Hello Mike -

 CA>When BBS were the primary source of new software (both freeware and
 CA>shareware) the sysop could force you to read screen after screen of
 CA>useless 'information' before you could get to a menu and check for
 CA>new files or download FIDO messages.  Most BBS continue to operate
 CA>this way ad nauseum.

 MP> Well, it was not always the sysop that forced this.  BBS
 MP> software defaulted to doing so, 

Most BBS software had a way to either turn this off or the 'bulletin'
files could be created as empty files. :-)

 MP> and a lot of sysops probably
 MP> didn't realize how annoying it could be to a user.

Most sysops _knew_ it annoyed users but felt that since you were "on
their dime" when you logged in you had to accept their "message". When
being "online" was unknown to most users syops ruled like dukes and earls.
Power currupts etc. and many sysops were arrogant about the 'power' they
had over their 'users'.  

 MP> The software I use, GT Power, had an option for the user so
 MP> that, once they were logged on, they could choose to skip
 MP> the "bulletins," and go right to the main menu prompt.

There is a tagline "Users exist as a test load for the system" which
does somewhat describe how a sysop might perceive the arrangement.
Once you reconfigure or rewrite (in my case) some portion of the BBS
you want to see it being used as a test to locate bugs and find areas
that could be improved.  If everyone skips over your 'new' section you
wait.  Sysops didn't expect to wait. :-)


>
>    ,                  ,
>  o/  Charles.Angelich \o       ,
>   __o/
> / >      USA, MI      < \   __\__

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