TAG LIBERTY RULEText [This message will be posted from time to time to introduce new users to the LIBERTY echo. Sysops may wish to make it available as a description or "rules" file associated with the message area through which they provide access to LIBERTY.] The LIBERTY echo is dedicated to discussion of libertarian ideas and libertarian political activism, and announcements of interest to libertarians. This includes, but is not limited to, activities of the Libertarian Party. Participation by all who wish to discuss these topics, whether they label themselves "libertarians" or not, is welcome. People who just want to find out more about libertarian ideas and the libertarian movement are also welcome to follow the discussions and ask questions. But the topic IS libertarianism -- long debates about other political philosophies and announcements not relating to freedom issues do not belong here (see "other echos", below). This is an international echo. Please do not post announcements that would be of interest only to people in your city (e.g., the schedule for an ordinary local meeting). When posting a message about something happening in your area that might be of wider interest (e.g., a campaign, pending legislation, a court case, a bigger meeting), be sure to include the information that people in other places will need to make sense of it (e.g., say what city you are talking about, include area codes in phone numbers, etc.). A list of BBSs carrying LIBERTY is available as LIBERBBS.TXT from 1:204/9 (Dehnbase Rainbow, 1-415-857-1209). LIBERNET & LIBERNET-D --------------------- The LIBERTY echo provides access to Libernet and Libernet-D, multi-network, international mailing lists for libertarian news and discussion. Readers of the LIBERTY echo receive all Libernet and Libernet-D messages automatically. Messages from participants on other networks (Internet, CompuServe, etc.) are identified by "Libernet" or "Libernet-D" in the From field. Readers of the LIBERTY echo who want to post Libernet or Libernet-D message (i.e., a message that will go to the people on the other networks as well as to the readers of LIBERTY) can do so by simply specifying "Libernet" or "Libernet-D" in the To field. When you post a message, you have the choice of limiting distribution to the echo, or of having it delivered to all of the subscribers to Libernet (or Libernet-D). Please keep in mind that many of the people on the other networks are paying for access by the minute or are reading their mail at work. If you have an important announcement that all libertarians should see, by all means post your message to Libernet. Or if you are commenting on a discussion that started on Libernet or Libernet-D, respond to Libernet-D. But you also have the option of conducting a discussion just with other Fidonet users; to start a Fidonet-only discussion, address your message to "All". If you reply to a message that is "From: Libernet", your BBS will normally copy "Libernet" into the To field, and the reply will be delivered back to the original writer (along with everyone else). If your reply is in the nature of discussion of the original message, you should enter the To field yourself, using the string "Libernet-D". If you are entering a totally new message, or replying to a message from a Fidonet user, and want your message to go to all Libernet or Libernet-D readers, you must put "Libernet" or "Libernet-D" in the To:" field yourself. "Libernet" or "Libernet-D" must be the first word, but it can be followed by a name in parentheses if you want; as with any other message in an echo, this just indicates to whom you are directing your remarks, and has no effect on who gets the message. All readers of the echo see all messages; if the To field starts with "Libernet" or "Libernet-D", all the other readers of that mailing list will see it as well. The operator of the Libernet mailing list occasionally posts a message containing guidelines for what sorts of messages are welcome on Libernet and Libernet-D. Please respect these guidelines. Very generally, messages that are "debate" or "discussion", including commentary on items posted to "Libernet", should be posted to "Libernet-D". OTHER ECHOS ----------- There are several other Fidonet echos (e.g., POLITICS) which provide for general political discussion. If you want to discuss issues with non-libertarians, or have a debate about libertarianism vs. some other philosophy, try one of those -- you can help the people in those echos find out about the libertarian perspective, and if you find new libertarians there, let them know about LIBERTY! There are also echos dedicated to specific topics that are likely to be of interest to many libertarians, e.g., RTKBA for discussion of gun-control, NORML for discussion of hemp relegalization, and OBJECTIV for discussion of Objectivism and Ayn Rand. If the BBS you use does not carry those, check others in your area or discuss with your sysop the possibility of adding them. If you are an officer or other activist in the Libertarian Party, you may want to participate in the LPUS echo, which provides for discussion of LP business (i.e., organizational matters, not political philosophy). Extended discussion of LP business should not be conducted in Libernet/LIBERTY because (1) there are some people here who aren't interested in the LP at all, much less its internal business, and (2) many of the people _most_ interested in LP business (e.g., a number of National Committee members and state chairs) read LPUS and _don't_ read LIBERTY. Your state LP or other group of libertarians may have established an additional echo for discussion of libertarian or LP topics on a state or county level. Check with your sysop or local libertarian organizations. _____________________________________________________________________ LIBERTY NORTHWEST CONFERENCE & NEWSGROUP "The only libertarian-oriented political discussion conference on the Fidonet Z1 Backbone..." Fidonet SysOps AREAFIX: LIB_NW USENET NG SERVER: news.osirusoft.com Subscribe: fidonews.lib.nw Visit Liberty Northwest on the Web: http://members.spree.com/lib_nw/confer.htm Email Subscriptions: To Subscribe or unsubscribe: libnw-subscribe@onelist.com * libnw-unsubscribe@onelist.com ...Liberty is never an option... only a condition to be lost _____________________________________________________________________