From: me@tracker1.info.invalid   
      
   On 7/26/2009 10:53 PM, Jeff Snyder wrote:   
   > I think that as BBS SysOps and users, we all need to face the cold   
   > reality of the situation; and that is that the heyday of BBS'ing is long   
   > past, just as the "vines" of FidoNet, DOVE.net and other message   
   > networks are slowly withering, and are now almost completely dried up.   
      
   Not so much dried up, but most users are avid door players.   
      
   > Let's be honest with ourselves. What is left really, other than mainly   
   > SysOps running their own boards, and chatting with each other, and   
   > visiting each other's boards? Sure, we occasionally get new users, but   
   > in reality, how many of those users are regular returnees?   
      
   What you describe is mostly true... I get 15-25 unique visitors a day, about   
   12 new users a week, with about 90% turnover (accounts die off after a year).   
      
   > Most BBS visitors, other than visiting SysOps, log on out of curiosity,   
   > or perhaps  nostalgia, and once their curiosity is satisfied, and they   
   > realize how "archaic" BBS'ing is with its ANSI graphics and CLI -- at   
   > least when compared to the ease-of-use of the WWW -- are gone, never to   
   > return.   
      
   Except those that use a web interface, or like the old doors.   
      
   > Some programmers can try to spiff up BBS software like Synchronet or   
   > Hermes, or whatever, so that it is more like the WWW, and presumably   
   > more attractive; but the truth is, once you do that, then it is really   
   > no longer a true BBS as BBSes were known back in the 80's and 90's. It   
   > has become some kind of technological chimera.   
      
   Well, RIP was popular in some circles.. as were FX boards, let alone the wc   
   and mbbs/wg clients.  Not to mention ascii was the original, not ansi.  Things   
   change, get over it... "true BBS" my ass.   
      
   > Is that what we want? Some kind of monstrous hybrid?   
      
   Actually, yes.   
      
   > Or is it better to let BBS'ing die with grace in its original form with   
   > its clunky CLI and ANSI graphics?   
      
   No.   
      
   > In the end, all we can do is enjoy what little is left of the BBS'ing   
   > world, for whatever time remains. It was a nice ride, but it is about over.   
   >   
   > That's technological progress.   
      
   I don't expect a return of bbsing's heyday, but it's far from the grips of   
   death you describe.   
      
   --   
   Michael J. Ryan - http://tracker1.info/   
      
   ... FRA #017: A contract is a contract is a contract (but only between   
   Ferengi).   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)