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Bekki Doll |
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A cynical yet secular shiny retrogamer, thread ressurector and fan of the word "gay".
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Reged: 01/28/12
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Posts: 771
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Loc: Freeport, PA
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Re: Not "everyone" was an America Online "luser". ;-)
05/06/12 06:38 AM
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Quote:
When I first got a computer, everyone's online service was AOL. Everyone was a member and it was the hottest thing.
This is the problem with blanket statements that involve the claim of "everyone": They just ain't true. All it takes is a quick story to debunk such a claim.
In my case I was an experienced dialup BBS user. I knew my way around and really had no need to spend $20/mo for an online service. Likewise, there were no local access numbers in my area.
When Salsgiver opened up in Sarver, PA, sometime around '94 I immediately signed up: The local access number was right within my prefix plus I got the complete world of the 'net without that proprietary online software crap provided by such "wonderful" providers like America Online. And it was only $20/mo for complete unlimited access. No censorship. No limits other than my 33kbps then, later, 56kbps modems.
Internet access killed my former BBS hobby: I could access the world without any time limit with a local connection. ;-)
I pity the crowd you ran with: America Online was all you knew. And that's a dang shame. Sometimes America Online "lusers" would attempt to communicate on local dialup BBS forums or, even worse, Usenet via BBSes that had an Internet gateway. It didn't work out well: Most didn't know how to communicate via the typed word in long-form communication (they thought it was all instant chat rooms) and led to the observation of how functionally illiterate and devoid of netiquette America Online "luserbase" and managment truly was.
Again, I refer you to Eternal September. America Online made matters worse with their own buggy software at the time that posted numerous copies of each message to Usenet.
--Bekki
Combating functional illiteracy with latex-clad drama since the '80s, because old video games rule!
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Re: Not "everyone" was an America Online "luser". ;-)
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Thought to myself, "AOL is still kicking?"
