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- To: Sysop
-
- Subject: Your BBS
-
- Why do you charge for your BBS? All the other systems I call give
- me 2 hours of use per day. And what's with this download limit? I
- think you need to re-think your attitude! You're trying to rip people
- off!
-
- Sincerely, Free Loader
-
-
- Dear Free Loader,
-
- I know that asking you to send me $10 per year is a bit much.
- My gosh, if you called 20 systems on a regular basis it would cost
- you at least $200 per year if they all charged the same outrageous
- $10 that I do.
-
- Luckily, I've recently inherited a large sum from a long lost
- uncle who made a fortune shipping toxic waste to third world countries.
- In order to atone for my previous capitalistic ways, I've upgraded
- your access. I'll also be installing 10 more phone lines and adding
- more hard drive space.
-
- Could you please give me your real name and address? I tried calling
- you at the phone number you entered when you signed up, but you must
- have moved. There must have been a lot of line noise too, since the
- address I have for you is 0000 FASDFS STREET. I'd like to send you
- a free 9600bps modem to make your online time more enjoyable.
-
- Please don't tell any of the other users about these new features!
- Most of them are not as enlightened as you are when it comes to the
- cost and time involved to run a BBS. We sure wouldn't want any of
- them to catch on, would we? Ooops, time to go wash my new Ferrari,
- gotta run.
-
- Sysop
-
-
-
- From: Papa Bell
-
- To: Sysop
-
- Subject: Line Noise
-
- I just wanted to let you know that your BBS has terrible line noise!
- I can hardly see your menus, and you can forget about downloading.
- I never have this problem when I call any other systems SO I KNOW
- IT CAN'T BE ON MY END! You should call the phone company and have
- them fix it, they are usually pretty good at solving these kind of
- problems.
-
-
-
- Dear Papa,
-
- Thanks for your concern about the phone lines. I just wanted to
- let you know that the so called garbage you see is not really line
- noise. In order to help pay for the BBS, I've begun selling subliminal
- advertising which comes across as line noise.
-
- The current message is from the folks at BAYAR aspirin. If you
- look at that "line noise" long enough, you'll have a splitting headache!
- We've also signed a contract to include subliminal messages from Elvis.
- I've been told not to view this "line noise" backwards though, the
- message might be interpreted to say SATAN IS GOD!
-
- Sysop
-
-
-
- From: Speed Demon
-
- To : Sysop
-
- Subject: Transfer Speed
-
- There must be something wrong with your BBS, I'm only getting 229CPS.
- I can always get 232CPS on all the other systems I call. I've been
- using my modem for years and know that it must be on your end. If
- you can fix this problem, I'll send in my subcription fee. Otherwise
- I'll stick with the 40 minutes of access you allow for non-paying
- users.
-
-
-
- Dear Mr. Demon,
-
- I wish I could help you. I've purposely limited the transfer speed
- on my system so users such as yourself could better appreciate the
- files you download. In fact, I go out of my way to make make using
- your modem as tough as possible. I feel that BBSing is a privilege
- that should be limited to those smart enough to overcome all of the
- obstacles I can think of.
-
-
-
- From: Captain Hook
-
- To : Sysop
-
- Subject: Private Area
-
- I would like to have access to your private files area. I know you
- have one because every BBS does. I won't tell anyone else about it,
- and I could upload a lot of good commercial software.
-
-
-
- Dear Captain,
-
- You must be pretty smart to figure out that I have a private files
- area. I'm going to upgrade your access. Be sure to download the file
- called SYSOP.ZIP which contains my social security number, VISA account
- number, and long distance calling number for your enjoyment.
-
-
-
- From: BIG DADDY
-
- To: SYSOP
-
- Subject: CAPS
-
- HOW COME EVERYONE GETS MAD WHEN I POST MESSAGES IN ALL CAPS!!?!? I
- HAVE AN APPLE ][ THAT WON'T TYPE IN SMALL LETTERS. WHAT'S WRONG WITH
- ALL CAPS ANYWAY?
-
- ONE MORE THING, WHEN YOU CALL TO VALIDATE ME, LET IT RING SINCE MY
- HEARING AID ISN'T WORKING SO WELL THESE DAYS.
-
-
-
- DEAR BIG DADDY,
-
- I DON'T KNOW WHY ANYONE WOULD GET UPSET THAT YOU USE ALL CAPS.
- WISH I COULD HELP YOU.
-
-
-
- In addition, I've compiled this list of questions which can be answered
- with one standard reply, "BECAUSE I CAN!"
-
- "Why do take your system down so much?"
-
- "Why did you limit the access on my account for downloading?"
-
- "Why do you always bad mouth Prodigy?"
-
- "Why did you make Fred a Co-Sysop and not me?"
-
- "Why did you take all the games off-line?"
-
-
-
- My favorite reply to many questions is just one word - NO!
-
- "Can you upgrade my access now? I'm sending my check in today."
-
- "I run the TradeWars game on another BBS, can I run the one on your
- board?"
-
- "Can you please change your ANSI colors? They are really ugly."
-
- "Can you set up a file area for my Radio Shack Color Computer? You
- would get a lot more users if you did."
-
-
- Finally, here's an E-Mail message we can only dream about getting...
-
- From: Saintly One
-
- To : Sysop
-
- Subject: Your BBS
-
- I just wanted to drop you a note to say thanks for running this BBS.
-
- I sent in my $25 registration fee, plus I added $10 to help you out.
-
- I was going to ask you for help on downloading, but I checked your
- Bulletin Menu first and didn't have any problems.
-
- Are all BBS's as fast as this one?
-
- You must have hired an artist to do your beautiful ANSI menus.
-
- Golly, the message editor here is better than my word processor!
-
- I need to go! I've already tied your phone line up for 15 minutes,
- better give someone else a chance to get on.
-
- Let me know if you need some more money to upgrade your system, I'd
- be glad to help you out.
-
- Thanks again,
-
- Saintly One
-
-
- Dear Saintly One,
-
- Do you have a twin brother? If you do I'll be happy to give them
- a modem and my BBS phone number.
-
- Copyright 1991, Telecomputing Magazine -- All rights reserved.
-