Re: Re: BBS Forum Sysops Fine
By: Mike to Phigan on Thu Jan 22 2026 09:08 am

So why not make the best of it? The hobby has so many great facets! I

Well, like I said earlier, I personally don't like the web, and like web forums even less so. When I want to tell web-only people about BBSes, I point them to telnetbbsguide.com where there is a list of a thousand BBSes they can try.

You don't have to give up on your project, but you should realize that you are contributing to the fragmentation. You want people to use your web forum to bring attention to BBSes. In a way, this is bringing attention away from BBSes :). Mucking with web forums just isn't interesting for me. Otherwise I'd probably participate on AtariAge or one of the countless other web forum communities that have existed for decades.

---
þ Synchronet þ TIRED of waiting 2 hours for a taco? GO TO TACOPRONTO.bbs.io

Re: Re: BBS Forum Sysops Fine
By: Mike to Phigan on Thu Jan 22 2026 10:10 am

A nice, meaningful and chronological beginning could be, just as an example, if a large part of the 1500-2000 BBSs would introduce themselves in a good a meaningful visual presentation. With e.g. software using, focal points,

Kind of like telnetbbsguide.com? There's a saying about reinventing the wheel, etc.

---
þ Synchronet þ TIRED of waiting 2 hours for a taco? GO TO TACOPRONTO.bbs.io

On Jan 24, 2026 10:43am, Phigan wrote to Mike:

Re: Re: BBS Forum Sysops Fine
By: Mike to Phigan on Thu Jan 22 2026 10:10 am

A nice, meaningful and chronological beginning could be, just as an
example,
if a large part of the 1500-2000 BBSs would introduce themselves in a
good a
meaningful visual presentation. With e.g. software using, focal points,

Kind of like telnetbbsguide.com? There's a saying about reinventing the wheel, etc.

---
þ Synchronet þ TIRED of waiting 2 hours for a taco? GO TO
TACOPRONTO.bbs.io * Origin: Capitol City Online (723:320/1)

Hm

First.. Hello Phigan

It's actually not really about... like... but rather to gather as much information as possible about this hobby from the hundreds of actual sources
of information that currently exist and to relate it to a single point. And it's also not about competing with anyone. That is completely foreign to me
and is 100% absolutely not the goal of the forum! The 'wheel' is simply the point that this information could one day be brought together in the most useful way, and that a visitor interested in this hobby gets everything important they need to build/create a BBS of his choice and become part of the BBS community. I would rather call this a bridge for an optimal entry into
this hobby!I look at the whole in a holistic way, so overlaps are bound to happen. But that is also the diversity that is desired and is a good thing!

I can live just fine with someone not liking the internet, even though he/she/it use it every day. It's the same with the way a forum approaches and presents a topic on the www. Everything is fine from my perspective!

Mike

... Platinum Xpress & Wildcat!..... Nice!!!!
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v7.0
* Origin: Global Chaos BBS, The Home of the Nets and Files (723:800/50)
þ Synchronet þ CAPCITY2 * Capitol City Online

Hey Mike!

On Sun, 25 Jan 2026 14:33:38 +0100, you wrote:

I can live just fine with someone not liking the internet, even though he/she/it use it every day. It's the same with the way a forum
approaches and presents a topic on the www. Everything is fine from my perspective!

If I remember correctly, you had previously mentioned that it is out of your realm of expertise/knowledge to do what I mention below, but rather than trying to get people that don't like using web forums to try using... web forums.. How about trying to expand your knowledge and expertise and utilize FTN /into/ your message forums? This way people that don't like using web forums can still communicate with the people that access your web forum?

Would that not bridge a pretty huge gap in communications between the two?

Currently, it looks like you are using (and maybe even paying for?) some cloud based forum software, with a light-weight wiki add-on. If indeed you are paying for this monthly, or yearly, I'd like to ask how much different it actually is than this (which can definitely be improved upon, graphically, by anyone), for example:

https://pharcyde.org/?page=001-forum.ssjs&group=0

I guess what I'm saying here is, there are actual BBS softwares that already seem to have this "forum" style messaging built in - and already supports communication via FTN networks, so there is no need to gain expertise/knowledge on creating your own, etc.

I'm not trying to put what you're doing down, whatsoever. So please don't take it that way. I was just looking at some comparible stuff and wondering why you chose to go the route that you did. Either way, keep on doing whatever makes you happy!

Regards,
Nick

... Sarcasm: because beating people up is illegal.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20250409
* Origin: _thePharcyde telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (723:1/1)
þ Synchronet þ _thePharcyde telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin)

Re: BBS Forum Sysops Fine
By: Accession to Mike on Sun Jan 25 2026 01:58 pm

I guess what I'm saying here is, there are actual BBS softwares
that already seem to have this "forum" style messaging built in -
and already supports communication via FTN networks, so there is no
need to gain expertise/knowledge on creating your own, etc.

I'm not trying to put what you're doing down, whatsoever. So please

he could use a forum software with nntp gateway/plugin. several of us here have done that. i think fudforum has one and it's free. i dont think it
plays well with synchronet's nntp but that can be addressed.

so he could have his forum and he could have all the msg networks he joins, all in one. truly bringing it all together.


--
"Before using Wildcat....This Company did not have a convenient way of
looking after some of the richest clients in the world...Now we do!"
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Hello Mike!

** On Thursday 22.01.26 - 09:08, Mike wrote to Phigan:

promoting this wonderful hobby in a best possible way! I already wrote, 25,000 verifiable clicks per month. The forum is definitely being noticed.

.. noticed by bots too, perhaps? That 25,000 could be misleading.

It would be wonderful and very helpful if more of you would make an
effort and contribute a small part. Many of you have far more knowledge
of the subject than I could ever learn in the rest of my life. With you, the forum can become and be significantly definitely better! A great showcase for our hobby! And of course, with the necessary patience for
the development too!

Your best bet is to simply list the different types of active BBS software out there, provide links to other online resources offering them, discussing them and supporting them.

https://www.ipingthereforeiam.com/bbs/ ..is another fine window to the bbs world.

And I stick to my thesis that all the fragmentation across the many portals, and even more so on the commercial ones, has not been beneficial to the thematic presentation of this hobby and still isn't. A thematic focus would certainly bring more to the hobby and to those interested in it!

A theme named for just sysops seems limiting and doesn't sound like a place to attract non-sysops into the hobby, imho. ;)

What certainly won't happen is that I give up the project, which by now
has cost not only a lot of my time but also not insignificant amount of money.

Yeah.. hosting costs can accumulate. Good luck.
--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: Ogg's Dovenet Point (723:320/1.9)
* Synchronet * CAPCITY2 * Capitol City Online

Hello phigan!

** On Saturday 24.01.26 - 10:34, phigan wrote to Mike:

So why not make the best of it? The hobby has so many great facets! I

Well, like I said earlier, I personally don't like the web, and like web forums even less so. When I want to tell web-only people about BBSes, I point them to telnetbbsguide.com where there is a list of a thousand BBSes they can try.

https://www.ipingthereforeiam.com/bbs/ is also a good way to explore and discover BBSes out there.

You don't have to give up on your project, but you should realize that you are contributing to the fragmentation. You want people to use your web forum to bring attention to BBSes. In a way, this is bringing attention away from BBSes :). Mucking with web forums just isn't interesting for me. Otherwise I'd probably participate on AtariAge or one of the countless other web forum communities that have existed for decades.

I agree.. there is a fragmentation aspect.

I see several BBSes have basic front-end intro pages that describe BBSing, the history, etc. ..and then provide the portal to login. Excellent.

Outside from having a 60 Minutes segment on BBSing as it exists today, or a viral video somewhere, this hobby simply needs a place that describes what a BBS is "TODAY", and points the user to various systems.

The IPTIA, SBBSLIST, and TelneBBSguide, are excellent directories of systems that can do that.


--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: Ogg's Dovenet Point (723:320/1.9)
* Synchronet * CAPCITY2 * Capitol City Online

On Jan 25, 2026 02:04pm, Accession wrote to Mike:

Hey Mike!

On Sun, 25 Jan 2026 14:33:38 +0100, you wrote:

I can live just fine with someone not liking the internet, even though
he/she/it use it every day. It's the same with the way a forum
approaches and presents a topic on the www. Everything is fine from my
perspective!

If I remember correctly, you had previously mentioned that it is out of your realm of expertise/knowledge to do what I mention below, but rather than trying to get people that don't like using web forums to try
using... web forums.. How about trying to expand your knowledge and expertise and utilize FTN /into/ your message forums? This way people
that don't like using web forums can still communicate with the people
that access your web forum?

Would that not bridge a pretty huge gap in communications between the
two?

Currently, it looks like you are using (and maybe even paying for?) some cloud based forum software, with a light-weight wiki add-on. If indeed
you are paying for this monthly, or yearly, I'd like to ask how much different it actually is than this (which can definitely be improved
upon, graphically, by anyone), for example:

https://pharcyde.org/?page=001-forum.ssjs&group=0

I guess what I'm saying here is, there are actual BBS softwares that already seem to have this "forum" style messaging built in - and already supports communication via FTN networks, so there is no need to gain expertise/knowledge on creating your own, etc.

I'm not trying to put what you're doing down, whatsoever. So please
don't take it that way. I was just looking at some comparible stuff and wondering why you chose to go the route that you did. Either way, keep
on doing whatever makes you happy!

Regards,
Nick

... Sarcasm: because beating people up is illegal.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20250409
# Origin: _thePharcyde telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (723:1/1)
þ Synchronet þ _thePharcyde telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin)
* Origin: Capitol City Online (723:320/1)

Hello Nick

First of all... Thank you for your constructive suggestions!
I would like to first comment on the upper section, if that's alright?

This is relatively easy to explain. At the end of 2023, I started to seriously engage with the topic of BBS again. I hadn't done anything for 23 years; I was never really the programmer either (probably no talent for something like that).

What struck me back then, besides the Wildcat Interactive Net Server that was used/choiced, was that in addition to the language problems (English - German, technical English - technical German), you had to search a long time on the
WWW before you could get a rough overview of the hobby. Perhaps this is also because, over the 23 years, I have inevitably just gotten 23 years older? I don't want to dispute that right now!

Long story short: I was never the programmer, more of a user of existing software. My talent is therefore limited.

The forum software was therefore purchased after I had weighed the pros and cons of the software available on the market a little. The add-ons as well.
If the timing works out, I will also tackle the wiki.

Let's move on to the next point: I had to start with something within the
scope of my mental capabilities and skills. And maybe I am taking the easier route for me? So I focused on the content first. Unfortunately, a forum is not really suitable, or barely suitable at all, for properly describing and categorizing mass uploads. So each program, tool, utility, door, door game,
and and and, must be entered and descriped individually.

Therefore, since I am now hanging around as a one man show, I am maintaining/adding programs, doors, and tools, etc., in this endless loop, along with information (simple research) on the topic of BBS in the www.

Since my day also only has 24 hours, and there is still a working life (although due to my retirement it is no longer 220 days a year), but with the German Armed Forces as a reservist for 5-7 months a year, alongside normal family life, time is limited, as it is for many here.

Regarding the connector in the Fido or FTN: Apart from the fact that, as described above, I don't even have the time to learn the skills, I do have
some concerns about this possibility. I had mentioned that I don't want to see the forum as competition to the BBSs or the Nets! The idea itself is quite
very appealing to me, although I have some legal concerns with one or another network that uses real names!

Therefore, I initially focused on introducing the respective still existing
FTN and mentioning contact persons (Zone Coordinators). Certainly, one could further expand on the content, and I will most likely do so. But in my view, the first step is to first highlight the diversity and history of this wonderful and creative hobbies.

All in all, the forum is explained by the personal facts of my person
described above and therefore develops more slowly than it would in a collaborative effort where everyone can contribute their ideas and strengths. And the fact that often, and now I will try to express myself cautiously, things are depicted and discussed here and there mostly in a manner specific
to certain software. Broadly, that is, across all platforms and still existing programs, actually to my knowledge, concentrated to one point not.

All in all, I can still imagine many things that the forum could offer or accomplish. But honestly, I rely on a bit of help for that. And everyone reading along knows that it doesn't come and probably never will.
No blame! Just the reality.

I can only keep repeating that I would be very happy if the project, the idea, gained more approval.

Mike

... Platinum Xpress & Wildcat!..... Nice!!!!
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v7.0
* Origin: Global Chaos BBS, The Home of the Nets and Files (723:800/50)
þ Synchronet þ CAPCITY2 * Capitol City Online

On Jan 25, 2026 01:47pm, Ogg wrote to Mike:

Hello Mike!

** On Tuesday 20.01.26 - 12:10, Mike wrote to Ogg:

What's wrong with having the same info and "bring together information"
right in the technology that it aims to promote? ie. via echomail.

Nothing wrong with a web-forum interface for messages, but then
export/share those messages in echomail here or via FTN.

Theoretically, that should be doable, but unfortunately not with my
level
of knowledge! I can only refer people to contacts in the FTNs on the
forum and, if necessary, provide the required software. As I already
wrote to Phigan, I don’t see the forum as competition, but as a possible
starting point for those interested.

Sysops are poor advertisers of their own systems. They are not the ones who will go out and promote their sites on other channels.

At best there are places that list bbses:
https://www.telnetbbsguide.com/, and even http://www.synchro.net/sbbslist.html ..is pretty good.

I don't think you will have a place that will act as a hub for actual sysops. Sysops already lurk/contribute either on their own systems or communicate on the sysop-based echoes that they need technical
information about for their own partiular bbs software.

[...] We don’t just want to appeal to the 50-70+ year-olds, but also
draw
the younger generation’s attention to this hobby; at a place where they
would search (Google for example).

Younger generations who are already enamoured my Discord, Element, Facebook, etc.. will likely stay there.

There is atleast one "bbs" that kinda emulates a full BBS message-base system on Discord: The Underground BBS. It's a pretty good way to share images and files without a lot of exceptions that FTN might require.

He has #mystic, #wwiv-bbs, and #telegard-bbs support areas.

I am concerned that 'we' may further isolate ourselves through our
stance,
since there is no agreement on how the hobby can be presented in the
best
way.

Many will say that "BBS" is just the way it was during the dialup days. Along came the webby "the forum" approach when internet became more ubiquitous in people's homes. So, technically, a forum is a sort of bulletin board. After all, a true Bulletin Board is still the paper
type seen at grocery stores and post offices!

But what separates most traditional online BBSes from webby forums are games. So, it really depends on what the visitor is looking for.

On the other hand: Why not support this project for a while with as much
unity as possible? What do you have to lose? A simple example: If 250
people could spend 5 minutes of their time each week to introduce a new
feature (hardware or software), upload a program, or help solve a
problem.
Then even more people would become aware of this forum as a possible
first
point of contact for this hobby. The possibilities are truly diverse!

OK.. sounds like you want that to be a sysop place to share tips and
info. Fine. But that's not going to do much to attract new people to bbsing, I think.

Good luck with attracting sysops to the cause.

In any case, I do not see myself at all in the role of a traitor to the
cause, but rather take a different approach to the solution!

... Platinum Xpress & Wildcat!..... Nice!!!!
-+- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v7.0

I do believe that Platinum Xpress was one of the first "bbs software"s
that supported an internet interface for visitors. But is it still being developed/supported?

--

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: Ogg's Dovenet Point (723:320/1.9)

Dear Ogg

Thank you for your detailed explanation.

First. Yes, Wildcat is still developed. Platinum Xpress not for fairly mysterious reasons! Don't aks :-) But both are somehow closely intertwined, with one 'small' exception: the missing BinkP connection.

I have already noticed, and let's say acknowledged, that the sysops have
little to no interest in describing or explaining their systems outside of their own system, with very few exceptions (Rob is a very good example of the excellent explanation of his program)! Generally speaking, it just seems to be the way it is!

But the sysops of former and existing systems would, in my eyes, be the first point of contact for a new installation. I'm not asking a gardener how to fix
a car problem, that's my line of thinking!

And I find it easier to evaluate things brought together in an overall view
and make a choice, rather than gathering the information on many pages. That was my next thought process.

I already have a few pieces of information and links posted in my forum. Unfortunately, not yet comprehensive, so someone who is interested in the
hobby might also be able to get further information there. When I have it, I will also mention the contact person.

If I ever get around to it, the plan was to also install the current systems that are freely available. I would then have also shared my experiences with the installation and setup. Whether I will ever get around to it, however, remains questionable!

The bottom line is this: For me, it’s an enjoyable pastime, and on top of
that, I personally feel like I’m giving something back to this hobby.

And of course! Nobody asked me to do this, and nobody is forcing me to keep pushing it forward.

And I am fully aware that I am not reinventing the wheel here. That was never the plan anyway.

Mike


... Platinum Xpress & Wildcat!..... Nice!!!!
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v7.0
* Origin: Global Chaos BBS, The Home of the Nets and Files (723:800/50)
þ Synchronet þ CAPCITY2 * Capitol City Online

On Jan 25, 2026 02:01pm, Ogg wrote to Mike:

Hello Mike!

** On Thursday 22.01.26 - 09:08, Mike wrote to Phigan:

promoting this wonderful hobby in a best possible way! I already wrote,
25,000 verifiable clicks per month. The forum is definitely being
noticed.

.. noticed by bots too, perhaps? That 25,000 could be misleading.

It would be wonderful and very helpful if more of you would make an
effort and contribute a small part. Many of you have far more knowledge
of the subject than I could ever learn in the rest of my life. With you,
the forum can become and be significantly definitely better! A great
showcase for our hobby! And of course, with the necessary patience for
the development too!

Your best bet is to simply list the different types of active BBS
software out there, provide links to other online resources offering
them, discussing them and supporting them.

https://www.ipingthereforeiam.com/bbs/ ..is another fine window to the
bbs world.

And I stick to my thesis that all the fragmentation across the many
portals, and even more so on the commercial ones, has not been
beneficial
to the thematic presentation of this hobby and still isn't. A thematic
focus would certainly bring more to the hobby and to those interested in
it!

A theme named for just sysops seems limiting and doesn't sound like a
place to attract non-sysops into the hobby, imho. ;)

What certainly won't happen is that I give up the project, which by now
has cost not only a lot of my time but also not insignificant amount of
money.

Yeah.. hosting costs can accumulate. Good luck.
--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: Ogg's Dovenet Point (723:320/1.9)

Next step:

My statistics add everything up and unfortunately cannot distinguish. I just threw the number in there because surely there were a few that were not bots.

In one form or another, it is already included in the forum. Programs and any existing additional links. And yes absolutely. I like his web page very weel and it has also long been referred to as an additional source of information
in the forum! Absolutely good work he's doing there! No ifs or buts!

The name is always a matter of interpretation. The forum needed some name. It could have been called BBS Finest as well (just as an example). What really matters is the content. Sometimes a name is just a name. But that is, or can, simply just be the result when only one person has a "brain fart". However, I had asked other sysops beforehand. Perhaps out of politeness, there were no objections or alternative suggestions at this time!

I don't care about the money. Others go out drinking, or whatever!
For me it's part of the hobby. And every hobby costs money!

But I always find the constructive conversation very good, because you still take something away from it!

Mike

... Platinum Xpress & Wildcat!..... Nice!!!!
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v7.0
* Origin: Global Chaos BBS, The Home of the Nets and Files (723:800/50)
þ Synchronet þ CAPCITY2 * Capitol City Online

Re: Re: BBS Forum Sysops Fine
By: Mike to Phigan on Sun Jan 25 2026 02:33 pm

I can live just fine with someone not liking the internet, even though he/she/it use it every day. It's the same with the way a forum approaches an

The Internet is great. It's the Web that sucks. ;)

---
þ Synchronet þ TIRED of waiting 2 hours for a taco? GO TO TACOPRONTO.bbs.io

Re: RE: BBS Forum Sysops Fine
By: Mike to Accession on Mon Jan 26 2026 11:28 am

All in all, I can still imagine many things that the forum
could offer or accomplish. But honestly, I rely on a bit of
help for that. And everyone reading along knows that it
doesn't come and probably never will.
No blame! Just the reality.

you seem like you're not cut out for something like this.

you need time, dedication and knowledge. you cant just make a website and expect people to make it flourish.

Also you're not really filling a void. you aren't providing anything
that is lacking.


--
"Before using Wildcat....This Company did not have a convenient way of
looking after some of the richest clients in the world...Now we do!"
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

On 26.01.2026 13:36, Phigan wrote to Mike:

@TZUTC: -0700
@MSGID:

72070.dove-gen@723:320/1 2dde5822

@REPLY: 723:800/50 43051BD3
@PID:

Synchronet 3.19c-Linux / Jun 26 2022 GCC 9.4.0

@TID: SBBSecho 3.28-Linux

master/123f2d28a Jul 12 2025 GCC 12.2.0

@COLS: 80
@BBSID: VERT/

TACOPRON

@CHRS: CP437 2
@FORMAT: flowed
@NOTE: Synchronet

msgeditor /

Re: Re: BBS Forum Sysops Fine
By: Mike to Phigan on

Sun Jan 25 2026 02:33 pm

I can live just fine with someone not

liking the internet, even though

he/she/it use it every day. It's the

same with the way a forum approaches an

The Internet is great. It's

the Web that sucks. ;)

---
ÿ Synchronet ÿ TIRED of waiting 2

hours for a taco? GO TO TACOPRONTO.bbs.io

* Origin: Capitol City Online

(723:320/1)

But always with the possibility for the reader to chose, which
is intereting for him!
www is a mixed box of "sweets".
And some things are
indeed interesting to read! And everyone decides for themselves what that
means to them! I think that's okay in this way! I certainly wouldn't
generalize that!

But that is also my personal opinion, and of course I
respect other opinions!


--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v7.0
* Origin: Global Chaos BBS, The Home of the Nets and Files (723:800/50)
þ Synchronet þ CAPCITY2 * Capitol City Online