Subj : Echo Rules
To   : Vincent Coen
From : Lee Lofaso
Date : Sat Sep 14 2024 01:35 am

Hello Vincent,

 VC>>>> Look at file area ECHOLIST and the monthly (and sometimes daily
 VC>>>> if an new echo added) for the files :

 VC>>>> ELSTyymm.ZIP  for the monthly issued around 1/2 of the month,
 VC>>>> where
 RS>>> yy =
 VC>>>> year, mm = month.

 VC>>>> I send these out to around 30 different systems.

 RS>>> Brilliant. Thanks, Vincent. Very much appreciated.

 >> There is no official elist or echolist in Fidonet.

 VC> There has been since the 90's using BACKBONE.NA.

Just like there is an "official" Santa Claus?
Just like there is an "official" Easter Bunny?
Just like there is an "official" Lee Lofaso?
Oh, my. Aren't we all in for a ride!

Fact is, there have been several elists/ecolists in Fidonet
throughout the years. All of them just as "official" as my very
own name. This is true in every zone, regardless of time.

Of course, nobody in their right mind ever uses their own name,
as such names are always given to them. Usually for free, except
in some places where numbers are assigned in lieu of names.

 VC> The fact that you never used it is just down to you.

My own version is much better, and always perfect.
A tablet and a pencil. Works great.

 VC> I took over the Elist system fron Ben Rickley after he died

I never bothered to wait until anybody croaked, having my own
elist/echolist from the get-go. Works great, and never breaks down.
Who could ask for anything more?

 VC> but he maintained that with his bbs that used mystic and while the basic
 VC> source was available the needed various scripts / command files where not.

There are no excuses. He admitted there were flaws in the system
that could not be fixed, and that it would be a complete waste of
time to even try to fix them. So what did he do? He went off and
died. Let it be somebody else's problem. And you took the bait.

Ben was not the first. Thom was there before he got tired of it.
At least Thom had the good sense not to wait before it was too late.

 VC> In which event and as I used mbse I have written my own copy of Elist to do
 VC> the same

Did you? Did you really? There is a version freely available for
anybody who wants it. You do know that.

 VC> and in addition many other functions including supporting the Elist
 VC> system as well as the BACKBONE elements.

That's nice. Others have also made elists/echolists available for
those who want to use them. One such version was popular in zone 3.
Until the sysop who put it there got tired of playing with it.

Of course, none of this makes any elist/echolist "official" -
except in your own mind.

 VC> That is issued monthly with an infrequent version daily if a major change is
 VC> done during the month that affects rules or the description or a new echo
 VC> added.

A tablet and a pencil serves the same purpose. Add the ones
you want. No need to delete what isn't there.

 VC> For all of these functions it is run fully automatically with the required
 VC> files sent out as an archive in both cases.

Now we know what killed Ben Ritchey. He died of boredom. Should
really have come as no surprise. At least Thom got out when he still
had time.

 VC> This is useful for echo hosts and hubs so that can rule you out as a need.

You do realize there are no moderators in Fidonet, as that would
be an oxymoron.

For Life,
Lee

-- 
Fox News Slogan - Rich people paying rich people
to tell middle class people to blame poor people.

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