I also used a lot of usenet before the Eternal September. It’s an experience that can only be replicated on the frontiers, where there is a barrier to entry.
Anyone Remember the ASP Group Pipe Buys?
- Thread starter peregrinus
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“Eternal September”, this is a term I haven’t seen in a long while.
The musings of a wistful academic poet?
Wistful programmer.
The best thing about network programming back then was to make something truly great and give it to the world, and to imagine what the world would accomplish with it.
The worst thing was seeing what the world actually accomplished with it.
I used it a lot too in the early 90's and remember quite well how awful it was when the AOL crowd showed up. It ruined the Internet as it was, but it ruined AOL too. It was two different cultures that were better off separate. AOL worked pretty well as it's own isolated community--adding usenet didn't do it any favors.
I’m starting to think this is an important lesson for many things. I’m not sure that one global culture for mankind synchronized through the internet is working out for everyone.
But I have already drifted so far off topic I’m sure that I’m getting put in killfiles.
I'm surprised to hear you're not sure, because I'm not uncertain about it in the slightest. The modern Internet has fouled up the world and robbed it of it's senses. It's effect on society has been akin to handing a Ferrari to a toddler and expecting them to make good use of it. In hindsight, it's a tool we would have been better off never having invented.
along with the phones of today. Sad state of affairs...
I’m pro-internet, as I think freeing the flow of information is ultimately a great thing. However these damn smartphones are the worst! I’m playing on mine right now while I should be hanging out with my wife. Nothing but a distraction from daily life. Guilty as charged.
