Subj : The Orthodox Christian network (OCNet) To : alt.religion.christian.east-orthodox,alive.bbs.dialup,alt.bbs.ads From : hayesstw@yahoo.com (Steve Hayes) Date : Thu May 22 2003 05:17 am AN INTRODUCTION TO OCNET - THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN NETWORK OCNet is a network of BBS conferences for Orthodox Christians. A BBS (Bulletin Board Service) is a computer with a modem connected to a phone line that accepts phone calls and allows people to read messages and receive messages from other people. OCNet operates in association with FamilyNet, a network of BBSs that are suitable for families, and do not promote porn and obscenity. Through FamilyNet some of the OCNet conferences are also made available as e-mail mailing lists, for those who do not have access to a BBS. OCNet has its own Web pages at: http://www.orthodoxy.faithweb.com/ocnet.htm http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/stanmer/182/ocnet.htm where you can get more information on how to link up. For more information on BBS networks and their uses, see the following Web page: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/bbs.htm WHAT CAN BE DISCUSSED ON BBS NETWORKS? Here is a list of the OCNet conferences, from the FamilyNet echolist. The OC_ORTHODOX conference is the main and most general discussion forum for Orthodox Christianity, and we would like to encourage as many BBSs as possible to carry it and make it available to their users. It is for discussion of the Orthodox Christian Faith by both Orthodox and non-Orthodox. These are conferences that are available to be passed from one BBS to another internationally. It is possible to add new topics if people want them. Also, local BBSs can have their own conferences on various topics. Different countries can set up national conferences using local languages, if they want to. OC_ORTHODOX Orthodox General discussions on the Orthodox Christian faith and Orthodox Churches. This conference is also available as an e-mail mailing list, oc.orthodox. For information on how to join the mailing list, see: http://orthodoxy.faithweb.com/ocnet.htm OC_RELIGION Religion Discussion of religions generally, and their relation to Orthodox Christianity. While this conference centres on Orthodox Christianity, members of other religious bodies are welcome to participate, and to discuss or explain their religion. OC_PENPALS Orthodox Christian Penfriends Club For Orthodox Christians who would like pen friends in different countries The three conferences listed above are also available by e-mail mail- ing list. For more information on how to join them by mailing list, see: http://www.orthodoxy.faithweb.com/ocnet.htm The conferences below are only available on BBSs OC_ADMIN Orthodox Network Administration Administration of Orthodox network OC_BIBLE Orthodox Bible Bible discussions from an Orthodox point of view OC_BOOKS Orthodox Books Book discussions from an Orthodox point of view OC_COMMON Orthodox Common Common conference for general discussions between users of BBSs carrying Orthodox conferences. This is for messages that would be off topic in the more specific conferences If anyone would like to know more about this, and how they can connect to these conferences, please contact me at one of the addresses below: FamilyNet: 8:7903/10 Fidonet: 5:7106/20 E-mail: hayesstw@yahoo.com More information is also available on the following Web pages: http://www,orthodoxy.faithweb.com/ocnet.htm http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/bbs.htm http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/stanmer/182/ocnet.htm http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/cecilian/777/xncom.htm HISTORY OF OCNET OCNet was started by Fr George Masters and Frank Crispell of San Jose, California. It was linked to the FamilyNet BBS network using Fido Technology, and the RIME network using Postlink technology, in cooperation with CandleNet, a Roman Catholic network run by Bill Leam- ing. In September 1995 Frank Crispell died, and there were problems with the RIME network, and OCNet almost disintegrated. Steve Hayes has kept it going on FamilyNet, but there is no longer a link to RIME. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS The development of new Fido technology software such as Watergate and TransX has made international and other long-distance connections much easier and cheaper, using the Internet, so we are hoping to revive and expand OC_Net. It is now possible to transfer international mail pack- ets via the Internet for a fraction of the cost of dial-up calls. Electronic communications seems to be one of the areas where ecumenical cooperation seems not only possible, but desirable, to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort and infrastructure. I therefore hope that Orthodox Christian BBSs will be willing to consider joining FamilyNet, and link up to the OC_Net conferences. FamilyNet has other Christian-oriented conferences as well. I also hope that Orthodox parishes, monasteries and brotherhoods will consider setting up BBSs, and linking them into OCNet. BBS NETWORKS AND THE INTERNET Many people are confused about the differences between BBS networks and "the Internet". BBS networks like OCNet/FamilyNet/CCCNet use Fido technology for connecting computers, while "the Internet" uses TCP/IP technology. Why use BBS networks rather than "the Internet"? BBS networks are usually cheaper, though they lack the fancy graphics features of the Web pages one finds on the Internet. BBS networks are also a great deal better at providing many-to-many conferencing than anything available on the Internet, and can do it at a much lower cost. The question, however, is not one of either/or. It is rather a matter of choosing which medium is better for which purpose. BBS networks use the Internet for long-distance communications anyway, and many of them provide cheap e-mail facilities for their users. A BBS can be set up by a parish, a brotherhood, a monastery, or even individual Orthodox Christians. A group of such BBSs in a city or district can be linked together and enable people to leave messages for each other, make announcements, and discuss various things without the expense of face- to-face meetings. Unlike connections to the Internet via ISPs, these things are under local control. For wider communications, and e-mail, one or two BBSs in a city would subscribe to the Internet, and send messages to other BBSs in that way. This means that most of the users of the BBSs would not have to subscribe to an internet service. All they need is a computer, a modem and a phone line. This can be very useful in countries where Internet subscriptions are too expensive for most people. BBS networks. BBS networks are growing rapidly in countries like Russia, though they are static or shrinking in the First World. + ^ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- + / \ Steve Hayes ^(_____) Orthodox Mission Pages / \| o | + PO Box 56303 (___| o | ^ Arcadia |o_|___|_ / \ 0007 South Africa | | | (___) hayesstw@yahoo.com | |o o o| | o | http://www.orthodoxy.faithweb.com/ | | | | | =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- .