[SWLUG] #swlug IRC channel location - reasons to move

[Pete Prior]

Hi all,

Well we seem to be following the same pattern as always.  Discuss 
something to death and never actually get anything done.

The problem is that freenode isn't broken.  It works most of the time, 
but there are annoyances and policies that could be avoided by switching 
to an alternative network.

Here are my reasons for wanting to switch:

a) I don't agree with the way freenode is run. This includes:

Fundraising drives - in the past used to pay lilo (the 'owner' of 
freenode)'s mortgage.
See http://slashdot.org/articles/02/08/17/2147232.shtml
See http://www.kainx.org/journal/?view=20020613

Strongarm management tactics - including not allowing people who donate 
servers op privileges, and absurd channel naming rules.
See http://linuxart.com/log/archives/2005/03/04/photography-is-moving-huh/
See http://www.lilofree.net/bully.php
See http://www.lilofree.net/irq-quotes.php

I see this is one of the major reasons I don't use / like Microsoft 
products.  Sure, they work for the most part of the time, but I sure as 
hell don't agree with the ethics of the company.

b) Network reliabilty

The network can get reasonably splitty at times, and lilo has a habit of 
"rehubbing" things rather a lot.  They seem to also be switching to a 
non standard ircd which changes your hostmask based on whether you have 
identd or not.  This has the potential to break a lot of banmasks and bots.

c) Proposed changes to nick rules

See http://freenode.net/policy_draft_1123442180.shtml#usernames

This would mean nickname would own nickname_ as well as others.  While 
this wouldn't affect me, it would affect people like Arthur_ and again, 
is an un-needed policy.

Bottom line is this.

Freenode isn't broken, but there are policies in place and coming into 
effect which I don't agree with along with others.

There are alternatives, OFTC being the primary one we are looking at as 
this network became popular as an alternative to freenode the last time 
lilo caused trouble (almost causing #debian to leave (see previous 
slashdot link) as well as spawning www.lilofree.net and subsequent irc 
servers).

Pete