons. But i wont stay on this...

FSX in not Mystic and Mystic is not FSX. I don't see another echonet that is specific for Synchronet or Magica, Enigma etc. So why FSX should be like this. I think that a lot of people had/have this idea, that FSX is the "mystic echonet".

So, after this, i think that things are clear... everyone (fsx, mystic) is for himself. This is good and bad at the same time, but it's nothing that anyone can do about it.

Take it as an opportunity to concentrate more on FSX and why not in Paul himself ;) We are living strange times, so if you have more time to be with your family, then it's a good thing :) You don't have to "advertise" Mystic
and you shouldn't. It's something that you do as a hobby. Don't feel bad if others don't appreciate it, cause you are not doing it for them, but mainly
for you.

Do what you do, first for you and then for the scene. Misunderstandings can happen, specially on times likes these and as we get older and problems keep piling. ;)

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: Another Droid BBS # andr01d.zapto.org:9999 (21:1/111)

Avon

At the start of this week I had been in netmail contact with g00r00
(all usual stuff) and he had told me about a new version of MUTIL he
had been working on that was available for testing. This was a version
to address issues with stuff the current MUTL does that has been
reported to cause issues for other systems.

Sorry to hear this Paul, sad news indeed. I hope things can be
smoothed over sometime in the future.

and I am sorry to hear this two and I to hope things smooth in the future,
you have done a good job with your service with mystic fsxnet and wiki and
uy
and helping new members (including me) and I hope you carry on enjoying your
time working with mystic's software and help in fsxnet.

Ian S 1st Choice core Mystic NZ


--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49

Thanks for reading.. and thanks too for taking the time to be part of
this network. I (and others) do appreciate your interest and involvement in it.

I'm sorry you have to deal with this, especially considering the times we are in. I had started to wonder why I hadn't seen g00r00 active lately in the Mystic echo. I've appreciated all that you have contributed to supporting Mystic BBS and fsxNet.

If it wasn't for your YouTube channel, I wouldn't be part of fsxNet nor have any idea how Mystic works. Thanks for your efforts on putting this together,
I will continue to run Mystic BBS and support fsxNet in anyway I can.

matt // eggy
Eggy BBS | telnet://bbs.eggy.cc:2300 | ssh://bbs.eggy.cc:2222

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/03/18 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Eggy BBS (21:4/143)

On 22 Mar 2020 at 06:02p, Alpha pondered and said...

I feel dismayed and hurt over the way things have occurred and also i the way I have been treated.

Paul, I'm very sorry. It's your YouTube videos that led me back to
BBSing, and to Mystic. Without those videos, this network and the
wiki--I don't think I wouldn't have had the time or energy to figure
this stuff out.

I certainly appreciate all the the work that g00r00 has done with the software, but without the user support you provide I'd probably have just missed out on returning to this amazing hobby.

Thank you.

best said. i made my way to mystic because of avon and mystic guy videos. without avon, i would have never used mystic.

g00r00 absolutely deserves to have an opinion, and to say and do what he
wants with his software - but it dont gotta mean he got it right.

M@STERMiND

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/03/18 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

Just a quick note of thanks for the public and private messages sent to me.

Really appreciate your kindness and support.

Best, Paul

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/03/18 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

:(

Sorry you had to deal with that Paul, you've been very helpful all
around and
did not deserve that.

+1


--- NiKom v2.5.0
* Origin: Delta City (deltacity.se, Vallentuna, Sweden) (21:2/130.0)

But happy to read that my Mystic Guy is not going away anytime soon!
As I told you before, your help & tutorials made this old time '80 SysOp
get back in the scene!

Hope this conflict resolves soon :(

***
The Vault BBS / thevaultbbs.fsxnet.nz:2323
Curated content for retro gaming, shareware
& ansi-ascii art.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Windows/64)
* Origin: The Vault BBS (21:4/167)

On 24 Mar 2020 at 11:57a, Avon pondered and said...

Just a quick note of thanks for the public and private messages sent to me.

Really appreciate your kindness and support.

Best, Paul

as always, its because we appreciate your hard work... i completely know that without g00r00, there would be no mystic bbs software. however, without avon;
i would have never used mystic bbs software.

M@STERMiND

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/03/18 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

Hope this conflict resolves soon :(

I do too.

I think g00r00 was speaking out of frustration. Understandable when a developer
is working with ftn specs that I have heard more than one developer working with ftn stuff call it "shit", or something like that. It is not easy to work with but does serve a purpose.

I hope g00r00 knows that he has always been supported and always will be here regardless of all the things that we all stumble over from time to time.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-4
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (21:4/106)