=== 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!





--- QM v1.30