What do you find most fun and beneficial with BBSing?

-cr1mson

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Linux/64)
* Origin: ChristNet BBS -- telnet://vintagebbsing.com:2333 (316:36/13)

Jon,

What do you find most fun and beneficial with BBSing?

First, not being flooded with ads and cookies like on Facebook and other social media sites.

Second, it's a safe internet alternative.

Daryl

... Since bread is square, why is sandwich meat round??
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (316:36/20)

On 1/10/2022 1:47 AM, Jon Justvig wrote to All:

What do you find most fun and beneficial with BBSing?

-cr1mson

Lately I've realized that the only sysOPs tend to frequent the BBS's. I remember the old
days of Prodigy when everyone flocked there to discuss whatever interests they had. I
started my hobby-related Wildcat system hoping to attract those same people so they
could alternatively use my system instead of Prodigy to do the same thing.

Over the years, it seems that only sysOPs post in any of the Nets I subscribe to. I tried
to use my system as an intranet for some of my web hosting customers, but even they
are resisting it.

I guess the big question is: how do we 'average Joe' to take an interest. I offer door
games and even that is not enough.

Mike Dippel

--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v7.0
* Origin: The Hobby Line! BBS - hobbylinebbs.com (316:36/57)

On 20 Feb 2022, Mike Dippel said the following...

I guess the big question is: how do we 'average Joe' to take an
interest. I offer door
games and even that is not enough.

A few thoughts on that. I do not mean this about you, but I have seen some very unfriendly Sysops out there. For the most part the folks running systems are great and deserve credit for the time and expense and headache that can be involved, but there are some bad eggs out there and many times it seems to be with new users. If that happens I'm guessing the community can pretty much kiss that new user good bye.

There are so many systems and networks and it just doesn't seem like there is enough activity to go around. I love the diversity of all the different networks and software packages, don't get me wrong, but it's tough to keep everything going. I enjoy calling different systems and I am lucky enough to be on several run by good folks. I try to help keep the activity level up at least a little bit on each system I'm on, but there are only so many forums I'm interested in posting in and so many games I want to play. Instead of branching out onto even more systems I try to be active where I already am.

I don't know how to get new users anymore. Using what worked the first time around doesn't because so many other things since then have changed. Only so many people who were involved the first time want to come back. Eventually you need new blood, but that seems to be the million dollar question.

... Confucius say: "Man who runs behind car gets exhausted"

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/12/25 (Windows/32)
* Origin: The Wrong Number Family Of BBS' - Wrong Number ][ (316:36/40)

On 3/7/2022 7:08 PM, Sbaitso wrote to Mike Dippel:

I guess the big question is: how do we 'average Joe' to take an interest. I offer door
games and even that is not enough.

A few thoughts on that. I do not mean this about you, but I have seen some very unfriendly Sysops out there. For the most part the folks running systems
are great and deserve credit for the time and expense and headache that can be
involved, but there are some bad eggs out there and many times it seems to be
with new users. If that happens I'm guessing the community can pretty much kiss that new user good bye.

There are so many systems and networks and it just doesn't seem like there is
enough activity to go around. I love the diversity of all the different networks and software packages, don't get me wrong, but it's tough to keep everything going. I enjoy calling different systems and I am lucky enough to
be on several run by good folks. I try to help keep the activity level up at
least a little bit on each system I'm on, but there are only so many forums I'm
interested in posting in and so many games I want to play. Instead of branching out onto even more systems I try to be active where I already am.

I don't know how to get new users anymore. Using what worked the first time around doesn't because so many other things since then have changed. Only so
many people who were involved the first time want to come back. Eventually you
need new blood, but that seems to be the million dollar question.

Using my BBS as an intranet that works in conjunction with my customer's website, I
have his customers creating accounts on the BBS so they have special access to his files
and message areas. If they want access to ALL of the message areas like Fido, etc. I
created a security level that adds those areas as well..

These are people who would have never used a BBS, but hopefully find it a rewarding
experience.

Mike Dippel
hobbylinebbs.com

--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v7.0
* Origin: The Hobby Line! BBS - hobbylinebbs.com (316:36/57)

I don't know how to get new users anymore. Using what worked the first time around doesn't because so many other things since then have
changed. Only so many people who were involved the first time want to come back. Eventually you need new blood, but that seems to be the million dollar question.

That's the same with any hobby. Most kids nowadays are so enamored with
their smartphones and tablets, that they could've give a rats @$$ about
the heritage/history or current/future state of a particular hobby.

I rarely get new users, but the BBS is one of the last hobbies I can
still do, because of declining health. I always take care of the QWK
Mail first, then play a few doorgames. I wish I had the time to do more
of the games, but with degenerative disk disease in my back and spine,
it's difficult to sit in the computer chair for long periods of time
anymore.

Daryl

... Floggings will continue until morale improves.
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (316:36/9)

On 20 Feb 2022, Mike Dippel said the following...

719/3
On 1/10/2022 1:47 AM, Jon Justvig wrote to All:

What do you find most fun and beneficial with BBSing?

-cr1mson

Lately I've realized that the only sysOPs tend to frequent the BBS's. I remember the old
days of Prodigy when everyone flocked there to discuss whatever
interests they had. I
started my hobby-related Wildcat system hoping to attract those same people so they
could alternatively use my system instead of Prodigy to do the same
thing.

Over the years, it seems that only sysOPs post in any of the Nets I subscribe to. I tried
to use my system as an intranet for some of my web hosting customers,
but even they
are resisting it.

I guess the big question is: how do we 'average Joe' to take an
interest. I offer door
games and even that is not enough.

Mike Dippel

Hi Mike,

Some good observations here. I too have arrived at the same conclusion that most callers are Sysops themselves. If you look at BBS Corner, you can see
that the 'market' is completely saturated.

I was thinking about this the other day, it's like a vicious circle, how do
you attract and keep callers calling? What keeps them calling certain other boards? In comparison, the circle is the community. You can't have a
community if you have one call here there and you can't build or maintain on one call to continue if no one sees reason to call. It's quite perplexing really and truth is I operate under the same.

The BBS Corner has 1049 listed. Is that a lot? Telnet vs. dialup. Idk about where you live but was there wasn't much more than couple hundred BBS in a
city calling area. Probably not. Then, we have to account for users or potential callers. Not sure how many in a city actually called out.. but will say for sure enough to cover the amount of boards where they live.

I think it's safe to say the telnet isn't something that most folks do anymore in great numbers. I've seen user lists on a few boards and even at the most busiest, theres only couple hundred.

As mentioned theres easily 1000 boards but what I found in calling around, most don't have any good ANSI or themes running and a lot seem to be stock. Almost like they were put up overnight. This gives me hope, those of us that run one and put the time in to make it ours will overtime be the only ones standing.

In my city idk who but telnets but if I use facebook groups as an example, theres only 2 others who are a members and live in my city. In addition, I've never seen any location info of a user which matches mine.

I think we should take notice of being involved in hobby thats both exclusive and elite. That's my 2cents on the subject.

|15/)|07arkman|15 /\|07lmighty|15
|11"No matter where you go, there you are..."

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/08/19 (Windows/32)
* Origin: USS Excelsior BBS * excelsiorbbs.ddns.net:2000 (316:36/53)

On 3/10/2022 7:25 AM, Darkmanalmighty wrote to Mike Dippel:

Some good observations here. I too have arrived at the same conclusion that most callers are Sysops themselves. If you look at BBS Corner, you can see that the 'market' is completely saturated.

I was thinking about this the other day, it's like a vicious circle, how do you attract and keep callers calling? What keeps them calling certain other boards? In comparison, the circle is the community. You can't have a community if you have one call here there and you can't build or maintain on one call to continue if no one sees reason to call. It's quite perplexing really and truth is I operate under the same.

The BBS Corner has 1049 listed. Is that a lot? Telnet vs. dialup. Idk about where you live but was there wasn't much more than couple hundred BBS in a city calling area. Probably not. Then, we have to account for users or potential callers. Not sure how many in a city actually called out.. but will
say for sure enough to cover the amount of boards where they live.

I think it's safe to say the telnet isn't something that most folks do anymore
in great numbers. I've seen user lists on a few boards and even at the most busiest, theres only couple hundred.

As mentioned theres easily 1000 boards but what I found in calling around, most
don't have any good ANSI or themes running and a lot seem to be stock. Almost
like they were put up overnight. This gives me hope, those of us that run one
and put the time in to make it ours will overtime be the only ones standing.

In my city idk who but telnets but if I use facebook groups as an example, theres only 2 others who are a members and live in my city. In addition, I've
never seen any location info of a user which matches mine.

I think we should take notice of being involved in hobby thats both exclusive
and elite. That's my 2cents on the subject.

|15/)|07arkman|15 /\|07lmighty|15

For my 'intranet' group of users and potential users, I created a video that explains how
to create accounts, and how to navigate the system. I uploaded it to my customer's
website, and it will be talked about at our next meeting on Monday. We'll see how that
goes.

I also have 26 online Directory websites plus a Facebook presence where I advertise the
BBS. I think that eventually the video and the advertising will pay off.

Mike Dippel
hobbylinebbs.com

--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v7.0
* Origin: The Hobby Line! BBS - hobbylinebbs.com (316:36/57)

What do you find most fun and beneficial with BBSing?

For me, at least, it's the joy of seeing blocky text interfaces. But also, to send and receive messages on the boards even on my old computers on a CRT screen - kinda reminding my childhood when I was a kid in the 90s!

Also, being a place way less crowded than Facebook and modern social media, the fact to talk with like-minded people also makes it pleasant!

Last but not least, seeing the amazing ANSI art and playing the Door Games (even if not that often) makes it actually pretty unique!

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 2022/07/15 (Linux/64)
* Origin: thE qUAntUm wOrmhOlE, rAmsgAtE, uK. bbs.erb.pw (316:36/25)

What do you find most fun and beneficial with BBSing?

Somehow, I missed the original message.

For me, at least, it's the joy of seeing blocky text interfaces. But
also, to send and receive messages on the boards even on my old
computers on a CRT screen - kinda reminding my childhood when I was a
kid in the 90s!

I have a file on my BBS with the history of the system...over 32 years
since I became a Sysop...and the memories...wow!!

Also, being a place way less crowded than Facebook and modern social media, the fact to talk with like-minded people also makes it pleasant!

Not to mention you don't have to worry about cookies and trackers with
a telnet or dial-up logon. Some of the websites might have cookies, though.

Last but not least, seeing the amazing ANSI art and playing the Door
Games (even if not that often) makes it actually pretty unique!

I use the doorgames to keep my mind sharp. I just wish I had more time
to play all the games I wanted.

Daryl

... BBSing is a terminal disease, and I have the ANSI strain.
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (316:36/20)