Subj : Re: Where is everybody?
To   : Alonzo
From : tenser
Date : Mon Jul 03 2023 05:50 am

On 24 Jun 2023 at 09:13p, Alonzo pondered and said...
 
 Al> We can introduce people to bulletin boards by volunteering to give talks
 Al> at our local libraries or schools. Neighborhood community meetings.

But for what purpose would those people use a BBS?  For
many folks, it would be strictly a step down from using
web-based services (I'm thinking about, say, senior citizens
one might encounter at a library or community center).

Similarly with school-age students: what would they use
a BBS for?  They're just not as capable as other offerings
in the "digital native" landscape.

Don't get me wrong: I'm not trying to discourage you or
BBS use, but I think one would have to really think through
the use-cases and what about them would be interesting and
attractive to make a persuasive case.

 Al> Everywhere. You say that if I am settting up and running a BBS for
 Al> callers, I am doing it for the wrong reason. Well, what IS the reason?
 Al> Are we just entertaining ourselves? Other Sysops? If so, that's pretty
 Al> sad.

Honestly?  At this point that's pretty much what it is.
People do it for the nostalgia, and not much else.

Think of it this way: easy access to the Internet killed
the dialup BBS scene because the Internet gave users so
much more that was interesting; BBSes just could not
compete.  Nothing has changed in this regard in the last
30 years, so what would entice users to "call" a BBS?
Some answers might be:

1. Nostalgia
2. It appeals to some kind of niche, such as retro
   computing fans
3. The desire for interaction in a small community
4. Non-commercialized, DIY infrastructure (though
   honesty, without the Internet, none of this is
   viable)
5. Interest in the art scene

I think, if you really want more callers, the best way
forward is to hone in on one of the above (or perhaps
something else I haven't thought of?) and emphasize that.

This is similar to the issue with amateur radio, in my
opinion: new users aren't particularly interested in HF
for long-haul communications (why bother with finicky
propagation and slow data modes when the Internet lets
you enjoy world-wide, real-time voice and video chat for
no incremental cost over what you already pay for your
ISP?).  Yet the powers that be complain that people don't
upgrade their license and that "the bands are dead",
without bothering to ask whether anyone wants the
expanded privileges of an upgraded license in the first
place?

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
 * Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

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