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wiki:user:digital_man [2018/09/22 15:32] – [Why BBS?] digital manwiki:user:digital_man [2018/09/25 03:28] – [Why BBS?] Use BBS as a verb in a sentence. :-) digital man
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 ===== Why BBS? ===== ===== Why BBS? =====
  
-In the title, "Why BBS?", I'm using "BBS" as a verb. In other words: "Why should anyone do anything with BBSes?".+In the title, "Why BBS?", I'm using "BBS" as a verb, as in "Don't anybody pick up the phone, I'm BBSing!" Or in other words: //Why should anyone do anything with BBSes today?//
  
 Of course, the plural noun "BBSes" I'm referring to here are the arcane systems you can run (as a sysop) or connect to (as a user) today which emulate or replicate the old dial-up bulletin board systems of the late 1970's through the 1990's. These BBS connections are typically over the Internet using terminal protocols like Telnet or SSH, but may also include traditional dial-up modem connections over the "plain-old telephone service" or even over amateur-licensed radio frequencies. But since you're here reading this, you probably already knew that. Of course, the plural noun "BBSes" I'm referring to here are the arcane systems you can run (as a sysop) or connect to (as a user) today which emulate or replicate the old dial-up bulletin board systems of the late 1970's through the 1990's. These BBS connections are typically over the Internet using terminal protocols like Telnet or SSH, but may also include traditional dial-up modem connections over the "plain-old telephone service" or even over amateur-licensed radio frequencies. But since you're here reading this, you probably already knew that.
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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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