• BBS Regonality

    From Divarin@VERT/MUTINY to All on Thursday, March 18, 2021 08:47:22
    I had a dream the other night that I was taking a trip to New York (for some reason) and while I was there I thought I'd check out the local BBSs. For some reason I didn't bring a computer so the only way I could BBS was on my smartphone which is always an excersize in frustration with the tiny non-physical keyboard and small screen.

    Anyway for some reason the sysop on the board I called didn't believe that I was a new user from Cleveland and insisted I was a friend of his playing a joke on him.

    Very strange, first off because I planned on doing some BBSing and yet didn't bring a computer, second that the sysop would think I was lying, but mostly because if this dream took place in modern times (which, given the cell phone I'd have to assume so) then there really is no concept of regonality anymore. Calling a NY BBS while in NY isn't any easier or cheaper than calling from Cleveland, Portland, Helsinki, or anywhere else.

    Anyway when I woke up I guess I was kind of feeling the loss of that regionality. Not only that BBSs in my "local" area would have discussions of a local nature and be populated with users some of which I've met in real life and others I may meet at the next ice cream social but also I missed that when you go out of town you could call up other boards in that area and you have a whole new world to explore. Of course you could call those boards long distance but back then I was too poor to do much of that so I didn't.

    I remember the last time I tried to do some on-the-road BBSs'ing I still had a c64 even though this was the mid 90's (did I mention I was poor) so I brought it with me and hooked it up to the hotel tv and phone line and I had a
    typed (on a typewriter) bbs list for the area but I was unable to connect to any. They had all already shut down in favor of the internet. One guy answered the phone (I heard through the modem) and I talked to him asking about the BBS but he didn't know anything about it and seemed really pissed that I would call. That's when I knew the BBS world was all but dead. I was in local calling range of the entire Seattle metro area and could not find a single board to call into.

    I did have a PC at the time because my employer had a program which would give you an interest free loan to buy a PC (which is strange for a french fry factory but I was stoked to have it) but the c64 was more portable so I took it for the road.

    I'm glad that BBSs still exist in some form but I wouldn't go so far as to say they've "made a comeback" because they're filling a different (and smaller) niche now and there's certain aspects of BBSing that are completely dead never to return, such as regonality.

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ MutinyBBS.com port 2332
  • From Arelor@VERT/PALANT to Divarin on Thursday, March 18, 2021 18:07:52
    Re: BBS Regonality
    By: Divarin to All on Thu Mar 18 2021 08:47 am

    I'm glad that BBSs still exist in some form but I wouldn't go so far as to s they've "made a comeback" because they're filling a different (and smaller) niche now and there's certain aspects of BBSing that are completely dead nev to return, such as regonality.


    Well the tradeoff is not that bad.

    If I could only call local BBS, I would call none. I have grown some heavy dislike for talking to people of my country over messaging/forum/bulleting platforms. The way it is set up, I get to talk to a lot of interesting people from cultures I ant to deal with instead of being stuck with the locals.

    --
    gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL
  • From Ogg@VERT/CAPCITY2 to Arelor on Thursday, March 18, 2021 22:53:00
    Hello Arelor!

    ** On Thursday 18.03.21 - 18:07, Arelor wrote to Divarin:

    If I could only call local BBS, I would call none. I have
    grown some heavy dislike for talking to people of my country
    over messaging/forum/bulleting platforms. The way it is set
    up, I get to talk to a lot of interesting people from
    cultures I ant to deal with instead of being stuck with the
    locals.

    I really like the way echomail opened up the world for me.
    "being stuck with the locals" has some appeal, but then it can
    become tiresome when new people and fresh commentary wanes - and
    that can even be true in a world-wide forum too. :/

    I just learned about the web platform called Nextdoor that aims
    to connect people within their local communities. It is called a
    " hyperlocal social networking service ". It sounds like
    another Facebook but with the expectation that people will be
    truthful about their location.


    --- OpenXP 5.0.49
    * Origin: Ogg's Dovenet Point (723:320/1.9)
    þ Synchronet þ CAPCITY2 * capcity2.synchro.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/Rlogin/HTTP
  • From Arelor@VERT/PALANT to Ogg on Friday, March 19, 2021 06:37:12
    Re: BBS Regonality
    By: Ogg to Arelor on Thu Mar 18 2021 10:53 pm

    Hello Arelor!

    ** On Thursday 18.03.21 - 18:07, Arelor wrote to Divarin:

    If I could only call local BBS, I would call none. I have
    grown some heavy dislike for talking to people of my country
    over messaging/forum/bulleting platforms. The way it is set
    up, I get to talk to a lot of interesting people from
    cultures I ant to deal with instead of being stuck with the
    locals.

    I really like the way echomail opened up the world for me.
    "being stuck with the locals" has some appeal, but then it can
    become tiresome when new people and fresh commentary wanes - and
    that can even be true in a world-wide forum too. :/

    I just learned about the web platform called Nextdoor that aims
    to connect people within their local communities. It is called a
    " hyperlocal social networking service ". It sounds like
    another Facebook but with the expectation that people will be
    truthful about their location.

    Argh, being truthful about your location!!!!

    Heck, it is bad enough that many mobile apps (such as dating or market programs) are already gathering your geolocation data,
    in a mandatory way.

    I think what is needed is services that gather people with similar interests, rather than similar locations. This is, I think
    forums about specific hobbies (board games, origami, you name it) are more useful than forums about your little village. For
    the most part, the Internet already has those, if you care to look. The heavily speciallized forums are fighting the good fight
    against the alternatives and prevailing so far.

    This is not to say local groups are not useful. Sometimes you need a way to organize a board game party with the locals.
    However, I have found that hobby centric forums work ok for this and may help you build local groups.

    --
    gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL
  • From fusion@VERT/CFBBS to Ogg on Friday, March 19, 2021 09:18:00
    I just learned about the web platform called Nextdoor that aims
    to connect people within their local communities. It is called a
    " hyperlocal social networking service ". It sounds like
    another Facebook but with the expectation that people will be
    truthful about their location.

    yep, and facebook is for college students only. we all know how long that lasted when Zuckerberg smelled money

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
    * Origin: cold fusion - cfbbs.net - grand rapids, mi
  • From Lupine Furmen@VERT/FURFOL to Ogg on Friday, March 19, 2021 12:54:47
    Re: BBS Regonality
    By: Ogg to Arelor on Thu Mar 18 2021 22:53:00

    I just learned about the web platform called Nextdoor that aims
    to connect people within their local communities. It is called a
    " hyperlocal social networking service ". It sounds like
    another Facebook but with the expectation that people will be
    truthful about their location.

    Yeah, familiar with it. Sounds an aweful lot like a BBS! :P
    -+-

    Lupine Furmen
    -Dallas Vinson
    Furmens Folly (FIDO 1:123/257) - telnet: furmenservices.net:23
    SSH: furmenservices.net:23222
    Before the Web - telnet: furmenservices.net:23232
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    Sound Source ]|[ - telnet: furmenservices.net:2323



    Dallas

    ... A sense of decency is often a decent man's undoing.

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Furmen's Folly - furmenservices.net:23
  • From Dumas Walker@VERT/CAPCITY2 to DIVARIN on Friday, March 19, 2021 16:33:00
    I'm glad that BBSs still exist in some form but I wouldn't go so far as to s they've "made a comeback" because they're filling a different (and smaller) niche now and there's certain aspects of BBSing that are completely dead nev to return, such as regonality.

    I am not so sure that regionality is dead in so much as the regions have
    simply grown.


    * SLMR 2.1a * IF numcooks > .maxcooks THEN;SET V broth = 'spoiled';END

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ CAPCITY2 * capcity2.synchro.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/Rlogin/HTTP
  • From Ogg@VERT/CAPCITY2 to Lupine Furmen on Friday, March 19, 2021 22:20:00
    Hello Lupine Furmen!

    ** On Friday 19.03.21 - 12:54, you wrote to me:

    I just learned about the web platform called Nextdoor that
    aims to connect people within their local communities. It
    is called a " hyperlocal social networking service ". It
    sounds like another Facebook but with the expectation that
    people will be truthful about their location.

    Yeah, familiar with it. Sounds an aweful lot like a BBS! :P

    Yes.. it does sound more like a localized BBS indeed.

    So.. are you using it?

    For verification, they need to confirm your residential address:

    "[1] Phone number

    "To verify your account, your mobile phone plan's billing
    address must match the address you used to join Nextdoor.

    I'm a bit surprised that MY billing address is even accessible
    just by offering my phone number for their SMS. I would have
    thought that my mobile service would keep that information
    secure. How is it that Nextdoor can access my address from my
    mobile provider?

    "We will send a SMS code that must be entered as instructed
    below:

    "- Visit https://ca.nextdoor.com/verify
    "- Select Verify by phone.
    "- Choose the correct country code. Then enter your mobile phone number.
    "- Click Text Me A Code.
    "- You will receive a SMS code to the phone number you submitted. Enter this code on screen.
    "- Click Submit.

    "[2] Postcard

    "If you don't verify by phone within 24 hours, Nextdoor will
    automatically mail a postcard containing a verification code to
    your home address. It may take up to 10 business days for the
    postcard to arrive.

    The whole "private local social network" (they say, think of it
    as a local neighbourhood watch) idea sounds interesting. But
    something about it sounds too invasive.

    When we come to believe that people should limit exposure as to
    their exact home addresses and other personal information, along
    comes Nextdoor and uproots all that.



    --- OpenXP 5.0.49
    * Origin: Ogg's Dovenet Point (723:320/1.9)
    þ Synchronet þ CAPCITY2 * capcity2.synchro.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/Rlogin/HTTP
  • From Ogg@VERT/CAPCITY2 to Arelor on Friday, March 19, 2021 22:37:00
    Hello Arelor!

    ** On Friday 19.03.21 - 06:37, Arelor wrote to Ogg:

    I just learned about the web platform called Nextdoor..
    ..with the expectation that people will be
    truthful about their location.

    Argh, being truthful about your location!!!!

    Heck, it is bad enough that many mobile apps (such as dating
    or market programs) are already gathering your geolocation
    data, in a mandatory way.

    Yes.. something about Nextdoor just makes me suspicious of its
    intent. They are fairly strict about your actual home location
    - whatever you use has to be verified either by phone or
    postcard.

    I think what is needed is services that gather people with
    similar interests, rather than similar locations. This is, I
    think forums about specific hobbies (board games, origami,
    you name it) are more useful than forums about your little
    village. For the most part, the Internet already has those,
    if you care to look. The heavily speciallized forums are
    fighting the good fight against the alternatives and
    prevailing so far.

    Similar interests over similar locations, I would concur. But
    Nextdoor thinks it serves the purpose as a kind of neighborhood
    watch or it serves a closed knit group of people who would
    consider themselves to be neighbors. Then, as neighbors, you
    automatically have the greater potential to "serve" each other
    in ways that an international public forum with its myriad of
    members might never work. A nextdoor group could probably
    organize a car pool, or ask for a ride, or buy-n-sell something
    quick, or report on a prowler. But then, I could probably
    accomplish the same thing by just picking up the phone and
    making an actual phone call. :D

    Nextdoor? Just another "app" to manage and another program that
    documents your life and interactions with people. It almost
    sounds like another NSA surveillance dream.

    This is not to say local groups are not useful. Sometimes
    you need a way to organize a board game party with the
    locals. However, I have found that hobby centric forums work
    ok for this and may help you build local groups.

    Yep. One step at a time. Build a group where the hobby/interest
    is the common denominator, and then build upon the group to
    identify the locals or draw more people in to make a local
    community grow.


    --- OpenXP 5.0.49
    * Origin: Ogg's Dovenet Point (723:320/1.9)
    þ Synchronet þ CAPCITY2 * capcity2.synchro.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/Rlogin/HTTP
  • From Nelgin@VERT/EOTLBBS to Ogg on Saturday, March 20, 2021 03:35:44
    Ogg wrote:
    Hello Lupine Furmen!

    ** On Friday 19.03.21 - 12:54, you wrote to me:

    I just learned about the web platform called Nextdoor that
    aims to connect people within their local communities. It
    is called a " hyperlocal social networking service ". It
    sounds like another Facebook but with the expectation that
    people will be truthful about their location.

    Nextdoor is bullshit. They will ban people without any sort of warning, notification, or justification.

    I had a conversation and called someone out for lying. Next thing I know, I'm banned.

    OK, there's a litle more to it than that, but what I said/did no way justified any sort of ban. They're a lore unto themselves, obviously with no oversight
    or anyone to protect the rights of people who are unfairly removeed.

    Run, don't walk, away unless you like to tiptoe around on eggshells.

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com
  • From Arelor@VERT/PALANT to Ogg on Saturday, March 20, 2021 07:14:03
    Re: BBS Regonality
    By: Ogg to Arelor on Fri Mar 19 2021 10:37 pm

    Yes.. something about Nextdoor just makes me suspicious of its
    intent. They are fairly strict about your actual home location
    - whatever you use has to be verified either by phone or
    postcard.


    It makes sense they verify where you are comming from, if they want their service to be really about neighbors instead of just
    another social platform that will be crushed by the giants.

    Spanish Tuenti became succesful (more than Facebook in Spain, by a large margin) precisely because it placed limits on who
    could join. It was (wait for it) an INVITATION ONLY network. You were given a small number of invitation tokens so you could
    only bring your friends in as a result.

    A lot of youngsters had both a Facebook and Tuenti account, but Facebook had the drawback that your teachers and parents were
    in it, which was an issue. The invitation system succeeded in ensuring a small set of demographics was using the site (people
    in a certain age range) and that they called it home.

    --
    gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL
  • From HusTler@VERT/HAVENS to Arelor on Saturday, March 20, 2021 08:09:52
    Re: BBS Regonality
    By: Arelor to Ogg on Fri Mar 19 2021 06:37 am

    I just learned about the web platform called Nextdoor that aims
    to connect people within their local communities. It is called a
    " hyperlocal social networking service ". It sounds like
    another Facebook but with the expectation that people will be
    truthful about their location.

    Nextdoor is just another shitty social networking site.

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Havens BBS havens.synchro.net
  • From MRO@VERT/BBSESINF to fusion on Saturday, March 20, 2021 16:19:56
    Re: Re: BBS Regonality
    By: fusion to Ogg on Fri Mar 19 2021 09:18 am

    I just learned about the web platform called Nextdoor that aims
    to connect people within their local communities. It is called a
    " hyperlocal social networking service ". It sounds like
    another Facebook but with the expectation that people will be
    truthful about their location.

    yep, and facebook is for college students only. we all know how long that lasted when Zuckerberg smelled money


    the most i want to associate with my neighbors is waving when i park my car and they're outside.

    i dont want to see their kid pics, see about their divorces or fuck them
    ---
    þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::
  • From MRO@VERT/BBSESINF to Nelgin on Saturday, March 20, 2021 16:30:28
    Re: Re: the web platform called Nextdoor
    By: Nelgin to Ogg on Sat Mar 20 2021 03:35 am

    Ogg wrote:
    Hello Lupine Furmen!

    ** On Friday 19.03.21 - 12:54, you wrote to me:

    I just learned about the web platform called Nextdoor that
    aims to connect people within their local communities. It
    is called a " hyperlocal social networking service ". It
    sounds like another Facebook but with the expectation that
    people will be truthful about their location.

    Nextdoor is bullshit. They will ban people without any sort of warning, notification, or justification.

    I had a conversation and called someone out for lying. Next thing I know, I'm banned.

    OK, there's a litle more to it than that, but what I said/did no way justified any sort of ban. They're a lore unto themselves, obviously with no oversight
    or anyone to protect the rights of people who are unfairly removeed.

    Run, don't walk, away unless you like to tiptoe around on eggshells.


    REPORTED
    ---
    þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::
  • From Ogg@VERT/CAPCITY2 to Nelgin on Saturday, March 20, 2021 18:50:00
    Hello Nelgin!

    ** On Saturday 20.03.21 - 03:35, Nelgin wrote to Ogg:

    Nextdoor is bullshit. They will ban people without any sort
    of warning, notification, or justification.

    I had a conversation and called someone out for lying. Next
    thing I know, I'm banned.

    Maybe the service has a mechnism that allows users to block
    other users? Telegram has something like that.

    OK, there's a litle more to it than that, but what I said/
    did no way justified any sort of ban. They're a lore unto
    themselves, obviously with no oversight or anyone to protect
    the rights of people who are unfairly removeed.

    Meanwhile, since nextdoor is local community place, did you or
    the other person know each other in person?



    --- OpenXP 5.0.49
    * Origin: Ogg's Dovenet Point (723:320/1.9)
    þ Synchronet þ CAPCITY2 * capcity2.synchro.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/Rlogin/HTTP
  • From Ogg@VERT/CAPCITY2 to Arelor on Saturday, March 20, 2021 20:21:00
    Hello Arelor!

    Spanish Tuenti became succesful (more than Facebook in
    Spain, by a large margin) precisely because it placed limits
    on who could join. It was (wait for it) an INVITATION ONLY
    network. You were given a small number of invitation tokens
    so you could only bring your friends in as a result.

    The invitation idea is very slick and gives some control to kids
    inviting kids only. :D

    A lot of youngsters had both a Facebook and Tuenti account,
    but Facebook had the drawback that your teachers and parents
    were in it, which was an issue. The invitation system
    succeeded in ensuring a small set of demographics was using
    the site (people in a certain age range) and that they
    called it home.

    I am reading that Tuenti is saying a long goodbye and focusing
    on their phone/cell services instead.

    "Tuenti began to lose a considerable amount of users, so the
    company started a new strategy focused on ranking Tuenti as a
    mobile network. When the company was bought by Telef¢nica, its
    main target were the users of its social network."

    "Today the company admits that the social network Tuenti no
    longer returns profit. The company says that in 2011 most of its
    revenue came from advertising in the social network. In 2013
    more than 75% of its revenue was cashed as a mobile operator,
    and nowadays Tuenti only earns money through that channel."

    I am now reading that there is new app called Clubhouse that has
    "recently landed in Spain".

    I have a friend that used to work at my shop and she claims that
    Instagram is the way to go! She says, "Everyone is using
    Instagram..". I'm still waiting for a hands-on demo on how
    Instagram would work for my shop. But, as I understand it,
    ultimately it is a way to build a local group of shoppers who
    happen to be travelling through the area. The group is dynamic
    as people come and go, but the idea is that pepole inform other
    people about their favourite places to shop.

    I'd be fine if everyone just used Telegram! LOL. And with
    Stas' cool tg_BBS integration, they get the bonus of peering
    into Fidonet too! :D


    --- OpenXP 5.0.49
    * Origin: Ogg's Dovenet Point (723:320/1.9)
    þ Synchronet þ CAPCITY2 * capcity2.synchro.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/Rlogin/HTTP
  • From Lupine Furmen@VERT/FURFOL to Ogg on Sunday, March 21, 2021 02:20:52
    Re: the web platform called Nextdoor
    By: Ogg to Lupine Furmen on Fri Mar 19 2021 22:20:00

    So.. are you using it?

    I signed up on it when it first made it's way here, but have not logged onto it in a long time.

    I don't recall registering to be all that invasive down here. No more so than registering to most BBS'.
    -+-

    Lupine Furmen
    -Dallas Vinson
    Furmens Folly (FIDO 1:123/257) - telnet: furmenservices.net:23
    SSH: furmenservices.net:23222
    Before the Web - telnet: furmenservices.net:23232
    Legends of Yesteryear (FIDO 1:123/256) - telnet: furmenservices.net:23322
    Sound Source ]|[ - telnet: furmenservices.net:2323



    Dallas

    ... Mathematicians have to PROVE they can do it

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Furmen's Folly - furmenservices.net:23
  • From Arelor@VERT/PALANT to Ogg on Sunday, March 21, 2021 06:45:54
    Re: BBS Regonality
    By: Ogg to Arelor on Sat Mar 20 2021 08:21 pm

    I am reading that Tuenti is saying a long goodbye and focusing
    on their phone/cell services instead.


    Your news are quite outdated.

    Telef¢nica bought Tuenti at its highest and missmanaged it into oblivion. When it became clear that the social network was on
    tis path to extinction, they decided to turn it into an ISP with social network integration (ie. they sold you a data plan
    along with photo storage and integration with their social platform).

    --
    gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL
  • From Ogg@VERT/CAPCITY2 to Arelor on Sunday, March 21, 2021 09:43:00
    Hello Arelor!

    ** On Sunday 21.03.21 - 06:45, Arelor wrote to Ogg:

    I am reading that Tuenti is saying a long goodbye and focusing
    on their phone/cell services instead.


    Your news are quite outdated.

    Telef¢nica bought Tuenti at its highest and missmanaged it
    into oblivion. When it became clear that the social network
    was on tis path to extinction, they decided to turn it into
    an ISP with social network integration (ie. they sold you a
    data plan along with photo storage and integration with
    their social platform).

    That's basically what I interpreted the original (outdated)
    story. So, Tuenti is still alive and thriving? ..but under the
    umbrella of the Telef¢nica company?


    --- OpenXP 5.0.49
    * Origin: Ogg's Dovenet Point (723:320/1.9)
    þ Synchronet þ CAPCITY2 * capcity2.synchro.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/Rlogin/HTTP
  • From Arelor@VERT/PALANT to Ogg on Sunday, March 21, 2021 14:19:22
    Re: BBS Regonality
    By: Ogg to Arelor on Sun Mar 21 2021 09:43 am

    Hello Arelor!

    ** On Sunday 21.03.21 - 06:45, Arelor wrote to Ogg:

    I am reading that Tuenti is saying a long goodbye and focusing
    on their phone/cell services instead.


    Your news are quite outdated.

    Telef¢nica bought Tuenti at its highest and missmanaged it
    into oblivion. When it became clear that the social network
    was on tis path to extinction, they decided to turn it into
    an ISP with social network integration (ie. they sold you a
    data plan along with photo storage and integration with
    their social platform).

    That's basically what I interpreted the original (outdated)
    story. So, Tuenti is still alive and thriving? ..but under the
    umbrella of the Telef¢nica company?

    It is still alive and providing service, but it is not a Facebook competitor anymore. Just an ISP brand with extra services.

    "Thriving" is a bit of a strong word for Tuenti, but it is said Telef¢nica did good business with the move because they made lots of customers out of it. I am not so sure myself.

    --
    gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL
  • From Tracker1@VERT/TRN to Arelor on Monday, March 22, 2021 06:10:30
    On 3/19/2021 4:37 AM, Arelor wrote:
    I just learned about the web platform called Nextdoor that
    aims to connect people within their local communities. It
    is called a " hyperlocal social networking service ". It
    sounds like another Facebook but with the expectation that
    people will be truthful about their location.

    Argh, being truthful about your location!!!!

    Heck, it is bad enough that many mobile apps (such as dating
    or market programs) are already gathering your geolocation data,
    in a mandatory way.

    Could you imagine how horrible dating programs would work if you weren't isolated by location to some extent?


    I think what is needed is services that gather people with similar interests, rather than similar locations. This is, I think forums
    about specific hobbies (board games, origami, you name it) are more
    useful than forums about your little village. For the most part, the Internet already has those, if you care to look. The heavily
    speciallized forums are fighting the good fight against the
    alternatives and prevailing so far.

    This is not to say local groups are not useful. Sometimes you need
    a way to organize a board game party with the locals.
    However, I have found that hobby centric forums work ok for this and
    may help you build local groups.

    There's already a ton of sites, apps and groups that are centered on interests... Facebook Groups (despite everything wrong with Facebook in general) is actually really good for fostering this.

    The single biggest thing I actually miss about BBSing was the local
    boards and the local gatherings that it fostered. Sometimes getting
    together with people around you, who aren't the same and have differing
    ideas on things is a healthy thing that we need more of in the world.
    --
    Michael J. Ryan - tracker1@roughneckbbs.com

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Roughneck BBS - roughneckbbs.com
  • From Divarin@VERT/MUTINY to Arelor on Monday, March 22, 2021 16:09:56
    Re: BBS Regonality
    By: Arelor to Divarin on Thu Mar 18 2021 18:07:52

    Well the tradeoff is not that bad.

    If I could only call local BBS, I would call none. I have grown some heavy dislike for talking to people of my country over messaging/forum/bulleting platforms. The way it is set up, I get to talk to a lot of interesting peopl from cultures I ant to deal with instead of being stuck with the locals.

    Yeah you're right. I would have totally loved to be able to call all over the world back in the day when boards were regional. I guess it's a "grass is greener on the other side" thing :)

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ MutinyBBS.com port 2332
  • From Ogg@VERT/CAPCITY2 to Tracker1 on Monday, March 22, 2021 20:47:00
    Hello Tracker1!

    ** On Monday 22.03.21 - 06:10, Tracker1 wrote to Arelor:

    This is not to say local groups are not useful. Sometimes
    you need a way to organize a board game party with the
    locals. However, I have found that hobby centric forums work
    ok for this and may help you build local groups.

    There's already a ton of sites, apps and groups that are
    centered on interests... Facebook Groups (despite everything
    wrong with Facebook in general) is actually really good for
    fostering this.

    I've joined a couple of groups in Facebook recently, to see how
    it would work. I don't like it. Without a traditional
    "Subject" in the message, it is hard to know what is worthwhile
    to look up and read. And speaking of looking things up, a search
    for a string produced messages that did not even contain the
    string!

    Another thing.. I had a notice that there was a response to one
    of my "replies". Clicking on the notice didn't even take me to
    that message! I also tried a search for my name, and the
    message did not show up.

    I think Telegram has a much better "group" solution, fully
    searchable, and with some swanky programming with the Telegram
    API by a sysop located in Crimea, a fidonet group can be enjoyed
    using the Telegram app or with traditional Fidonet readers.

    The single biggest thing I actually miss about BBSing was
    the local boards and the local gatherings that it fostered.
    Sometimes getting together with people around you, who
    aren't the same and have differing ideas on things is a
    healthy thing that we need more of in the world.

    When I lived in Montreal, it was cool to meet-up in a downtown
    bar/restaurant and see some of the faces behind the aliases.


    --- OpenXP 5.0.49
    * Origin: Ogg's Dovenet Point (723:320/1.9)
    þ Synchronet þ CAPCITY2 * capcity2.synchro.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/Rlogin/HTTP
  • From Vk3jed@VERT/FREEWAY to Tracker1 on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 19:09:00
    On 03-22-21 06:10, Tracker1 wrote to Arelor <=-

    The single biggest thing I actually miss about BBSing was the local
    boards and the local gatherings that it fostered. Sometimes getting together with people around you, who aren't the same and have differing ideas on things is a healthy thing that we need more of in the world.
    --

    That's one aspect of the old days that is harder to replicate. I'm getting that more from ham radio these days, had a coffee morning with a local club today.


    ... Buy Land Now. It's Not Being Made Any More.
    --- MultiMail/Win v0.52
    þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS, Bendigo Australia. freeway.apana.org.au
  • From Arelor@VERT/PALANT to Divarin on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 03:55:20
    Re: BBS Regonality
    By: Divarin to Arelor on Mon Mar 22 2021 04:09 pm

    Re: BBS Regonality
    By: Arelor to Divarin on Thu Mar 18 2021 18:07:52

    Well the tradeoff is not that bad.

    If I could only call local BBS, I would call none. I have grown some heavy dislike for talking to people of my country ov
    messaging/forum/bulleting platforms. The way it is set up, I get to talk to a lot of interesting peopl from cultures I an
    to deal with instead of being stuck with the locals.

    Yeah you're right. I would have totally loved to be able to call all over the world back in the day when boards were regiona
    I guess it's a "grass is greener on the other side" thing :)


    For me, it is a mix of factors.

    For one, the average cultural level in Spanish speaking forums is abysmal. Some places do better than others - ie. the most
    specialized the forum, the better - but we get a big influx of users from impoverished countries, who have severe trouble
    articulating an idea and explaining it in a post.

    Back in the day we also had a lot of users from countries with heavy Internet censorship. Since common social media there was
    banned, they resorted to invading other forums (such as Spanish speaking Linux forums) and use them as a platform for dating or
    whatever. I remember esDebian had to place a ban on the whole Cuba in order to counter the flood.

    And the Spanish users who are worth learning from are usually in English speaking platforms anyway, and are often NOT in the
    Spanish ones.

    Finally, the very few Spanish speaking platforms were there is people worth listening to host a lot of ideas which are badly
    missaligned with my values, which is an issue I seem to have with Spanish culture in general.

    --
    gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@VERT/REALITY to Tracker1 on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 07:14:00
    Tracker1 wrote to Arelor <=-

    The single biggest thing I actually miss about BBSing was the local
    boards and the local gatherings that it fostered. Sometimes getting together with people around you, who aren't the same and have differing ideas on things is a healthy thing that we need more of in the world.

    Buying a round of drinks with the guy you argued with online made the interactions real, and not just text insulting text. We had a couple of instances where people who'd built up huge conflicts online met in person
    and found common ground. We half-thought two people would end up in blows,
    and they ended up hanging out talking and drinking until closing time.


    ... Apotheosis was the beginning before the beginning.
    --- MultiMail/DOS v0.52
    þ Synchronet þ realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@VERT/REALITY to Divarin on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 07:15:00
    Divarin wrote to Arelor <=-

    Yeah you're right. I would have totally loved to be able to call all
    over the world back in the day when boards were regional. I guess it's
    a "grass is greener on the other side" thing :)

    There were a handful of boards I'd want to call - Lunatic Labs in LA, Metal Shop in (Chicago?)


    ... Apotheosis was the beginning before the beginning.
    --- MultiMail/DOS v0.52
    þ Synchronet þ realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org
  • From Tracker1@VERT/TRN to poindexter FORTRAN on Wednesday, March 24, 2021 16:03:45
    On 3/23/2021 7:14 AM, poindexter FORTRAN wrote:
    The single biggest thing I actually miss about BBSing was the local
    boards and the local gatherings that it fostered. Sometimes getting
    together with people around you, who aren't the same and have
    differing ideas on things is a healthy thing that we need more of in
    the world.

    Buying a round of drinks with the guy you argued with online made the interactions real, and not just text insulting text. We had a couple
    of instances where people who'd built up huge conflicts online met in
    person and found common ground. We half-thought two people would end
    up in blows, and they ended up hanging out talking and drinking until closing time.

    Exactly.. there's something to be said for in-person interaction to get
    people better prepared to interact with one another... online it's just tribalism and mob thinking.
    --
    Michael J. Ryan - tracker1@roughneckbbs.com

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Roughneck BBS - roughneckbbs.com
  • From Ogg@VERT/CAPCITY2 to Tracker1 on Thursday, March 25, 2021 09:26:00
    Hello Tracker1!

    ** On Wednesday 24.03.21 - 16:03, Tracker1 wrote to poindexter FORTRAN:

    Buying a round of drinks with the guy you argued with
    online.. ...and they ended up hanging out talking and
    drinking until closing time.

    Exactly.. there's something to be said for in-person
    interaction to get people better prepared to interact with
    one another... online it's just tribalism and mob thinking.

    Yeah.. except when something like the riots on Capitol Hill
    happens? :D So, it can happen in public too. :/


    --- OpenXP 5.0.49
    * Origin: Ogg's Dovenet Point (723:320/1.9)
    þ Synchronet þ CAPCITY2 * capcity2.synchro.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/Rlogin/HTTP
  • From Frogger@VERT/MUTINY to Tracker1 on Thursday, March 25, 2021 15:54:14
    Re: Re: BBS Regonality
    By: Tracker1 to poindexter FORTRAN on Wed Mar 24 2021 16:03:45

    Buying a round of drinks with the guy you argued with online made the interactions real, and not just text insulting text. We had a couple
    of instances where people who'd built up huge conflicts online met in person and found common ground. We half-thought two people would end

    That happened with me. Got kind of miffed with someone on a local board but met him at a pizza party bbs get-together and we ended up being good friends for years. In-fact he got me a job working at a local tv station starting a fairly long career in broadcasting.

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ MutinyBBS.com port 2332
  • From Lupine Furmen@VERT/FURFOL to Frogger on Friday, March 26, 2021 12:56:53
    Re: Re: BBS Regonality
    By: Frogger to Tracker1 on Thu Mar 25 2021 15:54:14

    Buying a round of drinks with the guy you argued with online made
    the interactions real, and not just text insulting text. We had a
    couple of instances where people who'd built up huge conflicts
    online met in person and found common ground. We half-thought two
    people would end

    That happened with me. Got kind of miffed with someone on a local board but met him at a pizza party bbs get-together and we ended up being good friends for years. In-fact he got me a job working at a local tv station starting a fairly long career in broadcasting.

    We used to have a weekly get together for SysOps and Users at a local restaurant. And from what I've heard, they were still doing it as of about a year ago, just at a new location. I've asked if the "Nerd Herd" was still meeting, but have not heard anything new. I just wish they would do it on weekends so that I could get to them.
    -+-

    Lupine Furmen
    -Dallas Vinson
    Furmens Folly (FIDO 1:123/257) - telnet: furmenservices.net:23
    SSH: furmenservices.net:23222
    Before the Web - telnet: furmenservices.net:23232
    Legends of Yesteryear (FIDO 1:123/256) - telnet: furmenservices.net:23322
    Sound Source ]|[ - telnet: furmenservices.net:2323



    Dallas

    ... For many people, homeless simply means not having a home.

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Furmen's Folly - furmenservices.net:23
  • From Tracker1@VERT/TRN to Ogg on Friday, March 26, 2021 10:18:08
    On 3/25/2021 6:26 AM, Ogg wrote:
    Exactly.. there's something to be said for in-person
    interaction to get people better prepared to interact with
    one another... online it's just tribalism and mob thinking.

    Yeah.. except when something like the riots on Capitol Hill
    happens? :D So, it can happen in public too. :/

    If you're going to cite mob violence, the activities there are many
    examples just from last year that had more violence, death and
    destruction than at the US Capitol.
    --
    Michael J. Ryan - tracker1@roughneckbbs.com

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Roughneck BBS - roughneckbbs.com
  • From Dumas Walker@VERT/CAPCITY2 to TRACKER1 on Saturday, March 27, 2021 10:41:00
    Yeah.. except when something like the riots on Capitol Hill
    happens? :D So, it can happen in public too. :/

    If you're going to cite mob violence, the activities there are many
    examples just from last year that had more violence, death and
    destruction than at the US Capitol.

    The difference being that the examples you and I would think of were not as well-covered in the press as the US Capitol incident.

    Heck, there have been some violent protests, fires, etc., in DC itself that were not as well-covered as that one incident.


    * SLMR 2.1a * Busier than a one-eyed cat watching 9 mouseholes

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ CAPCITY2 * capcity2.synchro.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/Rlogin/HTTP