Hello Bill,

LL>> Since individuals outside of Zone 1 can become full-fledged
LL>> sysops without even having to acknowledge the existence of P4,

That's not true.
When I became a fully fledged FidoNet SysOp I had to abide P4 and EP1.
I was strongly told to be online always during ZMH,
and not accepting BBSusers during that hour.
So I configured my system that way.
Even my SysOp Point 1 do not get its bulk EchoMail when polling at ZMH.
ZMH is there only for receiving crash Net mails, and nothing else.
Everyone has 23 other hours to log in as a BBS user or get his Point EchoMail
bundles.

LL>> then why is it that individuals residing within Zone 1 cannot
LL>> do the same?

The problem in Z1 is that even if someone does his configuration thechnically
perfect, (s)he only get a Node number if the NC/RC likes that person.
The proof of that was a European person who wanted a Z1 Node number for his
long periods of staying when he was in the USA for very many months.
He was socially banned by not getting a Z1 NodeNumner,
and not for technical reasons at all.
Only because he was a well kown European with questions all the time.
There is no minimal time restriction for getting a Node number.
I.e. it does not matter if it is for one or four months or even one week.

BM> Did you forget EP1? I knew you would...

Did Lee even tried to get a Z1 Node number?
And if so, why was it not granted?

BM> Enjoy!
BM> Ward, give him a node #... :)

Is that a good idea?

If a European person moved to the USA does not get a Node number,
the other way round can also be a question.
At the time of POTS a locality can be valid, because of telco costs,
but at the moment with IP it does not matter any more.

So everybody should get a Node number from any Zone (s)he wants.

Here we have an EchoMail Area for both sysop's and Points.
That works ok for all participants.
Sysop's are not better folks than Points or BBS-users.
Every participant is worth to keep in this small FidoNet.
Indeed enjoy.

Many people write messages without greetings anymore, why is that?
Not even a blank line and a senders name is written, lazy writers I think.

Good luck,
Henri.

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