RBBS in a Box Volume 1 #2/RBBS_vol1_no2.iso/forward.txt

Text File | 1990-02-18 | 6KB | 123 lines

                           Forward by

                            TOM MACK

            Co-author and copyright holder of RBBS-PC

     When Loren Jones first told me about his concept of "RBBS-in-
a-Box" I was enthusiastic in my support of it.  RBBS-PC's prime
directive has always been to "foster the free exchange of
information" and I couldn't think of anything that would more
imaginatively further this goal as well as be a teaching example
of what an electronic bulletin board system operator (SYSOP)
contributes -- to other users as well as the PC industry in
general.

     RBBS-PC has sought to be a platform from which users might
share and express ideas with as much flexibility as possible for
the SYSOP to tailor his system to both his users and his views. I
am always awed when I log on to RBBS-PC bulletin boards and
experience their diversity of structure, thoughts, ideas, and
subjects.  As a "tool maker" I am probably the worst person to use
as an example of a good RBBS-PC SYSOP.  My interest has been
primarily in the tool itself -- not in developing any dexterity in
utilizing it.  Loren and other SYSOPs like him have always left me
feeling somewhat humble when I see what they have created from
RBBS-PC.  Perhaps it is simply because I am focused on addressing
the foibles within RBBS-PC that I don't appreciate all of it's
strengths.

     RBBS-PC is like a medieval cathedral in many ways.  It is "of
the people", an expression of the needs of those of us who live in
this electronic village of the 1980's.  It is a village which arose
with the advent and popularization of Microsoft-based DOS personal
computers and low cost/high quality modems.  Like the medieval
cathedrals of old, RBBS-PC arose in a "dark age" when ignorance
was rampant.  Eight hundred years ago was a time when knowledge,
the antidote for ignorance, was a scarce commodity.  It was only
then that a few men of faith -- in themselves, in there fellow man,
and in their God began assembling what knowledge they could find
and preserving it from one generation unto the next.  Eventually
these collections became the great libraries of Europe.  They were
always located where men of conviction assembled -- to pray, to
learn, and perhaps to dream.  Human creativity thirsts to share,
to grow, to evolve, and to change.  Thus did dusty crossroads of
mere huts become soaring edifices with bell towers that filled the
sky.

     So to, has RBBS-PC arisen.  In the dark days of the fall of
1981 when no information existed on the so recently announced (but
oh so scarce IBM PC) there was a "darkness" on the land of MS-DOS
based personal computers.  It was not until 1982 that a few hardy
souls began to band together to share their hard earned experience
with one another.  It was in 1982 that there arouse a scattering
of "PC user groups", one of these was the Capital PC User Group in
Washington, D.C.  Almost from their inception PC user groups began
"libraries" of useful utilities that the members had written to
meet their own needs and which they wished to share with others.
Eventually, this shared software evolved into a concept called
"shareware" wherein users of the software were asked to donate
something to the author if they found the software useful.  The
"shareware" concept has evolved to become a recognized avenue
through which software authors market their products.  In 1983,
RBBS-PC's concept of "userware" first arose wherein users of the
software were asked to contribute improvements to the software.

     It was exactly at this time, the summer of 1983, that high
speed (1200 baud), high quality (Hayes), and low cost modems became
available to most users of PCs.  RBBS-PC's purpose of "fostering
the free exchange of information" and users needs to access
software "libraries" is what caused a synergy of goals to be met
and RBBS-PC became the industry standard for PC-based electronic
bulletin boards in the Microsoft DOS world.

     Since that time, RBBS-PC has evolved from the 897 lines of
BASIC source code offering a rudimentary range of features to over
27,000 lines of BASIC source code offering an unmatched range of
features not found in any other similar PC-based bulletin board
system.  Over these years, RBBS-PC has served well it's other goal
of "being a teaching example of what could be done with the BASIC
language."

     What makes "RBBS-in-a-Box" so revolutionary is that for the
first time a PC owner can operate an already configured, fully
operational RBBS-PC, with a complete set of files to share with
others.  More importantly, for the first time users can see what
a SYSOP's imagination, creativity, and innovation can accomplish
utilizing RBBS-PC as the platform with which to express a
personalized view.  RBBS-PC is in a constantly evolving state of
being -- like all living things.  It's heartbeat is to be found
not in it's author, but in its SYSOPs.  A bulletin board is not
the software that is used to run it, but the SYSOP that operates
the bulletin board.

     In RBBS-PC's documentation I have stated throughout the years
that "I am proud of the company that RBBS-PC keeps."  This
continues to remain true, especially for "RBBS-in-a-Box."  Because
of RBBS-PC I have had the privilege of meeting Loren Jones and
other RBBS-PC SYSOPs.  The international stature that RBBS-PC has
earned is because it has been borne aloft by just such giants.  In
this electronic landscape of modems and bulletin boards I have met
men of selflessness, integrity, patience, and perserverence.  Two
such giants as these are Jon Martin and Ken Goosens.  They and
every RBBS-PC SYSOP have granted me the privilege of being counted
in their company.  I remain both honored and humbled.

     With "RBBS-in-a-Box" you have the opportunity to join a very
rare breed of people.  If you do choose to participate, all that
is asked is that you keep the faith with those who have gone before
you. The concept of "users helping users" is not new -- some say
it began when the very first human helped another down from the
trees.  The only thing that has changed in this last quarter of the
twentieth century is RBBS-PC allows you to reach further and help
many more in our global electronic village.  "RBBS-in-a-Box" is
your chance to begin, to make a difference, to join the Second
Ring.

 Enjoy....

 Tom Mack
 June 14, 1989