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Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> writes:
> The best thing about Bitnet was that each host was an actively managed
> system. If you started to get insults, threats, etc. from someone you
> could contact POSTMAST AT <host>. In really bad cases they could
> revoke the user’s access to Bitnet.

co-worker at (IBM) cambridge science center was responsible for the
internal network (larger than arpanet/internet from just about the
beginning until sometime mid/late 80s)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edson_Hendricks
... technology was also used for the corporate sponsored university
BITNET (which was also larger than arpanet/internet for a time).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BITNET

I was blamed for online computer conferencing on the internal network in
the late 70s and early 80s (folklore is that when corporate executive
committee was told about it, 5of6 wanted to fire me). Afterwards, there
was officially sanctioned computer conferencing software and discussion
groups (with moderators).

I have old (1984) email from person in Paris tasked with setting up
BITNET in Europe (EARN):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Academic_Research_Network#EARN
looking for networking applications. Early history (1985) of LISTSERV
(had subset of functions available in internal computer conferencing
software)
http://www.lsoft.com/products/listserv-history.asp

trivia: TYMSHARE:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tymshare
had started offering its (VM370/)CMS-based online computer conferencing
free to the (mainframe user group) SHARE
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SHARE_(computing)
in AUG1976, archives here:
http://vm.marist.edu/~vmshare

I had a deal with TYMSHARE to get monthly tape dump of all VMSHARE files
for putting up on internal systems and network ... which sort of what
sucked me into also doing computer conferencing on the internal
corporate network.

we both transfer to silicon valley in 1977, SJMerc article about Edson
and "IBM'S MISSED OPPORTUNITY WITH THE INTERNET" (gone behind paywall
but lives free at wayback machine)
http://web.archive.org/web/20000124004147/http://www1.sjmercury.com/svtech/columns/gillmor/docs/dg092499.htm
Above article references Ed's website, other articles from Ed ... from
the wayback machine.
http://web.archive.org/web/20000115185349/http://www.edh.net/bungle.htm

-- 
virtualization experience starting Jan1968, online at home since Mar1970