R.I.P Usenet: 1980-2008

CorinneI writes "In a way inconceivable in today's marketplace, Usenet was where people once went to talk — in days before the profit-centric Internet we have today. The series of bulletin boards called 'newsgroups' shared by thousands of computers, which traded new messages several times a day, is now a thing of the past."

Comments

It's about time.

[Anonymous Coward]

Think of the children who read alt.startrek.furrydom.localgettogethers

alt.terrible.news.horrify.cringe.wail

[kahei]

alt.beloved.usenet.gone?.withered?.dead?
alt.black.day.is.is.ever-shall-be

alt.thoughtful.pause.pause.pause.pause

alt.brief.check.make.perform.check
alt.noble.usenet.remains!.lives!.cheers!
alt.brave.usenet.!surrenders.!bows.!gone!

alt.silly.blog.!informs.!researches.!educates
alt.dumb.blogger.drools.mashes-keys-at-random.drools
alt.credulous.slashdot.reports.dramatises.alarms

alt.trusty."alt.adjective.noun.verb.verb.verb".remains.endures.twinkles

Article summary

[operagost]

"Before the Eternal September, but after the Great Renaming, I learned about sex on Usenet."

No need to read any further...

Re:this was never about porn

[waffledoodle]

Dude, be cool!!!

Somebody's got to say it

[Oloryn]

"Imminent Death of the Net predicted. Film at 11."

So what was your favorite newsgroup name?

[smellsofbikes]

Coz your post is dead accurate about the whole usenet sense of humor.

I loved:
alt.fan.tonya-harding.whack.whack.whack
alt.sex.bestiality.barney.die.die.die
and all the many alt.*.whilst.wearing.rubber.knickers groups.

Not that I ever *read* any of them, but it made my heart warm knowing they existed.

Re:yellow journalism at it's worst

[Randwulf]

I've heard the number of Usenet users has tripled in the last six months.

Re:Dark Usenet?

[Just Some Guy]

I was a collaborative effort.

Tell your mom I said hi.