Synchronet v3.19b-Win32 (install) has been released (Jan-2022).

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wiki:user:digital_man [2018/09/22 15:32] – [Why BBS?] digital manwiki:user:digital_man [2018/09/22 15:40] – [Why BBS?] cosmetic changes to the "reasons" bullet list digital man
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 I'm not trying to talk you out of using or running a BBS; I just think you should have realistic expectations. If *you* like using or running a BBS, that should be all that matters. You can't force that enjoyment or desire on others. If you can't find the content or participation level you'd like to see in BBSes, it's doesn't necessarily mean there's something //wrong// with BBSes. I'm not trying to talk you out of using or running a BBS; I just think you should have realistic expectations. If *you* like using or running a BBS, that should be all that matters. You can't force that enjoyment or desire on others. If you can't find the content or participation level you'd like to see in BBSes, it's doesn't necessarily mean there's something //wrong// with BBSes.
  
-If the BBS users and sysops of the 1980's and 90's were asked to describe their dream online system of the future, they probably would describe something similar to the AOL/CompuServe/Prodigy online services of early 90's or the modern social media Internet services of today, e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, YouTube, etc. I doubt very much they would envision a modal 80 x 25 ANSI terminal interface as the ideal online user experience of the future! Facebook and the like are kind of the natural evolution of the large-scale BBS and they will continue to evolve and look and feel less and less like the BBSes we knew "back in the day".+If the BBS users and sysops of the 1980's and 90's were asked to describe their dream online system of the future, they probably would describe something similar to the AOL/CompuServe/Prodigy online services of early 90's or, if they were true visionaries, the modern social media Internet services of today, e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, YouTube, etc. I doubt very much they would envision a modal 80 x 25 ANSI terminal interface as the ideal online user experience of the future! Facebook and the like are kind of the natural evolution of the large-scale BBS and they will continue to evolve and look and feel less and less like the BBSes we knew "back in the day".
  
 I still endeavor to improve the content availability and user experience of today's BBSes, but I'm under no delusion that //any BBS// is about to supplant the behemoth social media services that have been and continue to be created and cultivated by mega-corporations. I still endeavor to improve the content availability and user experience of today's BBSes, but I'm under no delusion that //any BBS// is about to supplant the behemoth social media services that have been and continue to be created and cultivated by mega-corporations.
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 So that brings me back to the question: "Why BBS?" and here are the answers I have to offer you: So that brings me back to the question: "Why BBS?" and here are the answers I have to offer you:
  
-  - Nostalgia: you likely BBSed back in your younger years and its one of the ways we can still feel young +  - **Nostalgia**:\\ you likely BBSed back in your younger years and its one of the ways we can still feel young 
-  - Obscurity: it's highly unlikely your ex or your next prospective employer is going to find and judge your BBS activity +  - **Obscurity**:\\ it's highly unlikely your ex or your next prospective employer is going to find and judge your BBS activity 
-  - Independence: the content, management and durability of your BBS is really up to you (it's //your// island) +  - **Independence**:\\ the content, management and durability of your BBS is really up to you (it's //your// island) 
-  - Challenge: the technical challenges involved should be fun and give you a sense of wonder and accomplishment +  - **Challenge**:\\ the technical challenges involved should be fun and give you a sense of wonder and accomplishment 
-  - Creativity: within the limited confines of BBSes, there's still plenty of room for the astonishment and inspiration of others +  - **Creativity**:\\ within the limited confines of BBSes, there's still plenty of room for the astonishment and inspiration of others 
-  - Experience: believe it or not, knowing how BBSes work may give you a step ahead in your future technical aspirations +  - **Experience**:\\ believe it or not, knowing how BBSes work may give you a step ahead in your future technical aspirations 
-  - Community: there is a BBS community, or several, and they will likely welcome your participation and enthusiasm for the hobby+  - **Community**:\\ there is a BBS community, or several, and they will likely welcome your participation and enthusiasm for the hobby
  
 So in summary, I agree: BBSes can be made more accessible and user-friendly than they are today and support more mainstream use-cases than they do today. And maybe, probably, some of those enhancements will come to fruition in the near future. Maybe //your// contributions will help drive the innovation you seek. But in the meantime, see if you can find the enjoyment and inspiration that we've found in the BBSes of today and rejoice in that! So in summary, I agree: BBSes can be made more accessible and user-friendly than they are today and support more mainstream use-cases than they do today. And maybe, probably, some of those enhancements will come to fruition in the near future. Maybe //your// contributions will help drive the innovation you seek. But in the meantime, see if you can find the enjoyment and inspiration that we've found in the BBSes of today and rejoice in that!

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