Hello Anne!
29 Sep 96 19:39, Anne Page wrote to All:
 AP> The article lays the blame, as many of us have been doing, on the
 AP> advent of software that lets users see graphics on the World Wide Web.
     I don't think this is the crux of the matter.
 AP> This is said to have been the beginning of the end for BBS boards
     BBS's are hurting for alot of reasons beyond the Internet.  We used to 
be primary file storage areas in the days when Harddisk space was at a 
premium. We were also the primary source of online chat and interactive 
mes.
     As you can see... it wasn't just the Internet that caused problems. 
Harddrive space is no longer an issue.   CD's store a ton of data and high 
speed online services provide a better interactive forum.
 AP> appeal. The article then states, "As a result, BBS operators say the
 AP> number of users of their systems has declined, particularly over the
 AP> past year. In response, many are shutting down their systems.
     I can remember when almost all businesses had a BBS.  Now they have all 
turned to Web Pages.   Why maintain both?
 AP>  Those who charge for system access but don't offer some way to get
 AP> to the Internet are suffering the most...."
     Like anything.. you have to provide a service that folks want.  BBS's 
that specialize or have a specific focus will do better.   The OS/2 Shareware 
BBS is still getting more calls than it can handle.
 AP> more concerned about how long we will have the Fidonet highway
 AP> to travel than about finding local boards with which to access it.
     Fidonet offers something the Internet does not have.  MODERATED echomail 
areas.    That's a big plus.   It is unfortuneate that Fidonet does not get 
any publicity.
 AP> the reason we are losing so many Fido nodes is because it is too
 AP> expensive a proposition for the SYSOPS of free boards and most
 AP> nominal subscription boards to invest in the equipment and technology
 AP> to access the Internet through servers.
     Why would a Sysop invest in becomming a Frontend to the Internet??  
Folks are shutting down boards because of lack of interest IN the board.  
Attempting to "stay afloat" by competing with Internet providers is rather 
silly.
 AP> country. What happens when nodes that contributed financially to
 AP> their hub who moves the mail go down? That hub suffers.
     That's not really the way it works.  Most nets bring stuff in via 
sattelite or internet.  Both of these are VERY cheap.   Cost recovery is at 
the Net level and in most cases is insignificant.
 AP>  Would that account for the problems we are seeing with
 AP> our echomail these days?
      Nope.
 AP>  Does that explain why traffic drops off to almost nothing and then
 AP> huge packets with messages dating back a week or more arrive in our
 AP> downloads?
      There can be MANY reasons for this but it really shouldn't happen.  If 
this is common, you should find a new BBS.
 AP> whether Fido is fatally ill or just suffering a long term chronic
 AP> illness from which it will neither get better nor die.  Is there
     Personally, I am glad to see Fidonet shrink.  For awhile it seemed like 
every kid with a modem was setting up a BBS.
 AP> anything we individual participants in this echo can do to encourage
 AP> a long term remission?  I don't want to see Fidonet die!
     Most BBS's count on their users for support.   Participation is the key 
to survival.   When folks stop calling, the board goes down.
     To s-t-r-e-t-c-h this to somewhat of a topical message.... I have been 
running a GEOS board for a long time.  However, the future of GEOS on my 
board is not at all certain.   Nobody uploads new files anymore.  Folks would 
much rather pay for a CD full of files than support a long distance BBS etc. 
and yet they want me to spend money to get the new files.
     Well..... times are a changin....
Stu
... Dermatologists give rash judgments.
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