![BBSes were crazy. Setting up one now makes me really appreciate how far we’ve come.
BBSes are difficult to set up. Documentation is sparse. Renegade didn’t even come with any, it’s a separate download. At least now I can Google what little discussions there are online, back then I was on my own.
BBSes are difficult to use. When signing up for the NYCR BBS, you have to send a new user introduction to the SysOp. I watched as the first users to jump on would be totally confused. They’re suddenly thrust into an editor of some sort, with the only indication of what’s happening being the subject line of “New User Application”. After that it would take a few tries of the help screen to figure out that you have to type “/s” to save.
BBSes have no respect for privacy whatsoever. When a user is using your BBS you see everything they’re doing and typing, including passwords. When on the waiting for call screen, if you type [R]ead Mail instead of going to SysOp email like you would expect, it asks which user would you like to read the private mail of.
The Internet changed more than just the way we access information and communicate, it also really taught us a lot about usability and privacy.](http://27.media.tumblr.com/13qGkHUzBmix5jzszrzcoJYBo1_500.jpg)
BBSes are difficult to set up. Documentation is sparse. Renegade didn’t even come with any, it’s a separate download. At least now I can Google what little discussions there are online, back then I was on my own.
BBSes are difficult to use. When signing up for the NYCR BBS, you have to send a new user introduction to the SysOp. I watched as the first users to jump on would be totally confused. They’re suddenly thrust into an editor of some sort, with the only indication of what’s happening being the subject line of “New User Application”. After that it would take a few tries of the help screen to figure out that you have to type “/s” to save.
BBSes have no respect for privacy whatsoever. When a user is using your BBS you see everything they’re doing and typing, including passwords. When on the waiting for call screen, if you type [R]ead Mail instead of going to SysOp email like you would expect, it asks which user would you like to read the private mail of.
The Internet changed more than just the way we access information and communicate, it also really taught us a lot about usability and privacy.
