From: working_class_peon@yahoo.com   
      
   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.   
      
   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?   
      
   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.   
      
   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.   
      
   Is that what we want? Some kind of monstrous hybrid?   
      
   Or is it better to let BBS'ing die with grace in its original form with   
   its clunky CLI and ANSI graphics?   
      
   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.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)