ML>> and because the sysop can see all, this is why they say that
 ML>> there is no private mail in fidonet... there is also the
 ML>> fact that many systems strip the private bit in /echo/mail
 ML>> that there is not private echomail like there are in other
 ML>> networks...

 NB> So, to be more specific, what I* had asked about might be
 NB> more correctly dubbed SEMI-private mail... 

yup...

 NB> I knew that one could use the private
 NB> bit in the Inet area where the wrongly placed message was, as
 NB> well as in the netmail area (which also wasn't the proper
 NB> place for a local message), but I was hoping for a local area
 NB> that would let me talk to Jean about local bbs "magic spells"
 NB> without having the local flame- throwers get in on things...
 NB> generally keeping a lower profile, anyway.

i understand that... that would depend on the sysop's configuration of his
system... on my system, i have two local areas... one is the PostOffice
where local only mail is written... mail in here cna be private or not...
it does not leave the system... the other local area is for my automated
file arrival announcements... its read-only... then i have a netmail area
that, IIRC, defaults to private... all the other areas are echos and do not
allow the private bit in them...

 NB> Having been a co-sysop (to help take care of maintenance at a
 NB> couple of bbs's), and thereby having also been given the
 NB> ability to "see all", I know the degree of privacy one is
 NB> really getting... but that was about what I was looking
 NB> for... :)

gotcha!

)\/(ark