Creative Computers/Creative Computers CD-ROM, Volume 1 (Legendary Design Technologies, Inc.)(1994).iso/text/misc/bob's_bored/article1.doc.pp/article1.doc

Text File | 1994-11-17 | 7KB | 123 lines

   The Sysops point of view
   ------------------------

   Most board have rules. Sysops make them so every user has fun
with the  board and will be happy. Most boards ask for donations.
People have to  learn that nothing in this world is free,not even
bulletin boards. Most sysops spend over $1000 just to set up the
board.  The sysops take all of the  money out of their own pocket
with the hopes that some caring users will  help repay them with
a small donation to the board. Also not every board  has what you
want. Some board specialize in files,others in messages.  Some
boards have a little of both so that you can "taste" a little of
everything.  No board is perfect so try to understand that the
sysops are counting on your to help them make it better. When
sysops start a board they use their own money and you can not
expect a sysop to keep shelling out their own money for the
board. A sysop is only human.

   Not every board will have what you want so pick the boards
that best suits you and has the materials you want in a BBS.  BBS
#1 could specialize in files while BBS #2 can specialize in
messages and conferences.  If you want an up to the date file you
should go to bbs #1 while if you want to participate in
conferences and add messages to a conference you should call bbs
#2. Most boards that specializes in messages and conferences
belong to an echo mail network. For boards to transfer mail they
have to call other boards which are usually not local so they
have to pay phone costs.  Most boards can't serve everybody; that
is why there is a choice of boards to call. The point is you call
the board that fits your needs. If you need a  file that one
board does not have, another board usually has it.

   It is your choice whether or not you call a board. The choice
is yours  either call the board or don't,no one is going to force
you to. Every  sysop has a different view on how to run a board
and on that sysops  board that is they way it is run.

   Sysops put a lot of work into their boards. A sysop does not
want to  hear users leave messages saying that the board does not
deserve to be  called. Sysops spend time on the system to make
sure when you dial out,  there will be a board on the other side
of the phone line. The sysop  puts a lot of time and money into
the system so that YOU,the user, can  take full advantage of the
board and its capabilities. Sysops could spend  hours just
"cleaning up" the board so it does not make the sysop  feel any
better when he calls other boards and sees messages like:  "Don't
call that board","That board doesn't deserve me", "That board
doesn't deserve my money or any donations", "The board isn't
worth  anything",etc. If you have a complaint about the board
leave the sysop  a private message and usually things can be
worked out without resorting  to the previous quotes. The sysop
does YOU the favor of spending his money  and his time to set up
a board so that you can use it and you should not  return the
favor by leaving public messages saying how bad the board is and
 insulting it. If there is a problem it can be worked out. No
sysop wants  to hear users saying that their board is bad and
isn't worth anything and  that it shouldn't be up but you should
give the sysop constructive  criticism so that he/she can make it
better. It is up to YOU,the user, to  help improve the board. The
sysop can not do everything by himself.

   When a board first opens it has a limited amount of files and
options  in which you can use. If is up to YOU to upload files
and improve the  file directory. The sysop can handle everything
else but you have to  help make the board better. Sysops do care
what a user wants and believe  it or not, most sysops will go out
of their way just to help you and make  YOU happy. If you want a
certain door,for example, 9 times out of 10 the  sysop will get
the door and put it up for you.

   Most users do not know of the expense of being a sysop. Either
they  don't read the bulletins or they do and don't believe the
prices. The prices  are real! Equipment is very expensive. Every
sysop will say that it costs  a lot of money to start a board.
Money does not grow on trees and the money  has to come from some
where,usually the sysop. Being a sysop is an expensive  hobby and
most users just do not understand that. The user does not
understand that the sysop is putting the board up for THEM no one
else.  A board can not survive without users and a user needs a
sysop. How so? If  the users wants a certain door or a file it is
up to the sysop to get it  for them and make them happy.

   When users look for new equipment they call a board and ask
the sysops  opinion and what he/she thinks about the piece of
equipment the user is  considering. He uses the board so he can
leave messages so he can get  comments/recommendations on the
piece of hardware or software he wants to  get. The sysop goes
out of their way to make sure the user is welcomed and  happy at
his board.

   Users have to understand that even sysops have bad days and
that they  are only human. Sysops could get into bad moods of a
number of reasons,  maybe his hard disk crashed, maybe he is
having problems with his modem,  who knows,but what ever it is,it
is temporary. If a you are a new user  to a board and if you
don't feel welcomed, perhaps this is one of those  days when the
sysop has a problem. Give the sysop a break, do not count it
against him. Call back later when he/she is feeling better.

   Sysops DO listen to what their users say and act on their
needs. A lot  of the time the sysop will do whatever is necessary
to make the user happy  (unless it makes other users unhappy) and
feel like he is "one of the family".  Users have to understand
that NO system is perfect and only with every users  help can the
board strive for perfection.

   When a sysop asks for a donation or a file or whatever it is,
do not think  that the "other guy" will do it because that is
exactly what the other person  is thinking and the sysop will
never get what he/she needs. Some times  if the sysop asks
repeatedly for donations he might do something he does not  want to
do like make the board private. That means the user must pay the
 sysop to get the service he got for free before. Going private
could  usually have been stopped by having sent a donation. As a
matter of fact,  donations are always cheaper then what boards
charge (unless you feel  generous). No sysop is asking for $100
from every user but just $10 could  go along way if every user
sent in $10.

  Jonathan Schulman
  Saddle River BBS [phone] *Hayes 9600*
  August 7,1989