=== OFF-TOPIC MESSAGES === 

Every EchoMail conference has a subject; do not stray too far off it.
Many EchoMail Conferences have a moderator who will step in and shout
if the topic strays too much.  Unless you have been involved in a
particular conference and have a good grasp of its scope, be cautious
about entering messages on new topics.  Some moderators post messages
containing rules for the use of the EchoMail Conference at regular
intervals.  Keep an eye out for such messages.

=== REPLIES SHOULD STAND ALONE === 

When you reply to a message in an EchoMail conference, mention enough
of the previous message so that readers can tell what you are replying
to.  It is maddening to see someone discussing the merits of a
previous message when you cannot figure out what the previous message
is about.

=== QUOTING MATERIAL IN REPLIES === 

Many bulletin boards allow you to "quote" parts from the message to
which you are replying.  This is a very handy feature, but it should
not be abused.  You should only quote sufficient from the original
message so that readers of the conference know what you are talking
about.  It is maddening to see someone quote an entire message in
reply, only to add a short comment like "I agree".  On those rare
occasions where you really must quote the whole of the previous
message for some specific reason, do not also quote the "tear line"
(the line before the origin line which indicates what software was
used to process the original message), the origin line, or the
EchoMail "SEEN-BY" lines which are not normally visible to readers.

=== DELAYED REPLIES === 

Remember the delay inherent in an EchoMail Conference.  If you post a
question, do not expect a response tomorrow.  If you reply to a
question, realise that many others may be replying at the same time,
and that a flood of messages in reply may pour in over the next
several days.  This will be particularly so in the case of large
National or International EchoMail Conferences where replies may take
up to a week or more.

=== SIGNOFF SIGNATURES, JOKES, QUOTATIONS === 

When you enter or reply to messages in EchoMail Conferences, do not
sign your messages with long, multiple line or graphic signatures.
Your full name is already in the message header and your FidoNet
address is already in your origin line.  Generally, the inclusion of
other network addresses is not useful because the majority of FidoNet
users do not have access to other networks.

Some offline message editor software can be configured to include a
joke or some other quotation of the moment in messages which you
enter.  Please do not include these jokes or quotations in EchoMail
messages.

The addition of the above duplicated, extra or unnecessary information
only serves to increase the cost of moving your messages around the
country and/or internationally.

=== COMMERCIAL ADVERTISEMENTS === 

Commercial advertisements are not allowed in most EchoMail
Conferences.  Why should the individual sysops who bear the cost of
moving the messages around the country, and the world in the case of
international conferences, pay for your advertising?  If you do enter
a commercial advertisement, you will probably be warned not to do so
again and your message will be deleted.  If you persist in entering
commercial advertisements in an EchoMail area you can expect to have
your access to the relevant area or bulletin board cut by the Sysop.
If you are a Sysop, your link to that conference may be cut.

=== COST OF ECHOMAIL === 

EchoMail is NOT free.  EchoMail messages are sent via local, STD (in
Australia) and IDD (to the rest of the world) telephone calls.  The
Sysops involved generally bear the cost of these calls themselves.
Users are NOT charged for sending or receiving EchoMail messages.

=== CONCLUSION === 

Now, all you have to do to use EchoMail is enter, read or reply to the
messages in the EchoMail Conference message areas.  EchoMail takes
care of the rest.  Please participate in EchoMail with us.  Sysops
provide this as a free service, and really enjoy seeing it put to use.
Enjoy!

=== CREDITS ===

This document was written by Trev Roydhouse at 3:711/401 as a general
guideline to using echomail.  Any recognition associated with this
document should be directed to him.

---