This is annecdata - not a serious academic study. Adjust your expectations accordingly. When I first got online, the World Wide Web was still in its infancy - so CompuServe was my gateway to the Internet. I loved their well organised chat room. A couple of clicks and I could be discussing Babylon 5 with […]
still working on the #uucp setup we were doing two weeks ago. I think I am getting to the point where my newsserver is peering with another server over uucp to bring #usenet into our private uucp network.
"So, what’s the lesson for today? Many monetized systems push for more and more users, but the history of BBSs and other early online networks shows clearly that quality is more important than quantity in building authentic online communities."
In this AI hype we are living I think things like #Usenet, #Irc, etc will see a resurgence. I mean, everybody is trying to sell your data to AI, it's on you to find an avenue that's safe and private...
It had its high time approx. 90s to mid 00s. I very much enjoyed it.
It ticks all the boxes when it comes to #federation and freedom of interface: a number of web-based services, CLI tools like #slrn (mine), #Thunderbird and other GUI-tools.
I knew that IMDb had been around a long time but TIL it predates the World Wide Web, as it was initially launched as Usenet group rec.arts.movies in 1990 and moved to the web in 1993. And it's been owned by Amazon since 1998, because of course it has 🙄
If you've ever found yourself missing the "good old days" of the #web, what is it that you miss? (Interpret "it" broadly: specific websites? types of activities? feelings? etc.) And approximately when were those good old days?
No wrong answers — I'm working on an article and wanted to get some outside thoughts.
@molly0xfff I mostly miss two things: The pre-#EternalSeptember#Usenet where many people gave polite, well-considered long-form answers (Some of that still exists in some groups, but most are dead, which is at least better than riddled with shit, as they were until Google Groups defederated) and the trolls were easily plonked. The #Fediverse is as close to that as you can get nowadays, though it still feels very rushed. 1/3
Time to kill off one of my oldest subscriptions. Have been using a paid #Usenet provider for nearly 20 years. About 5-6 years ago I could upgrade to a yearly subscription for a big discount (compared to the prices they would introduce shortly after). But I haven't really used Usenet for anything at all in the last years.
Somehow cancelling the subscription gives me FOMO for some reason. Can never get it back for that price again. But then again, why would I want Usenet access again...
"#USENET, or NetNews, is a text-only social discussions forum, or rather a set of a great many forums, called "newsgroups," carried by multiple servers around the world. Although the original developers closed down their instance in 2010, that was just one server out of hundreds, and many are still running just fine. It never went away – it's still alive, you can get on it for free, and there is a choice of client apps for most OSes to help you navigate."
"Today, many folks look back with fondness on the early days of computer-based messaging. Depending on age, they may wax nostalgic for #bbses#Usenet, or #webforums. All these technologies still exist, although either barely used or are full of spam. It’s hard not to think that something may have been lost.
Perhaps the future isn’t one of endless growth for all-powerful corporations but a return to smaller, more personal “third spaces” where we can feel comfortable." https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/04/first-post-a-history-of-online-public-messaging/
#This is my #introduction post, Sharkey edition (it's basically the same one as I posted when I joined mastodon.me.uk).
I am, like many others here, a refugee from other social media sites. In my case, it all started way back in 1990 when I did the #OU DT200 information technology course. This gave me access to their CoSy based conferencing system. From there I explored various #BBSs before joining #CIX. From there I migrated to #Facebook and #Twitter via #Usenet and alt newsgroups.
My posts are likely to cover a variety of areas such as: #Cats, #Photography, #Cooking and #Running. Now that I've got a few more characters to play with I may also post the occasional #rant.
3D illustration for a 2006 issue of the Dutch ComputerTotaal magazine, about the SABNZBD tool, which was (is?) much-used for concatenating multi-part downloads from Usenet newsgroups.
in a bit of the usual #usenet humor, the hottest topic to discuss on usenet right now seems to be toast. someone created a free.toast group just a few days ago, and now everyone is discussing that topic into the smallest details
Stop Electron, stop using a browser as if it was an Operating System!!! Go #terminal#cli#TUI use your OS, not the browser for everything! And be liter, more ethical, your computer will love you! Use #Gemini#gopher#usenet#matrix#fediverse on TUI apps #vim#neovim as your text/IDE #mpv for videos and more... !!!
I saw on #usenet under the #gemini protocol newsgroup (REAL GEMINI NOT SHIT GOOGLE CRAP) that someone created a guestbook like we used to have back in the day under #gemini very cool indeed! <3
There was nothing wrong with the underlying technology and methodology of Usenet groups. The issue was unmoderated discussions leading to complete chaos. Arguably Reddit built on this model and attempted to address its shortcomings. Unfortunately the original designers of Reddit fell down the money hole and sold their soul to get rich. Time to bring back Usenet.