-=> Quoting Leonard Erickson to Nancy Backus on 03-30-04  03:02 <=-

 NB> Yes, that is why the echos are so useful.  :)  And, why they
 NB> shouldn't* have the capability for being private.  It's one of the
 NB> things I miss often in the Usenet message areas, the fact that in
 NB> Echos, all answers have to be posted where anybody can see the
 NB> answers... and learn from them...   :)

 LE> You can reply to usenet posts in email, yes. But it's *just* as easy
 LE> to respond to an echomail post via netmail. 

 LE> *Especially* if you are using BW. :-)

Yes, of course... and I just availed myself of that option in the last
week or so, when something came up.  But the general rule of practice in
an echo is that while you may address it to the person you are replying
to, everyone reading that echo is welcome to read and jump into the
conversation.  And that usually, replies are expected* to be in the echo
rather than being shunted to private, unless there is some good reason
for doing so.  The practice is just the opposite for the Usenet areas
and the mailing lists, from what I've seen... most replies are expected
to be private in email, and only the queries are supposed to be in the
area, except for the rare occasion when it is obviously of interest to
just about everyone.  My experience has been that in the echo system,
I've learned an awful lot from messages that seemingly only needed to be
addressed to the original party, and even gotten some welcome nuances
from the spate of answers that sometimes occur... :)

ttyl        neb

... People will believe anything if you whisper it.

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