=============================================================================== 1. PARTICIPATE in the board you are on. Many people have the tendency to call in and look around, anb leave. Most boards welcome feedback on just about any subject. Sometimes, you can get a healthy discussion going just by leaving one simple statement! No one that I know "knows it all" about computers. Each of us has certain information that others may not know, and you can share your knowledge with everyone on a BBS. Plus, then, if you share information, and you have a question, people are more likely to respond to you. 2. If you are on a system that you like, give your friends and other boards you are on the phone number, so that they can try it. All Sysops I know like their boards to be busy, and YOU are in a better position to get out a board's phone number than the Sysop. 3. Don't habitually hang up on the system. Every Sysop is aware that accidental disconnections happen once in a while, but we do tend to get annoyed with people who hang up every single time they call because they are either too lazy to terminate properly, or they labor under the mistaken assumption that the 10 or so seconds they save will alter their phone bills. 4. When you are offered a place to leave comments when existing a system, don't try to use this area to ask the Sysop questions. It's very rude to the other callers to expect the Sysop to carry on a half visible conversation with someone. If you have a question or statement to make and expect the Sysop to reply to it, it should always be made in the section where all other messages are kept. This allows the Sysop to help many people with the same problem. 5. Before you log on with your favorite pseudonym, make sure that handles are allowed. Most Sysops don't want people using handles on the system. There is not enough room for them, and they get games of one-upmanship started. It is much nicer to deal with a person on a personal basis; plus everyone should be willing to take responsibility for his actions or comments instead of slinging mud from behind a phony name. 6. Don't go out of your way to make rude observations like "Gee, this system is slow". Every BBS is a tradeoff of features. You can generally assume that the Sysop is fully aware of the good points AND the bad points about his system; and he is running the system that he likes the best (otherwise he'd be looking for a new system to run). It doesn't do anybody any good to make comments about something that you perceive to be a flaw, when it is running the way the Sysop wants it to!! Constructive Criticism is somewhat more welcome. If you have an alternative method that seems to make good sense, then run it up the flagpole. 7. Have the common courtesy to pay attention to what passes in front of your face. Most BBS's provide AMPLE instructions to callers that are complete and accurate. If you don't understand something, that is the time to leave the Sysop a note. 8. If, by some chance, you should encounter an error while online (Heaven forbid!!) ALWAYS take the time to leave the Sysop a message describing the circumstances. Don't just say "There was an error". That is not helpful at all. Chances are the Sysop knows that there is an error, but he needs to know what you were doing prior to the error oscuring. Then he has some chance of finding and correcting it. 9. If you logon a system, and really don't feel that you'll be calling back, do the Sysop a favor and tell him. Many systems have room for only so many users, and there is no sense in keeping your name in a system that you'll never call again. 10. Keep firmly in mind that you are a GUEST on any BBS you happen to call. Don't think of logging on as one of your basic human rights. Every Sysop I have ever talked to has spent considerable time and money getting his system up and running. Most Sysops do this out of the goodness of their hearts. While he doesn't expect nonstop pats on the back, it is reasonable for him to expect fair treatment and consideration on his system. This includes following HIS rules, without grumbling about it! EVERY Sysop has his idea of how his system should be run. It really is not any of your business why he wants to run it a certain way. Your business is to either abide by what ever rules there are, or call some other BBS where you feel that you can obey the rules. Author : Unknown