The Online World resources handbook

The Online World: What is it? http://home.eunet.no/~presno/bok/2.html
A CompuServe message typically looks like this:
#: 24988 S10/Portable Desktops
22 Jul 91 10:05:38
Sb: #T5200 425meg HDD
Fm: Gordon Norman 72356,370
To: Menno Aartsen 72611,2066 (X)
Menno
Can you share the HD specs on that 425'er...random
access time, transfer rate, MTBF, etc.?
Gordon
The problem is that this message may not interest you. Daily, thousands of messages
outside your areas of interest are being posted. You do not want to read all these
messages. The good news is that most services that use the bulletin board model allow
selective reading of messages. You can select all messages containing a given word or
text string in the subject title ('Sb:' above). You can read threads of messages from a
given message number (replies, and replies to replies). You can read all messages
to/from a given person, from a given message number, and from a given date. There are
many options.
Now, let's look at The PARTIcipate conferencing software as it functions
diametrically opposite to CompuServe's forum's bulletin board style. PARTI is used on
TWICS (Japan), and some other systems.
PARTI lets the user log on using an alias. For example, she can use the identity
'BATMAN'. You may never get to know the true name of the other person. On the other
hand, this allows people to talk about controversial topics, with which they may not
want to have their names associated.
Anyone can start a conference. The conference may be public, private or a
combination. Combination conferences allow public review of the messages in the
conference, but restrict the number of people who can contribute to the discussion.
To start a new conference, simply enter 'write'. PARTI will prompt you with "Enter
the text of your note, then type .send or .open to transmit." You can enter the welcome
WH[W IRU \RXU QHZ FRQIHUHQFH OLNH , GLG LQ WKLV H[DPSOH
"This conference is based on a series of articles about shareware and
public domain programs for MSDOS computers, which I wrote for
publication in England. Since the editor cheated me and they never
reached the printing press, I've decided to make them available online
instead of letting them rot on my hard disk. Join to read, discuss or
(hopefully) enjoy!"
The conference was presented to the other users of TWICS like this:
"MSDOS TIPS" by ODD DE PRESNO, Feb. 23, 1990
about GOOD PD AND SHAREWARE PROGRAMS (7 notes)
Few systems of the bulletin board model let users start new conferences at will. New
topics must be stored in a given structure. The administrators (sysops) of the services
manage the evolution of the 'conference room'. Periodically, old messages may be
deleted to make room for new.
On PARTI, all participants read all notes. Selective reading must be done in other
ways (by searching conference contents).
These two conferencing models seem to attract different types of discussions.
PARTI has given birth to more discussions on topics like the following (from PARTI on
The Point, January 1992):
"HELLO BEEP" by THE SHADOW on Sept. 17, 1991 at 19:20,
about BEEP'S ADVENTURES IN JAPAN, AND THE LIKE
(840 characters and 22 notes).
"MEMORIES" by LOU on Dec. 21, 1991 at 12:31,
about .......I REMEMBER WHEN......
(423 characters and 1 notes).
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