# BBS's and modeming... what do you miss? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 2, 2004, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381 "2004-01-02T22:18:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Red\_Matrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/34f0e0/32.png) [@Red\_Matrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Matrix)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381/1 "2004-01-02T22:18:10Z")
I remember back in 1995/6 I found Bulleting Board systems! IT was the best thing since Windows 3.1. I liked it so much, after only 3 months, I broke down and got a 2nd line, and started running a 24/7 BBS of my own. Yeah, I was a SysOp, and I loved it. I ran Renegade 3.0 and had no problems. What I remember (and miss) are the Role Playing games. I would spend over an hour every day, on each BBS i dialed. My favorite RPG was called **L.O.R.D.** (Legend of the Red Dragon) I believe it was only like $20 to register, yet I never did. It was a cool game in-and-of itself, yet it had plugins too. the character would _(G)oto the forest_ and there would be a list of a whole bunch of RPG games that 3rd partys made. This was ever-so cool! What were some of the games you remember playing online before the internet? ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381/2 "2004-01-02T22:27:08Z")
Playing games? I was _writing_ them! Granted, it was for a proprietary BBS system me and my friend cooked up, so the games could only be played on our board, but it was rather clever for the time. I’d name names, but odds are good you’ve never heard of any of 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381/3 "2004-01-02T22:55:34Z")
I miss the regular Tuesday night movies with other board members. $2.00 for a movie and then the ritual schlepp over to Denny’s to consume the unconsumable. Good times. I also (kind of) miss the hierarchical access schema that many of the boards had, whereby there would be additional subboards and other hidden features visible only to the annointed. I miss being able to geekily exploit ASCII add super cool special effects to your messages! Ring the bell! ^G^G^G^G … ^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^HActually, that was pretty lame, wasn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381/4 "2004-01-03T03:55:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Red Matrix \* > **I remember back in 1995/6 I found Bulleting Board systems! IT was the best thing since Windows 3.1. I liked it so much, after only 3 months, I broke down and got a 2nd line, and started running a 24/7 BBS of my own.** I was a SubOp (forum mod) for a Commodore 64 BBS from '86 to '88. Tried being a SysOp myself but kept having technical difficulties. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381/5 "2004-01-03T04:27:53Z")
What I miss the most is the localness of BBS’s. Nearly everyone who called a board lived in the local dialing area. Those Denny’s get-togethers were a lot of fun. Also, all the things that went with the primitive technology and limited bandwidth that are now unnecessary. Ascii art, offline readers and packet U/D loads, subscribing to Fidonet, Hayes commands, Commodore/IBM translation, limited caller access (unless the sysop went big time and installed extra lines or even a PBX, in which case they usually became a “payboard”). It was fun in a sort of hand-cranked Model-T way. ---
**Author:** ![generica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@generica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/generica)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381/6 "2004-01-03T04:35:11Z")
Heck, I _still_ play Legend of the Red Dragon, on a Telnet-based BBS, Gargoyle’s Landing. There are a lot of old-style BBSes still running, they’ve just moved to Telnet instead of direct dialup. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Matrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/34f0e0/32.png) [@Red\_Matrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Matrix)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381/7 "2004-01-03T04:42:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by generica \* > \*\*Heck, I _still_ play Legend of the Red Dragon, on a Telnet-based BBS, Gargoyle’s Landing. > > There are a lot of old-style BBSes still running, they’ve just moved to Telnet instead of direct dialup. 🙂 \*\* OMG, no-_WAY!_ Shoot, I never did telnet. I guess i’ll have to learn. Hey, ever heard of the [Sysop’s Corner?](http://sysopscorner.thebbs.org/) This is kewl! I wish I had this resource 6 years ago. -RMX ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Xadium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed655f/32.png) [@Dr\_Xadium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Xadium)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381/8 "2004-01-03T04:58:58Z")
-sigh- I remember running Searchlight and Renegade BBSes way back when, having to fiddle with FOSSIL drivers and such, making super-secret “friend” menus, and dealing with whacked out stalker types that always wanted to “see” what a BBS looked like from the other side. I even called long distance to try and get an update to Sphinx BBS because there were no other boards like it in the area, and I wanted to be unique… spinning ANSI cursors were just so _keen_! I miss SysOps randomly breaking in for chat, upload / download ratios, the first CD-based BBS archives… cool ANSI screens, even the first stabs at Windows based graphical BBSes… I guess I miss _everything_ about the BBS days. Sad to think that all that fancy stuff that made me do _whoa_ back then is so … _mundane_ today… Those CD archives I was in awe of… 640 _megabytes_– now just a sliver of my HD space. The BBSes with cool menus? Nothing more than fancy MUDs now. -sigh- Give me the awe and magic back! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381/9 "2004-01-03T06:38:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lumpy \* > \*\*What I miss the most is the localness of BBS’s. Nearly everyone who called a board lived in the local dialing area. Those Denny’s get-togethers were a lot of fun. \*\* Damn right, 'cept for us Commodure users it was a science lab at the University of New Orleans. Until some jerks (not associated with us) had to go and steal some university computers. ---
**Author:** ![Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381/10 "2004-01-03T07:02:01Z")
Oh yeah… Knowing 3/4 of the board’s membership on a first name basis. Being the “big kid on the block” with that screamin’ fast 2400 baud rate. Callbacks from the SysOp of a new board you’d discovered, because he wanted to know there was a real person at the end of the line. “Back in them days, the geek was so thick you could cut it with a double sided floppy, lad…” ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381/11 "2004-01-03T07:13:47Z")
I discovered BBS’s on March 17, 1985. Three days later on one of the BBS’s I met the man who was to be my husband. We’ve been married 18 years. Love over two Commodore 64’s! The best man, the minister, the hostess for the rehersal dinner and reception were all people that I had met through the BBS. So were several of the guests. I wonder if any of those guys are Dopers. Anyone here from **The Wilderness** or **Motherboard**? **Rocky Top**? **Wildman? Lurking Grue? Echolalia? The Lorax? “Assassian” aka Ian? Dreamer? The Punisher? Doc? Ed? Zenster?** So many more… ---
**Author:** ![raizok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4491bb/32.png) [@raizok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raizok)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381/12 "2004-01-03T09:25:08Z")
I miss playing **Usurper** , ansi-loading screens, and porn pics that took ten minutes to download each. These kids today dont realize how good they’ve got it when it comes to getting their pr0n 😛 ---
**Author:** ![bubba\_jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@bubba\_jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubba_jr)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381/13 "2004-01-04T03:50:59Z")
Slow porn was a good thing at 16. I had some program that worked with one of BBS operating systems, that would run automatically at night, I could get about 9 whole pics a night while I slept. I was king of the neighborhood. 2400 baud, 12Mhz of lightning fast processor speed, gigantic 40 meg HD. I really do miss Global Wars, stupid ANSI game. Ahh the good OLD days. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381/14 "2004-01-04T04:27:32Z")
I miss nothing. The internet is far far superior in every single way. ---
**Author:** ![Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381/15 "2004-01-04T07:25:38Z")
With all due respect, **Rev** , I’d like to dispute your position, with a simple, three word rebuttal. Spam. Pop ups. ---
**Author:** ![raizok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4491bb/32.png) [@raizok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raizok)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381/16 "2004-01-04T09:01:54Z")
The internet spoiled everyone. When things become instantaneous, everybody takes it for granted. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381/17 "2004-01-04T14:25:45Z")
Good points **Skeezix** , I stand corrected. I guess with my pop-up blocking browser (Mozilla) and good Bayesian spam filter those things don’t bother me too much, but still more than when they didn’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Matrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/34f0e0/32.png) [@Red\_Matrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Matrix)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381/18 "2004-01-04T15:13:08Z")
Hmm, I wouldn’t mind offline messages for THIS board! IT takes loads of time to load! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Adjustable\_Beavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Adjustable\_Beavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adjustable_Beavis)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381/19 "2004-01-04T19:05:29Z")
Sometimes I kind of miss being able to read the text as it loads. But wouldn’t trade my fast net connect to go back thou. I miss how most everyone was local. Someone would throw a party and almost everyone on the bbs would show up. ---
**Author:** ![cichlidiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f9b8f/32.png) [@cichlidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cichlidiot)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381/20 "2004-01-05T00:14:34Z")
I miss a lot of things already mentioned also. Gatherings, knowing almost everyone that posted, LORD, etc. My brother sysoped a wwiv board and it was fun to help with suggestions on that, too. The game I liked the best I have forgotten the name of, it was very similar to LORD in playing style, but involved outerspace and interplanetary travel. I had gotten in on the first day, so had a pretty good head start compared to the other users, something that never happened with LORD. I remember the sysop pressing both shift keys to pull me into chat during e-mail, and deciding to add some of his/her own input to the mail. heh I’m not sure how much of it has to do with being younger and just recalling that fondly, but I think a lot of it had to do with how close all of us were. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbss-and-modeming-what-do-you-miss/222381.md?page=2)