Old-timers... Who's still around?

[Villavic]

I don't remember have seen alt.net.fleetwood.mac at all. If I did, probably I just checked or posted a couple times. But almost sure I didn't.

By mid 90s I didn't have internet at home, but I was responsible of IT operations at my job, so I could enter the internet freely. Access controls were not implemented yet.

And it was at my desk that I discovered The Nicks Fix and The Penguin. Probably it was the same day, and found them thru Yahoo. By those days I liked Yahoo more than Google.

Don't ask me how many hours a day I used to spend posting on The Ledge.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by Villavic

Don't ask me how many hours a day I used to spend posting on The Ledge.

You mean it was MORE than you do now?

[David]

Originally Posted by Villavic

I don't remember have seen alt.net.fleetwood.mac at all. If I did, probably I just checked or posted a couple times. But almost sure I didn't.

alt.music.fleetwood-mac

Joe Admire got the charter started to establish the group on the alt.music hierarchy, so he’s really the Prime Mover.

In the early 1990s, a lot of us got started with that group because the web hadn’t really developed enough by then to make it graphically or visually interesting, whereas you could talk and talk on usenet. Our Mac group wasn’t the warmest place in the world, to put it mildly. Lots of hissing and spitting. I was a nasty b*tch. The appeal was that we were conversing in real time with each other instead of sending USPS. The idea of snail mail for fan groups is so ridiculous today, but that was all you had.

By mid 90s I didn't have internet at home, but I was responsible of IT operations at my job, so I could enter the internet freely. Access controls were not implemented yet.

I was working in a big newspaper then, and the tech-heads in the newsroom library were just turning me on to the internet. Then little ISPs started popping up everywhere. You’d set up an account with them, rent a dial-up modem, hook everything up, and spend all afternoon and evening until about 3 a.m. reading your newsgroup.

And it was at my desk that I discovered The Nicks Fix and The Penguin. Probably it was the same day, and found them thru Yahoo.

Netscape Navigator, anyone? A block of text with a monochromatic background and a bunch of underlined hyperlinks. And we were excited.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by David

alt.music.fleetwood-mac

Joe Admire got the charter started to establish the group on the alt.music hierarchy, so he’s really the Prime Mover.

In the early 1990s, a lot of us got started with that group because the web hadn’t really developed enough by then to make it graphically or visually interesting, whereas you could talk and talk on usenet. Our Mac group wasn’t the warmest place in the world, to put it mildly. Lots of hissing and spitting. I was a nasty b*tch. The appeal was that we were conversing in real time with each other instead of sending USPS. The idea of snail mail for fan groups is so ridiculous today, but that was all you had.



I was working in a big newspaper then, and the tech-heads in the newsroom library were just turning me on to the internet. Then little ISPs started popping up everywhere. You’d set up an account with them, rent a dial-up modem, hook everything up, and spend all afternoon and evening until about 3 a.m. reading your newsgroup.



Netscape Navigator, anyone? A block of text with a monochromatic background and a bunch of underlined hyperlinks. And we were excited.

There was also LOTS of great ~"EXOTIC"~ porn on Usenet as well.

Le sigh.....

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by David

Netscape Navigator, anyone? [/IMG]

Of course! Though at the bank where I worked we had a corporate deal with Microsoft, the Netscape was a more reliable and optimal browser. Those photos you shared, they bring back nostalgia for those days.

[mylittledemon]

Originally Posted by Villavic

Can't remember what year I entered The Ledge, but it was definitely before the 1997 reunion. Also I can't remember in what year it changed to the current format.

I was lurking in 2000-ish, and I'm pretty sure, mostly sure, it looked like this format even then. Maybe it changed in '98 with the Steve solo comeback?

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by mylittledemon

I was lurking in 2000-ish, and I'm pretty sure, mostly sure, it looked like this format even then. Maybe it changed in '98 with the Steve solo comeback?

Probably it was that year. But the reason was that the old format collapsed frequently. The current format resides in a more powerful design, and better organized. And sure more powerful software servers.

[mylittledemon]

I know I sound like an old man (I'm now closer to 50 than I am to 40) but mannn... I don't know where the time went!

[nicepace]

I remember the old usenet group. I posted there occasionally. I have been on the Ledge for a very long time, but only post now and again. I was more active on the message board on the old Christine McVie website when In the Meantime was released many years ago. Her website doesn't exist anymore, does it? I still lurk on this website and read threads occasionally, mostly on Christine's forum and occasionally on the pre-Rumours forum. I guess I feel there's really nothing new to say and I'm kind of amazed there's still discussion going on, but I suppose with such a massively popular group there are always people who will find subjects to discuss, and that's a good thing.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by nicepace

I remember the old usenet group. I posted there occasionally. I have been on the Ledge for a very long time, but only post now and again. I was more active on the message board on the old Christine McVie website when In the Meantime was released many years ago. Her website doesn't exist anymore, does it? I still lurk on this website and read threads occasionally, mostly on Christine's forum and occasionally on the pre-Rumours forum. I guess I feel there's really nothing new to say and I'm kind of amazed there's still discussion going on, but I suppose with such a massively popular group there are always people who will find subjects to discuss, and that's a good thing.

You know, we're witnessing(well, witnessed) the ending of the band of our lives. It's sad, but the clocks are ticking for everyone.
And it sucks...

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

I think I got my first computer around 1996, and quickly discovered alt.net.fleetwood.mac.(wasn't that it?)

Does usenet even still exist? I remember when my ISP dropped it. You could subscribe to it, but hell, that's been 20 years ago.

I was here around late 1996 possibly usenet. I too had a new brand new Packard Bell.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

I was here around late 1996 possibly usenet. I too had a new brand new Packard Bell.

I got my first computer in 96, and I was on there with you, David, Steve, and Chili D.

I remember you boasting about owning that fancy steam powered vibrator.

[Villavic]

I can´t remember my first computer, but I think it was a "compatible" desktop with an Intel 486 cpu, most likely assembled in a local store. Can't remember when I got it. But my first laptop was a Compaq, circa 1996, with 16 MB RAM to the envy of many .

[Penguin Emeritus]

Originally Posted by Villavic

And it was at my desk that I discovered The Nicks Fix and The Penguin. Probably it was the same day, and found them thru Yahoo. By those days I liked Yahoo more than Google.

Don't ask me how many hours a day I used to spend posting on The Ledge.

and don't ask me how many hours marty used to spend working on it lol. i can remember him trying to describe to me what he wanted to create, like a place where mac fans could come and talk about the band, ask questions etc, and i was like 'do you think anybody would even be interested in that?!' it was bizarre because i'd grown up not knowing anybody else who really liked fleetwood mac at all. to me it felt like i was the only crazed FM fan in the world, that nobody loved/understood them the way i did. so imagine my surprise when i found that other people loved them, too!! that was a trip.

I don't think i was convinced the website was really worth it until john found us. then i was hooked lmao

--Lis

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by Penguin Emeritus

and don't ask me how many hours marty used to spend working on it lol. i can remember him trying to describe to me what he wanted to create, like a place where mac fans could come and talk about the band, ask questions etc, and i was like 'do you think anybody would even be interested in that?!' it was bizarre because i'd grown up not knowing anybody else who really liked fleetwood mac at all. to me it felt like i was the only crazed FM fan in the world, that nobody loved/understood them the way i did. so imagine my surprise when i found that other people loved them, too!! that was a trip.

I don't think i was convinced the website was really worth it until john found us. then i was hooked lmao

--Lis

It's definitely a cult. And it's so hard to imagine how hard figuring out the internet was back then. Many thanks to you and Marty!

God bless John, by far the most normal member.