This echo is for the planning and execution of an International
BBS Week, to educate the modem-using public that there IS an
alternative to the Internet, and to promote the use of FidoNet,
plus all private BBS networks, and all BBSs worldwide.
Your use of this echo is your consent to obey the rules herein.
Echo access is a privilege, and not a right. There is a time and a
place for everything, hence there are the following rules:
1. Please keep the discussions as close to the description of the
echo noted above. I've been a Sysop since 1990, and have watched
the decline of BBS's over the last few years. My system is one of
the last BBS's in Arkansas...and I'm sure that none of us wants to
play the role of "BBS Survivor". If anyone has ideas on how to
promote their BBS, it is welcome here. This includes the recent
US/Canada BBS List thread...which I will post on a monthly basis.
2. Please do not use handles/aliases. To me, handles belong on a
teapot. If your BBS software doesn't allow real name posting in
the message header, you must post your name at the end of the
message.
3. Please do not use high ascii or ANSI graphics...some users systems
will lock up or garble the messages with this data. 
4. Please keep the message area and accompanying taglines CLEAN...as
callers of all ages may be reading this echo.
5. Please keep message-quoting to a minimum...only quote what is
absolutely necessary to give those reading the message an idea
of what you're replying to. Most BBS's are run out of the pockets
of private sysops, and nobody wants to pay for (or see) a 25-line
message quoted in full, just to have somebody else say "I Agree".
Origin Lines are NOT to be quoted. However, please be sure that a
FIDOnet origin line is in the message. Gating to other networks
will be allowed with moderator permission.
6. Please do NOT use ALL CAPS...it's considering SHOUTING.
7. The official language for this echo is ENGLISH.
8. The following messages are NOT appropriate at any time:
A. Flaming -- if you can't say something nice about someone, don't
say it at all.
B. Politics and Religion -- As Linus once said, he doesn't discuss
religion, politics, or the great pumpkin with others...and the
same holds true in this echo. Please take these discussions
elsewhere.
C. Get Rich Quick Schemes or Chain Letters -- Nothing is totally
FREE; it cost SOMEONE SOMETHING to give it. Also, as noted above,
most Sysops are paying for their BBS's and long distance charges
out of their own pockets, and they don't want to "pay for garbage".
D. Adult related messages -- this is to be a "G" rated echo.
E. Off topic messages, those not within the scope of the echo
description noted above.
9. All rules violations are to be addressed ONLY by the Moderator.
Please let the Moderator moderate...although I'd prefer to just
watch and contribute to the betterment of the echo, and not to
policing it. I don't mind a little bit of suggestiveness, as I
do have a sense of humor...and would rather "drop hints" of rule
violations, than to make an example of the violator in the echo.
I would also PREFER constructive participation in the echo by
ALL of its users.
10. The first violation will be considered an accident...twice will be
questionable, and the third time will result in a permanent feed
cut without warning...with no appeal.
11. If there are any questions or comments about these rules, please
address them to me, Daryl Stout via NETMAIL ONLY at 1:3821/33.
Discussion of the echo rules in the echo is off topic.
Daryl Stout, Moderator