Hola Folks!
Finally finished the 3rd DVD in the totally excellent documentary about
the History of BBSes. The entire set is simply delightful and brings
back tons of memories of my entire 1988-1995 KeelyNet BBS experiences.
This 3rd DVD dealt with hacking and key among the interviews, the
folding of BBSes as people migrated to the Internet. Its kind of sad
but things do change.
For KeelyNet, I had heard about the net in 1993 and 1994 but it was Bill
Beaty at http://www.amasci.com who was an early member on the KN BBS,
who kept on me about moving KeelyNet to the Internet. I sent him a set
of KeelyNet files which he posted and which were mirrored at 7 other
sites that I knew about.
Though I got my first Internet account in 1994 to check it all out, I
didn't actually put KeelyNet online until early 1995, when my BBS hard
drive crashed.
Oddly enough, some of the interviews on this 3rd DVD report similar
experiences. Their system crashed, the sysop got tired of it, calls
went down to nothing or they just decided it was time to move on.
I am forever grateful to Bill Beaty for urging me...REPEATEDLY, to
migrate to the Internet which I resisted for over a year.
Wouldn't it be a neat thing if someone wrote a BBS style website,
offering all the best of BBSes maybe with a .bbs extension?
There might be sites out there similar to that but for those who still
remember them and would like a nostalgic 'fix', I think such a BBS
website would do really well and might even be copied all over the
place. Could become 'the next thing' in website formats!
Something like;
A user login screen,
ascii or graphic welcome header on entry,
live chat with other members,
discussion list (live or not that archives what is posted),
levels of access for both chat and file sections,
etc..
This BBS documentary should absolutely be broadcast on PBS or the
History, Discover or A&E channels, it is definitely professionally done.
It's a lot of information and provides insights and behind the scenes
reports that really show the intensity and enthusiasm of those of us who
ran and used BBSes.
I was a TOTAL GREENIE/NOVICE compared to what some of these guys
reported on the documentary! It did work however and I loved Mustang BBS
Software. I had a PD version but also owned a paid for full blown
system that allowed internet hookup. The PD version worked just fine
and at one time, we had about 2,000 users but it generally hovered
around 1,500.
But then, my SOLE goal was to share files and promote discussions
regarding free energy, gravity control and healing with energy
(electronic health) with some weirdness and overlaps. Hoping KeelyNet
and its users would be 'the ones' to come up free energy or gravity
control....no success....yet...wheels withing wheels and the goals
remain as serious as ever.
http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/
11/14/05 - Excellent Documentary on the History of BBSes
If you are 30 or over and were involved in the wonderful world of
Bulletin Board Systems, you will LOVE THIS 3 DVD Documentary! Having
been merely the Sysop of KeelyNet for 12 years, beginning fully 10 years
after the first BBS started, I found this very professionally done DVD
set entertaining, enlightening and totally DELIGHTFUL!
Many memories of how it USED TO BE, before the Internet. The wonderful
online communities, the funny events, exhorbitant long distance phone
bills from downloads/chats, the posturing and flame wars.
I laughed and had tears of delight from some of the stories told by over
200 people interviewed for this documentary. It is on sale now for $40US
and absolutely worth the price.
The packaging, graphics and information content are first rate and a 3
DVD set of this high quality would sell in a video store for $99.95 at
least! Definitely check out the index/overview of the contents to get an
idea of what all these amazing DVDs cover!
I don't know how many reading this were fortunate enough to participate
in the days of the BBS, but you will definitely cherish these DVDs that
recall how it all came to be.
It is also well worth owning for those who weren't 'there' because you
can learn about this wonderful history of invention, sharing and
camaraderie. Be sure to check out the story of FidoNet which was, in my
opinion, the early Internet! I can't say enough good things about this
DVD set, its simply amazing! - JWD
--
Jerry Decker - http://www.keelynet.com
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Order out of Chaos - From an Art to a Science
