🧵 those who grew up in #canada in the #90s might remember something called the Canada SchoolNet in their classrooms and computer labs.
if you don't recognize the name, the SchoolNet was a canada-wide attempt at computerizing and networking together canadian classrooms from K-12. (the US-equivalents of this were EdNet and Global SchoolNet)
in my redneck farmtown, wiring us up to the SchoolNet meant connecting a 28.8kbaud modem to a macintosh FirstClass #BBS Gateway 40 km away, and letting us kids post messages to other kids across canada. these messages were store-and-forwarded via gateways until they reached their destination, often thousands of km away.
as it turns out, the schoolnet forums were peered by #usenet, and dejanews archived them all in the late 90s... which means they're all on google groups now.
in a fit of "i can't put this shit down" at 1am, i spent hours digging out posts i found of myself, and other kids in my grade, starting flame wars, discussions, and pen-pal requests in 1995...
@drscriptt wish i knew more about who came up with the technical implementation. it's amazing that they made it so consistent across hundreds of school districts here, which are massively different town to town
@drscriptt on the technical side, the actual peered network was a small beans operation. as an overall federal initiative, it was a multibillion $ project.
Finally, the religious flame war that (I) started, and got us banned from the Canada SchoolNet for a month:
Subj: Atheism
From: C.B.
Date: Oct 31, 1995, 1:00:00 AM
To any Atheists out there, I would like to be your penpal.
From: J.H.
Date: Oct 31, 1995, 1:00:00 AM
All right! Someone with the correct idea! Write to me!
I wond what atheists have in common that they would b discussing. I personally have no beliefs in any God but I find that talking to people with various DIFFERENT beliefs makes for much more stimulating
conversations. But if you want to hear more about my lack of belief in an idol, feel free to write to me.
Take care
J.
From: A.K.
Date: Nov 2, 1995, 1:00:00 AM
It's not conversations with people different religons I don't like, It's their
fanactical defending of them that I don't like to listen to.
From: C.G.
Date: Nov 2, 1995, 1:00:00 AM
C.B. was only saying that he wants to be your penpal because he is disturbed that I believe in the Lord and that I was brave enough to speak out
and tell the people of the Lord.
The devil is scared now, and it is good...
C.G.
From: J.H.
Date: Nov 3, 1995, 1:00:00 AM
to
The devil is scared? An you know this because..... I like
haveinig Xtians around because i find that they bring a certain fantasy edge to this group that keep it amusing. I hope that that wasn't too offensive the the devil's not scared anymore
Subject: PenPal
Name: T.J.
Date: Apr 4, 1996, 1:00:00 AM
Hello!!I am a 17yrs. old male and I would like a penpal. I have brown hair and eyes. I am also tall.I also have muscular dystropy, it is a diease which
effects the muscles in my legs so I cannot walk very well.At school I use a walker.I enjoy corresponding on the computer but I am also new at this.I am a
nice guy.I would like to talk to anybody of any age.
Write me.
@camstonefaux probably not the answer you wanted to hear - but tj's dead. he married in the early 00's, and had three kids before passing away from complications due to his MD in the late 00's.
@vga256 - No, I was hoping for better for them. But, it also sounds like he found some happiness & shared it with his family before passing on. I’m familiar with MD progression… have lost old family’s friends to it. Their words & who they love still shape who I am today… rememberances like those are “the good things” in my book.
@vga256 - I can only hope that after I am long gone, someone remembers & shares something like this… in whatever the next internet of archival information becomes. 🦊👍🏻❤️
@camstonefaux 😅 don't we all. i was so surprised to see his post - at the time, I had no idea he had used the schoolnet too. there were only a handful of us who were nerdy enough to post on it :)
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