Donald Tidmore, who has done a lot with his IGMs for L.O.R.D., sent
an email to me (and apparently several others) wondering why no one is
sending bug reports to him.
 
  The reason could be one or more of the following:

1) There are no bugs to report.
2) Other things in life have taken precedence over the BBS.
3) People are BURNED OUT.

  While number 1 is the programmers dream, numbers 2 and 3 are the more
likely cause...and it may be a toss-up between the two.

  I myself, have been busier since when I was married...mainly to deal
with the loneliness, following the untimely death of my wife nearly a
year ago now, at this typing. 

  My other HOBBIES...just like a BBS...are meant to be just that...HOBBIES. I
am NOT married to them, I do NOT make love to them, and I do NOT spend every
waking moment with them. Had I done so, I'd be screwed...pun intended...and
no form of Viagra would rekindle the burn-out that would be experienced from
being "a hobby nymphomaniac", who just can't seem to get enough of it.
 
  I am heavily involved with square dancing, amateur radio, severe
weather storm spotting, gospel songwriting, and taking train trips (while
my health still permits it). 

  The BBS, having been offline since March 13, due to poor internet service
from Comcast, is DEAD LAST on the list. It's not that I have given up on my
BBS, the last one in Arkansas...I use it for its ORIGINAL intent, MESSAGES. 

  While I'd love to play several doors, my health won't permit me to sit at
the computer for long periods of time. In fact, I've played more of L.O.R.D.
II lately than L.O.R.D. itself!!

  A hobby is NOT the BE ALL AND END ALL. I've seen too many people spend
so much time with a hobby that they DO get BURNED OUT. Other things in
life take precedence...family, health, jobs, etc. Just like BBSing, the
numbers in 2 of my hobbies, ham radio and square dancing, have been on
the decline for years.

  To make a long story short, the Internet, and other aspects of life, have
killed off the world of BBSing. Whole some will do all they can to try and
revitalize it, others can't expend as much energy as they'd like, because
of health, and other commitments...myself included. I just wish that certain
people would realize this, pick up the pieces, and move on. I don't plan to
give up my BBS...it's just that my health does not permit me to devote an
extraordinary amount of time now, as I once did. I take care of the message
and file areas, process new users, track down glitches, then do the doors
as a "reward" for my efforts.

Daryl Stout, N5VLZ, Sysop
The Thunderbolt BBS
Little Rock, Arkansas
 

--- Virtual Advanced Ver 2 for DOS 
* Origin: 1:382/33 - The Thunderbolt BBS wx1der.dyndns.org 501-224-0915