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From: gbs@voder.UUCP (George Smith)
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: is there really a need for BBS's?
Message-ID: <876@voder.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 11-Oct-85 20:33:43 EDT
Article-I.D.: voder.876
Posted: Fri Oct 11 20:33:43 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 13-Oct-85 04:25:12 EDT
References: <746@bgsuvax.UUCP> <4400121@uiucdcsb>
Organization: National Semiconductor, Santa Clara
Lines: 45

These two articles are talking about users of computer bulletin boards:
ARTICLE 1:
> 
> >The typical log entry shows so-and-so logging on, going to the file transfer
> >area, downloading several files and then logging off.  Thanks, that's why I
> >started up a BBS, to supply people with free programs.  Really makes my day
> >to see that I've spent all this time and money just to watch pigs at the
> >trough.
> >
ARTICLE 2:
> ...the problem works both ways.  If I download from
> someone's system, I generally make the attempt to find something useful to
> upload in return -- frequently it's fixes/enhancements to programs that I've
> downloaded previously.  More often than not, I've wound up getting nothing
> but a nasty message from the sysop, either because (1) s/he thinks only
> other sysops can provide useful software, or (2) s/he thinks that the disk
> space on the system is far too precious to clutter it up with whatever I
> have to send.  The general attitude seems to be "Why are you messing up my
> system with stuff like this?"

I share the feelings of the person in article 2.  I call about 10 boards
at least once a week.  I used to read the message section but found that
most messages were people asking why board "xyz" did not work in computer "abc"
when running software "mno".  Most combinations are bizarre and there is
little that could be said for helping the poor soul.  I find there is
very few messages with any generally interesting information.  Also,
calling bulletin boards has grown up from the early days (I called my 
first board way back in 1978 using an IMSAI 8080).  It used to be everyone
on the board was a computer hacker (in the good meaning of that poor
phrase) and the sense of camaraderie was high.  Now, the bulletin board
is viewed as an every day thing with a large number of faceless, numbered
users coming and going anonymously.  Another point is the way the computer
media talks about bulletin boards.  There is article after article (and
complete books) trumpeting the availablity of all this great public
domain software, FREE! for the picking.  Just call up and download it!
I must say that I don't think this is bad.  All the boards have all the
software they can handle with more coming all the time.  I will leave
a message to the SYSOP thanking them for the great service they are
providing and I think that is all they can expect from the vast majority
of users.

-- 
George B. Smith
National Semiconductor
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