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Re: Whats left of Usenet?

From Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca>
Newsgroups comp.misc
Subject Re: Whats left of Usenet?
Date 2016-08-23 13:26 -0400
Organization National Capital Freenet, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Message-ID <alpine.LNX.2.02.1608231317450.14810@darkstar.example.org> (permalink)
References (15 earlier) <alpine.LNX.2.02.1608221434150.12672@darkstar.example.org> <slrnnrmi8e.1qd.catwheezel@ID-107770.user.individual.net> <npfkjh$ve1$1@dont-email.me> <alpine.LNX.2.02.1608221904270.13270@darkstar.example.org> <HNZuz.610666$jB.550787@fx43.am4>

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On Tue, 23 Aug 2016, Johnny B Good wrote:

> On Mon, 22 Aug 2016 19:05:47 -0400, Michael Black wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 22 Aug 2016, The Real Bev wrote:
>>
>>> On 08/22/2016 11:48 AM, Whiskers wrote:
>>>> On 2016-08-22, Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> wrote:
>>>>> On Mon, 22 Aug 2016, Huge wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> On 2016-08-22, Spiros Bousbouras <spibou@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> [33 lines snipped]
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Since we're talking about Usenet consider the following example :
>>>>>>> if one uses different computers (possibly located at different
>>>>>>> places) to read and post on Usenet the problem arises of knowing
>>>>>>> when they use one computer that for example they have responded to
>>>>>>> a post using another. Having an online service where one creates an
>>>>>>> account and the account stores the information of what they have
>>>>>>> replied to , addresses this problem.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Trivially solved. I keep the config files for my newsreader on
>>>>>> Dropbox. Doesn't matter which computer I use, all the files are the
>>>>>> same.
>>>>>>
>>>>> I don't have things set up this way, but I could arrange it so I can
>>>>> telnet remotely into my desktop computer, and run the newsreader
>>>>> there.
>>>>>
>>>>> Let's not forget that that was how it used to be.  You'd use a
>>>>> terminal emulator on your home computer, and dialup your ISP and run
>>>>> the software there.
>>>>
>>>> Or you had a 'shell account' and dialled in to that.  They're still
>>>> available, with normal internet access now.
>>>
>>> If anybody still needs dialup/shell, I can heartily recommend ktb.net
>>> for $98/year.  Back in the dark ages when my mom and I had accounts,
>>> the owner (with whom I'd chatted several times) offered to come out to
>>> her house (only a few miles away) to set her up.  Probably different
>>> now, but customer service was phenomenal!
>>>
>> I was with one ISP for nine years.  I don't think I met management, but
>> I'd walk over to their office to drop off the monthly payment, the walk
>> was better than paying the postage.
>>
>> When I moved to the next ISP, one of the owners dropped by with the
>> form,
>> the advantage of sticking with small ISPs.
>>
>
> True enough until competition forces them to sell out to cunts like
> "Breathe Networks Ltd". :-(
>
> Anyone here remember zetnet (and its fabulously effective, if
> proprietary, email/usenet client, ZIMACS)?
>
Looking back, everyone started ISPs in the early nineties.  I knew someone 
who manufactured small electronic devices, and he had an ISP for a while.

But about 1995, which is so early looking back now, a lot of it was 
consolidated, the small ISPs combined or bought up by the big players 
(like the cable and phone companies), needing an entry point.  YOu dont' 
even hear about the small ISPs these days, but some still exist.  I don't 
really think they are likely to change at this point.

After the Montreal Freenet died (3 years of waiting, four months of 
operation) in November of 1996, the ISP I moved to was a non-profit, I 
think the first ISP in town. I suspect when they started they couldn't 
imagine making money from it, so non-profit seemed the right step.  At one 
point they were hoping to sell it, and someone said "no you can't, the 
membership is in control".  But at the end of 2005, they did sell it, 
except it was to a bigger non-profit, probably the only way that could be 
worked out.  I left at that point, they'd decided to do this and put it 
into operation before the AGM that would vote on whether to do it or not.

It was weird, when I got there in late 1996, they had a really good faq, 
an email to fax gateway, an amateur radio packet gateway, all kinds of 
interesting things.  But the gang that wanted to uphold the non-profit 
angle were more interested in running a non-profit business, than in what 
you could do with it.  It felt like money was siphoned off to groups that 
they liked, in the form of advertising.  The monthly fee was more than the 
other local ISPs, yet they at some point had a money flow problem, unable 
to expand as needed, which finally resulted in the sale to the larger 
non-profit.  But they burned off a lot of older members when the ISP was 
attacked in 1999, and the shell was blamed for that, and then they dropped 
Usenet about 2003?  I can't remember, but few were around to care.  They 
announced, I got the email half an hour before it happened, that they were 
turning off the newsgroups to move the servers, and six months later they 
finally admitted the newsgroups weren't coming back.  Obviously they 
didn't get enough complaints.  But it was a sleezy way to operate, I 
expected more for a non-profit.  It matters less whether or not they got 
rid of usenet (though it impacted, no place to discuss the operation of 
the company, despite each member getting a vote at the AGM), but that they 
didn't do it in an upfront way.

   Michael

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Thread

Whats left of Usenet? British Rocket Group <no_email@invalid.invalid> - 2016-08-03 20:20 +0000
  Re: Whats left of Usenet? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2016-08-03 23:51 +0300
  Re: Whats left of Usenet? Johnny B Good <johnny-b-good@invalid.ntlworld.com> - 2016-08-03 21:31 +0000
    Re: Whats left of Usenet? British Rocket Group <no_email@invalid.invalid> - 2016-08-06 17:58 +0000
  Re: Whats left of Usenet? Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2016-08-04 00:30 +0100
  Re: Whats left of Usenet? Oregonian Haruspex <no_email@invalid.invalid> - 2016-08-04 04:01 +0000
  Re: Whats left of Usenet? scott@alfter.diespammersdie.us (Scott Alfter) - 2016-08-04 16:34 +0000
  Re: Whats left of Usenet? Whiskers <catwheezel@operamail.com> - 2016-08-05 14:08 +0100
    Re: Whats left of Usenet? RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> - 2016-08-06 14:53 +0000
      Re: Whats left of Usenet? Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2016-08-06 15:00 +0000
        Re: Whats left of Usenet? Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> - 2016-08-06 15:37 +0000
      Re: Whats left of Usenet? Whiskers <catwheezel@operamail.com> - 2016-08-06 16:03 +0100
        Re: Whats left of Usenet? Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2016-08-06 15:22 +0000
          Re: Whats left of Usenet? Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> - 2016-08-06 15:38 +0000
            Re: Whats left of Usenet? Whiskers <catwheezel@operamail.com> - 2016-08-06 16:58 +0100
              Re: Whats left of Usenet? pnwdaemon@always.wet - 2016-08-06 16:55 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2016-08-06 14:03 -0400
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> - 2016-08-06 18:00 -0300
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2016-08-06 21:33 -0400
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2016-08-07 13:38 -0700
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? jayvl <jurgen.vanlunenburg@gmail.com> - 2016-08-10 01:07 -0700
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> - 2016-08-10 12:06 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> - 2016-08-11 00:34 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2016-08-11 11:09 +0300
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2016-08-11 10:32 +0100
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2016-08-11 09:58 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2016-08-11 11:28 +0100
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2016-08-11 13:46 +0300
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2016-08-11 11:51 +0100
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Paul Sture <nospam@sture.ch> - 2016-08-11 13:00 +0200
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2016-08-11 11:15 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> - 2016-08-11 15:17 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Whiskers <catwheezel@operamail.com> - 2016-08-11 16:41 +0100
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Spiros Bousbouras <spibou@gmail.com> - 2016-08-30 22:50 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Spiros Bousbouras <spibou@gmail.com> - 2016-08-30 22:53 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Johnny B Good <johnny-b-good@invalid.ntlworld.com> - 2016-08-31 01:45 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Larry Sheldon <lfsheldon@gmail.com> - 2016-08-30 21:25 -0500
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Johnny B Good <johnny-b-good@invalid.ntlworld.com> - 2016-08-31 03:31 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2016-08-31 10:12 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Paul Sture <nospam@sture.ch> - 2016-08-31 12:47 +0200
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2016-08-31 13:22 +0100
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Johnny B Good <johnny-b-good@invalid.ntlworld.com> - 2016-08-31 19:50 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2016-08-31 23:13 +0100
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Johnny B Good <johnny-b-good@invalid.ntlworld.com> - 2016-09-04 00:57 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Johnny B Good <johnny-b-good@invalid.ntlworld.com> - 2016-08-31 19:35 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? polygonum <rmoudndgers@vrod.co.uk> - 2016-08-31 21:04 +0100
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Johnny B Good <johnny-b-good@invalid.ntlworld.com> - 2016-09-04 01:17 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? polygonum <rmoudndgers@vrod.co.uk> - 2016-09-04 10:46 +0100
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Paul Sture <nospam@sture.ch> - 2016-08-31 06:11 +0200
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? polygonum <rmoudndgers@vrod.co.uk> - 2016-08-31 07:35 +0100
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Paul Sture <nospam@sture.ch> - 2016-08-31 12:42 +0200
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2016-08-31 13:52 -0400
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> - 2016-09-01 23:54 -0300
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Johnny B Good <johnny-b-good@invalid.ntlworld.com> - 2016-09-04 03:19 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2016-08-31 10:06 -0700
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Paul Sture <nospam@sture.ch> - 2016-08-31 19:45 +0200
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Johnny B Good <johnny-b-good@invalid.ntlworld.com> - 2016-08-31 20:06 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Paul Sture <nospam@sture.ch> - 2016-08-31 05:50 +0200
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2016-08-31 10:08 -0700
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Johnny B Good <johnny-b-good@invalid.ntlworld.com> - 2016-08-31 20:49 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2016-09-01 00:08 +0300
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Johnny B Good <johnny-b-good@invalid.ntlworld.com> - 2016-09-04 04:28 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2016-09-04 10:14 +0300
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Whiskers <catwheezel@operamail.com> - 2016-08-31 12:30 +0100
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> - 2016-09-01 20:41 -0400
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2016-08-11 13:31 -0700
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> - 2016-08-12 01:39 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Johnny B Good <johnny-b-good@invalid.ntlworld.com> - 2016-08-12 12:45 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2016-08-12 17:25 +0300
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> - 2016-08-12 23:29 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2016-08-13 10:32 +0100
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Johnny B Good <johnny-b-good@invalid.ntlworld.com> - 2016-08-13 13:49 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Johnny B Good <johnny-b-good@invalid.ntlworld.com> - 2016-08-13 13:37 +0000
                Scrabble words (was Re: Whats left of Usenet?) RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> - 2016-08-14 23:07 +0000
                Re: Scrabble words (was Re: Whats left of Usenet?) Johnny B Good <johnny-b-good@invalid.ntlworld.com> - 2016-08-15 01:39 +0000
                Re: Scrabble words (was Re: Whats left of Usenet?) Paul Sture <nospam@sture.ch> - 2016-08-15 16:20 +0200
                Re: Scrabble words (was Re: Whats left of Usenet?) scott@alfter.diespammersdie.us (Scott Alfter) - 2016-08-16 21:10 +0000
                Re: Scrabble words (was Re: Whats left of Usenet?) Johnny B Good <johnny-b-good@invalid.ntlworld.com> - 2016-08-23 15:09 +0000
                Re: Scrabble words (was Re: Whats left of Usenet?) The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2016-08-16 09:00 -0700
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Spiros Bousbouras <spibou@gmail.com> - 2016-08-30 22:34 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Bob Eager <news0006@eager.cx> - 2016-08-30 22:51 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Paul Sture <nospam@sture.ch> - 2016-08-31 12:44 +0200
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2016-08-12 12:44 -0400
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2016-08-12 20:04 +0300
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? polygonum <rmoudndgers@vrod.co.uk> - 2016-08-12 18:59 +0100
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2016-08-12 22:47 +0300
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2016-08-12 22:49 +0300
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Spiros Bousbouras <spibou@gmail.com> - 2016-08-22 16:46 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> - 2016-08-22 16:52 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Spiros Bousbouras <spibou@gmail.com> - 2016-08-22 17:32 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2016-08-22 12:38 -0700
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2016-08-22 14:35 -0400
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? "Adam H. Kerman" <ahk@chinet.com> - 2016-08-22 18:44 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? ANTant@zimage.com (Ant) - 2016-08-22 17:22 -0500
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Whiskers <catwheezel@operamail.com> - 2016-08-22 19:48 +0100
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2016-08-22 12:42 -0700
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2016-08-22 19:05 -0400
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Johnny B Good <johnny-b-good@invalid.ntlworld.com> - 2016-08-23 15:16 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2016-08-23 13:26 -0400
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Paul <pmhar@invalid.invalid> - 2016-08-23 18:49 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Bob Eager <news0006@eager.cx> - 2016-08-23 19:24 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Johnny B Good <johnny-b-good@invalid.ntlworld.com> - 2016-08-24 00:04 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> - 2016-08-24 00:56 -0300
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Johnny B Good <johnny-b-good@invalid.ntlworld.com> - 2016-08-25 21:30 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> - 2016-08-23 00:54 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2016-08-22 22:15 -0400
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2016-08-22 19:03 -0400
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Spiros Bousbouras <spibou@gmail.com> - 2016-08-22 16:04 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2016-08-22 12:34 -0700
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2016-08-24 09:31 +0100
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2016-08-10 09:58 -0400
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2016-08-10 23:11 -0700
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? ANTant@zimage.com (Ant) - 2016-08-11 23:07 -0500
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> - 2016-08-07 00:59 -0300
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? British Rocket Group <no_email@invalid.invalid> - 2016-08-06 18:02 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Hils <hils@saynotospam.net> - 2016-08-06 19:22 +0100
              Re: Whats left of Usenet? Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2016-08-06 14:05 -0400
          Re: Whats left of Usenet? Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2016-08-06 14:00 -0400
          Re: Whats left of Usenet? Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> - 2016-08-07 00:35 -0300
            Re: Whats left of Usenet? Whiskers <catwheezel@operamail.com> - 2016-08-07 14:47 +0100
              Re: Whats left of Usenet? Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> - 2016-08-07 17:16 -0300
              Re: Whats left of Usenet? "Kerr Mudd-John" <admin@127.0.0.1> - 2016-08-09 13:28 +0100
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> - 2016-08-09 12:31 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? snipeco.2@gmail.com (Sn!pe) - 2016-08-09 14:05 +0100
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> - 2016-08-09 13:54 +0000
                Re: Whats left of Usenet? "Kerr Mudd-John" <admin@127.0.0.1> - 2016-08-24 14:28 +0100
      Re: Whats left of Usenet? Spiros Bousbouras <spibou@gmail.com> - 2016-08-21 20:29 +0000
    Re: Whats left of Usenet? Spiros Bousbouras <spibou@gmail.com> - 2016-08-21 19:48 +0000
  Re: Whats left of Usenet? Spiros Bousbouras <spibou@gmail.com> - 2016-08-21 19:31 +0000

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