FidoNet
This article is far from finished and I have to research this topic further
FidoNet is a computer network consisting out of various mailboxes that can either be used as a group messaging tool (most commonly echomail, seldom also groupmail, forum, newsgroup, board, or public message), or as a way to do private messages (netmail, NM, PM, private mail). It is interesting, because it is purely operated by hobbyists and has no commercial aspect to it, much unlike the Internet. The "Zone Mail Hour" is certain time frame, where FidoNet node must be available for accepting mail; the time when this happens depends on the region of the node. FidoNet is also much more personal than the Internet or Usenet, wherein you're ought to use your real name and location while being a node. Of course you can use a name, which looks like a real name, but isn't, the same way you can use a fake name in a mailing list with such a policy, however it is not the expected thing to do.
Infrasturcture (WIP)
A hub is a node that distrubites Echomail, Netmail, Nodelists, and more.
Netiqutte and vocabulary (WIP)
- Echomail -> group messages
- Netmail -> private messages
- Crashmail -> instant messages
- Reader, Maileditor -> Software to read Netmail
- Mailer ->Software to receive messages
Similarities to other networks
The technically closest thing to FidoNet is probably MausNet, a German Mailbox network from the 1990s. Echomail is similar to Usenet newsgroups and Internet mailing lists.
External resources
Interesting Datenschleuder issue about FidoNet and MausNet (German) Fidonet