• You are cordially invited!

    From Patch@VERT/R2LOTW to All on Sunday, April 24, 2016 19:30:57
    Since re-starting my BBS and trying to make an approach to bring something unique to the BBS community, I'm making an attempt to bridge the historical gap of when BBS's were the Internet Pioneers, and the ease of online notifications of today.

    To this end, I've created a Discord server titled BBS Global Community, which can be accessed at the following URL through both web and the Discord app:

    https://discord.gg/0yCxVosom5wTBQRr

    Discord is a text and voice chat application that can be accessed via the web, its downloadable app on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS devices.

    The purpose of this is a hope to be able to bring BBS community people together in a modern medium, which can foster other users to connect to their respective systems, chat with the SysOp through Push-To-Talk communications, and to receive announcements on your mobile devices whenever the SysOps make those.

    This idea is still in its infancy, so I am also looking for individuals to help foster and build upon an idea with me. I am hopeful that this could help foster the 'old hands' a medium where they can exchange ideas, help others and introduce the Pioneers of the Internet to the next generation of users.

    I'm open to suggestions and feedback, and look forward to pursuing this (if the community deems it worthy, of course) into something that can partner with BBS Operators and members alike.

    -Patch
    R2LOTW.synchro.net

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ R2LOTW - Reliving The Past - r2lotw.synchro.net - 24/7 - Games, Files, Messages
  • From Mro@VERT/BBSESINF to Patch on Sunday, April 24, 2016 22:23:30
    Re: You are cordially invited!
    By: Patch to All on Sun Apr 24 2016 07:30 pm

    gap of when BBS's were the Internet Pioneers, and the ease of online notifications of today.


    when were bbses the internet pioneers?

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    þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::
  • From Vk3jed@VERT/FREEWAY to Patch on Monday, April 25, 2016 17:48:00
    Patch wrote to All <=-

    Since re-starting my BBS and trying to make an approach to bring
    something unique to the BBS community, I'm making an attempt to bridge
    the historical gap of when BBS's were the Internet Pioneers, and the
    ease of online notifications of today.

    Some interesting ideas there, will have to check it out sometime. :)


    ... Man, that lightning sounds closõ¯¨©~®Ô NO CARRIER
    --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
    þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.
  • From Patch@VERT/R2LOTW to Mro on Monday, April 25, 2016 17:00:10
    Re: You are cordially invited!
    By: Mro to Patch on Sun Apr 24 2016 10:23 pm

    Re: You are cordially invited!

    When I was running a BBS was back in the 80's through 2001. Connecting to BBS's and exchanging email, message boards and online games were literally the pioneers of what we know of the internet today.

    When the internet was first introduced, it was a text based network set for universities to be able to communicate back and forth.

    Yes, I'm that old.

    -Patch

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ R2LOTW - Reliving The Past - r2lotw.synchro.net - 24/7 - Games, Files, Messages.
  • From Knight@VERT/PHUNC to Patch on Monday, April 25, 2016 21:06:54
    Re: You are cordially invited!
    By: Patch to Mro on Mon Apr 25 2016 05:00 pm

    When I was running a BBS was back in the 80's through 2001. Connecting to BBS's and exchanging email, message boards and online games were literally the pioneers of what we know of the internet today.

    When the internet was first introduced, it was a text based network set for universities to be able to communicate back and forth.

    Yes, I'm that old.

    Me too, I was there, running BBSes and working on *nix servers powering the early internet.

    I would suggest that BBS sysops and users were not really the pioneers of what the internet is today, but that the internet and BBSes developed independently in parallel and then converged in the early 90s.

    The Internet was really born and developed by DARPA and universities, further powered by metropolitan networks (SprintNet, Telenet, etc AX.25 nets in big metros), and then embraced by the individual demand via CompuServ and AOL and similar who provided Internet access, and that consumer demand also spawned ISPs (Internet Service Providers).

    It's true that a portion of BBSes adopted Internet functionality early on in the 90s (if I had to venture a guess, I'd say 10-15% of BBSes), which further encouraged the use of the Internet.

    But I've been very unaware of an sysops that were contributing directly to the development of the internet, other than funneling users to it. I'm sure there were individuals, but it wasn't a phenomina that BBSes were inherently the reason the internet took off.

    After all, we have the Internet to blame for the demise of the BBS!

    In all of that, I'm not trying to say that you are wrong, but just that I view it a little differently.

    Cheers,

    Knight

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ The Phunc BBS -- Back from the dead! -- telnet to bbs.phunc.com
  • From Patch@VERT/R2LOTW to Knight on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 08:33:55
    Re: You are cordially invited!
    By: Knight to Patch on Mon Apr 25 2016 09:06 pm

    I would suggest that BBS sysops and users were not really the pioneers of what the internet is today, but that the internet and BBSes developed independently in parallel and then converged in the early 90s.

    I guess that I should clarify. I don't believe I ever said that BBS's 'developed' the internet.

    The way that I see it, BBS Systems were the literal 'network' in using FidoNet, and other large network connections to be able to communicate to one another effectively regardless of the distance between them.

    We had 'web email' before internet email was *popular*, emailing 1@nodeNumber would take several days to get there, but it would. Same with message bases, whoever would make the long distance connection whenever there was a gap between local connections was heavily prized by SysOps.

    BBS's were able to provide a very basic and rudamentary aspect of what we know and use the internet for today. Getting information from peers or peer-related physical aspects, communicating through the computer and telephone lines with folks literally all over the world, online games that were more successful if they were multi-BBS configured, and let's not forget with multiple lines comes multi-chat rooms too.

    I believe that we helped to usher in a new era, not that we developed or perfected it. As you've stated that many BBS's (mine included) started losing callers when the internet was getting integrated more and more commonly in our homes.

    No one wanted to pay long distance to get information that they could possibly get on the internet.

    We were the web before the World Wide Web, and if you think about how these messages get sent and received to their respective destinations ... we still are.

    I apologize if my opinion somehow offended anyone, I like to think that in my lifetime I've seen technology morph from 8088 machines to the processors that we have in our systems.

    -Patch

    ... Components that must not and cannot be assembled improperly will be.

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ R2LOTW - Reliving The Past - r2lotw.synchro.net - 24/7 - Games, Files, Messages.
  • From Knight@VERT/PHUNC to Patch on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 10:19:52
    Re: You are cordially invited!
    By: Patch to Knight on Tue Apr 26 2016 08:33 am

    I apologize if my opinion somehow offended anyone, I like to think that in my lifetime I've seen technology morph from 8088 machines to the processors that we have in our systems.

    No, hey not at all. No offense taken. Just as I said at the end of my own write-up, I'm not saying you're wrong, just that I have a different view of things.

    And ultimately I think I understand now what you were saying and I agree with that.

    Knight

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ The Phunc BBS -- Back from the dead! -- telnet to bbs.phunc.com
  • From Patch@VERT/R2LOTW to Knight on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 14:01:34
    Re: You are cordially invited!
    By: Knight to Patch on Tue Apr 26 2016 10:19 am

    No, hey not at all. No offense taken. Just as I said at the end of my own write-up, I'm not saying you're wrong, just that I have a different view of things.
    And ultimately I think I understand now what you were saying and I agree with that.

    I'm glad that no offense was taken, would hate to start off on a bad foot. =)

    I feel that original BBS SysOp's can be considered the Stone Age version of the Internet as we have it today.

    Although I think we get dates differently now than we did back then. =)

    -Patch

    ... The cause of problems are solutions!

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    þ Synchronet þ R2LOTW - Reliving The Past - r2lotw.synchro.net - 24/7 - Games, Files, Messages.
  • From Vk3jed@VERT/FREEWAY to Patch on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 08:43:00
    Patch wrote to Knight <=-

    I guess that I should clarify. I don't believe I ever said that BBS's 'developed' the internet.

    The way that I see it, BBS Systems were the literal 'network' in using FidoNet, and other large network connections to be able to communicate
    to one another effectively regardless of the distance between them.

    BBSs were _the_ messaging networks of the day, for general public access. The Internet didn't really become a mainstream thing until the mid - late 1990s, but there were thousands of BBSs, and who knows how many users, participating in Fidonet and many other networks, both FTN and QWK (and I believe others, but we only carried FTN and QWK networks).

    We had 'web email' before internet email was *popular*, emailing 1@nodeNumber would take several days to get there, but it would. Same with message bases, whoever would make the long distance connection whenever there was a gap between local connections was heavily prized
    by SysOps.

    Well, we had online email, no hyperlinks. :) Our BBS was one that ran several long haul links, mostly interstate, a couple of international ones too for niche networks. :)

    BBS's were able to provide a very basic and rudamentary aspect of what
    we know and use the internet for today. Getting information from peers
    or peer-related physical aspects, communicating through the computer
    and telephone lines with folks literally all over the world, online
    games that were more successful if they were multi-BBS configured, and let's not forget with multiple lines comes multi-chat rooms too.

    Yep, BBSs certainly brought all of these to the users. There was also the anticipation of what would arrive in the next mail packet - did that much awayted netmail reply come through? How was the raging echo debate going? etc. :)

    I believe that we helped to usher in a new era, not that we developed
    or perfected it. As you've stated that many BBS's (mine included)
    started losing callers when the internet was getting integrated more
    and more commonly in our homes.

    Yes, BBS callers fell off very rapidly in the late 1990s, as users migrated to the Internet. The email gateway lasted a bit longer, as I was its main user in the latter days. The gateway survived Y2K with few, if any, issues, but less than 2 years later, the arrival of broadband, with an enforced change of ISPs killed off the gateway, by stopping the SMTP/NNTP feed. I've since resurrected my old domain and connection, this time using VPN technology, and I'm back BBSing. :)

    No one wanted to pay long distance to get information that they could possibly get on the internet.

    We were the web before the World Wide Web, and if you think about how these messages get sent and received to their respective destinations
    ... we still are.

    I apologize if my opinion somehow offended anyone, I like to think that
    in my lifetime I've seen technology morph from 8088 machines to the processors that we have in our systems.

    So have I. My first BBS was a home built XT with a 10MB HDD. Today's BBS is a credit card sized Pi with 16G SD card. And it's a vastly more capable system than my first BBS machine! :)


    ... A day without sunshine is like night.
    --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
    þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.
  • From Mro@VERT/BBSESINF to Knight on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 18:30:06
    Re: You are cordially invited!
    By: Knight to Patch on Mon Apr 25 2016 09:06 pm

    I would suggest that BBS sysops and users were not really the pioneers of what the internet is today, but that the internet and BBSes developed independently in parallel and then converged in the early 90s.


    the bbses were at their best, social communities that helped people meet friends online and hopefully in their own regions.

    i think that's why they didnt pan out so well when we hooked them up to the internet. the internet and www and bbses are two different animals entirely.

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::
  • From Knight@VERT/PHUNC to Mro on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 21:22:04
    Re: You are cordially invited!
    By: Mro to Knight on Tue Apr 26 2016 06:30 pm

    I would suggest that BBS sysops and users were not really the pioneers of what the internet is today, but that the internet and BBSes developed independently in parallel and then converged in the early 90s.

    the bbses were at their best, social communities that helped people meet friends online and hopefully in their own regions.

    i think that's why they didnt pan out so well when we hooked them up to the internet. the internet and www and bbses are two different animals entirely.

    This is truly odd. I agree with this. Agreeing with Mro twice in one week? Am I OK? Do I need to see my doctor for a blood test? :)

    Exactly. The hyperlocality of BBSes directly conflicted with the global nature of the Internet.

    But if you look at society today, I'd say it's truly missing that local community component that BBSes did such a great job at providing. Irony!

    Knight

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    þ Synchronet þ The Phunc BBS -- Back from the dead! -- telnet to bbs.phunc.com
  • From Vk3jed@VERT/FREEWAY to Knight on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 18:29:00
    Knight wrote to Mro <=-

    But if you look at society today, I'd say it's truly missing that local community component that BBSes did such a great job at providing.
    Irony!

    BBSs still have the potential to provide that local feel. And I agree, the wider Internet often lacks community feel.
    ... Hold on a sec. A cat is tugging at my heartstrings.
    --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
    þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.
  • From Mro@VERT/BBSESINF to Knight on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 17:56:06
    Re: You are cordially invited!
    By: Knight to Mro on Tue Apr 26 2016 09:22 pm

    But if you look at society today, I'd say it's truly missing that local community component that BBSes did such a great job at providing. Irony!


    people arent that sociable anymore. also everyone has assburger's syndrome and autism apparently.

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    þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::
  • From Mro@VERT/BBSESINF to Vk3jed on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 17:57:21
    Re: Re: You are cordially invited!
    By: Vk3jed to Knight on Wed Apr 27 2016 06:29 pm

    BBSs still have the potential to provide that local feel. And I agree, the wider Internet often lacks community feel.


    i dont think they can provide a local feel at all.
    we cant talk online and then meet at a late night restaurant to hang out.
    well you can but you'd have to take a big trip usually.

    just not the same. no sense in trying to compare the two.

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    þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::
  • From Jeff Friend@VERT/MORDOR to Patch on Thursday, April 28, 2016 07:56:00
    Re: You are cordially invited!
    By: Patch to All on Sun Apr 24 2016 07:30 pm


    I do not drink cordial (insert cheeky grin here)

    Jeff.

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Mordor - casper.homeip.net
  • From DesotoFireflite@VERT/VALHALLA to Mro on Thursday, April 28, 2016 05:06:39
    Re: Re: You are cordially invited!
    By: Mro to Vk3jed on Wed Apr 27 2016 05:57 pm

    i dont think they can provide a local feel at all.
    we cant talk online and then meet at a late night restaurant to hang out. well you can but you'd have to take a big trip usually.

    Yea, I miss that. In the old days, it was all local. The out of state call was not seen that often. I remember we would meet at an area restaurant once a month and it was fun. You can't do that these days without a lot of driving.

    C.G. Learn
    Valhalla Home Services! - (Synchronet) - Telnet://valhalla.synchro.net
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    --- Save Water, Shower With A Friend
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  • From Tempo Rubato@VERT/CRYSTAL to DesotoFireflite on Friday, April 29, 2016 11:50:00
    Re: Re: You are cordially inv
    By: DesotoFireflite to Mro on Thu Apr 28 2016 06:06 am

    Yea, I miss that. In the old days, it was all local. The out of state call w not seen that often. I remember we would meet at an area restaurant once a month and it was fun. You can't do that these days without a lot of driving.

    I posted this link before but it's been a while. I'm guessing this is around 1988 to 1990. What a bunch of geeks we were [are].

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/fhgr1mfz058fwwr/Crystal%20Aerie%20c%201990.jpg?dl=0


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    þ Synchronet þ << Crystal Aerie >> Va, USA Telnet://crystal-aerie.com
  • From DesotoFireflite@VERT/VALHALLA to Tempo Rubato on Saturday, April 30, 2016 16:02:38
    Re: Re: You are cordially inv
    By: Tempo Rubato to DesotoFireflite on Fri Apr 29 2016 11:50 am

    I posted this link before but it's been a while. I'm guessing this is around 1988 to 1990. What a bunch of geeks we were [are].

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/fhgr1mfz058fwwr/Crystal%20Aerie%20c%201990.jpg?d

    Nice pic, reminded of the old days. Yes, geeks we were, but It was a hoot. Back then, I charged for access to my bbs. I was one of the lucky ones, as I made enough money to keep my machines up to day, pay my phone bills, and take my co sysops out to dinner every once in awhile. I miss those days.

    C.G. Learn
    Valhalla Home Services! - (Synchronet) - Telnet://valhalla.synchro.net
    Valhalla II! - (GAP) - Telnet://valhalla.synchro.net:2323
    A Gamers Paradise - Over 100 Registered Online Game Doors!

    --- Save Water, Shower With A Friend
    þ Synchronet þ Valhalla Home Services þ USA þ http://valhalla.synchro.net
  • From Tempo Rubato@VERT/CRYSTAL to DesotoFireflite on Monday, May 02, 2016 10:05:00
    Re: Re: You are cordially inv
    By: DesotoFireflite to Tempo Rubato on Sat Apr 30 2016 05:02 pm

    Nice pic, reminded of the old days. Yes, geeks we were, but It was a hoot. B then, I charged for access to my bbs. I was one of the lucky ones, as I made enough money to keep my machines up to day, pay my phone bills, and take my sysops out to dinner every once in awhile. I miss those days.

    Thanks. I couldn't find many of the pictures that I'm sure were taken At least one of those people still calls the BBS regularly but I must admit I can no longer associate names with the faces. We used to be a very busy board.


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    þ Synchronet þ << Crystal Aerie >> Va, USA Telnet://crystal-aerie.com