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SO YOU WANT TO BE A SYSOP
by
Al Gutkin "The Tax Board"
714 974-3730
PREFACE
Here I am, 3AM in the morning, can't sleep. Why? because tomorrow
is the big day. Installation of PCBOARD version 10. For the other
sysops using PCBOARD, it's no biggie, for me, it could mean doomsday,
but it won't, cause I'm tough. Right??????
Should I worry nooooo. Then why can't I sleep? Could it be that
I've only been running this board for 2 weeks. Nooooo, I'm tough.
After all, "age and treachury can always defeat youth and ability".
Why did I do this thing, Bulletin Board? Who needs it?
I WAS A NEW USER, ONCE
Yep, thats the truth. But, I won't tell you when. Actually, it
it was 7 years ago, that I touched my first computer. A Radio Shack
model 1. You know the one that had two floppies that couldn't remember
that they were there, even the techs at Radio Shack didn't know they
were there. I found that out when I went back. They didn't even know
what a utility program was then. I ended up giving to charity and taking
a deduction for $ 5,000. I bought an Alpha Micro, used it for six years
in my business. I felt on top of the world, I learned how to change the
menus myself. Dazzled my clients, dazzled my secretary, thank god I
didn't know any modern day IBM type programmers back then, I couldn't
take the laughing and funny faces that they would make. Boy, have I
come a long way.
The biggest gain of knowledge came in the last year, when I was
introduced to DOS. YEH, I never met dos before. After DOS, came my
introduction to Mr. Modem. Thats where the trouble started, and I
introduced myself back to the real computer world. My god, there's
people out there that like to talk computers, not only like to talk
computers, but actually develop programs that other people can try for
free. WOW, I never new this existed. Hey!!, come look at my computer,
I'm talking to another computer. Look at the color menus and graphics,
how did they do that? Yep, my exact words, "trust me".
HERE COMES THE SYSOP. (What is a SYSOP?)
We all know what a Sysop is, it's probably in the encyclopedia,
"ancient monster, that eats computers and has ultimate power over
modem users" That sounds like the definition. Well, I know that
I don't have the personality to become a Sysop. I'm too friendly,
outgoing, and busy to become a Sysop. Besides, who needs that kind
of power? In addition, my personality is in voice, not written
communication, no-one can see my face through a computer. All I have
is my speaking personality, developed over the years to overcome my
slow loss of hair.
GUESS WHAT, I'M GONNA BE A SYSOP.
Yea, I won't do it for real. I'll just set up two computers between
my office and home and transfer files. That way I can work at home and
be with my family more. When I mentioned that to my wife, I had to put
my hand over my nose so she wouldn't see it getting bigger with every
word that I said.
In order to start a bulletin board, even if it's for private use,
you need software. Well, I remember seeing some of that on Free Bytes.
Next step, call Free Bytes and take some software. No couldn't do it
there, I only was allowed 35 min per day. The Weasel Board, yea, I got
alot of time there. Poor Weasel Board, I tied up the phone for hours
trying to get bulletin board software. I kept getting waylayed by the
ski reports. Finally got the software, but never used it, got involved
with "A LADIES ROOM" instead. You know, the FIDO Ladies Room.
I could have also been arresed as a rapist. I just looked at the stats.
for Free Bytes. 50 down, 1 up. I'm ashamed. I'll just give em all
back. Oh, he only has 300,000k of space left.
Darlene was real nice, she gave me some tips, mentioned RBase 4000,
for the text part, then we made a deal, I'm the new Tax person. Users
will ask me questions and I'll call the board with an answer. Lady Bug
was my first and last customer. A LADIES ROOM HAD A DISK CRASH.
Meanwhile, I managed to get PCBOARD from Kenny and the CROW'S NEST.
I de-arched it, set it up, by God, it worked. The docs, written by
Fred Clark and Associates, said in big letters. THIS IS NOT FOR THE
NOVICE SYSOP. WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO ANSWER BABY QUESTIONS. Of course
I added some of my own words to that, the docs weren't that harsh.
Well, I now had my private bulletin board. I mailed Fred some $$
which I usually do when I get good software and bango, I'm a full
fledged SYSOP. Of course, I was the only user. When the Crows Nest
or the others were busy, I just called myself. Weird Huh?
GOING PUBLIC
I had the board set up and operational so going public wasn't that
hard. However, before I could get my new tel. number set up and menus
changed I registered with Fred's organization. My first great experience
came when Fred called the Board, to verify it's existance, and reached
the board that was set up in my office. Guess what? I still was using
Fred's Salt Air Graphics. Would have liked to see the look on Fred's
face when my modem answered and Fred's own introduction came up. Bet
Fred thought he was loosing his mind, and calling himself.
Underdog in the state of WASH. helped. Sal the dog, enabled me to
compile some of the best business software in the West. The only
difference is with me, its free. Don't knock Sal, he spends all his
free time scouring the nation for the best. His phone bill must look
look like AT&T's annual report.
THE GRAND OPENING - NEWYEARS DAY
NO ONE CALLED. Of course not, who had the number? Oh, heck, how
do you market a bulletin board? Put an add in the paper? Got a great
idea @@@@@. I called the local BIG TIME SYSOPS and left comments. Oh
what a dummy, I was. Yea, I got calls. Don Phelps of FREE BYTES was
the first. He left me a nice message of encouragement and left just as
fast as he came. Well thanks to the generous help of the local experienced
sysops I finally got some users. No-One stayed for more than 3 Min.
Why, because I had a boring board. Didn't know how to extend my
outgoing personality through the computer. What to do? Failure Setting
In.
RECOVERY
By chance, I called David Dennen, LaVern and PC STREET. He's Mr.
personality, and I won't tell you how old. Dave intercepted the call
and heard my woes. Guess he saw the nice comment I left. Anyhow, now
my board "THE TAX BOARD" has gone through some radical changes.
We have great bulletin and conference areas. Fun and knowledge for all.
Still give tax and business advice, but we also cater to friendly
people. We, are "USER FRIENDLY". Need help, we're still here, getting
bigger every day, but no too big to loose the personal contact with you.
THANKS
My way of giving thanks is to attach a list of the boards that
I was using before doing it on my own. Give em a call, tell them
that you like their graphics, ask for help. After all, what are we
here for? Sysops are just like you and me, friendly people, trying
to offer YOU, the computer user, a service. AND IT'S FREE. CAN'T
BEAT THAT. If you can, tell us and we'll try and beat the price.
THE BEST THAT I KNOW OF
If you have more - lets share
SALT AIR 1 801 266-0328 home of PCBOARD private
CROWS NEST 714 493-3819 busy, but real good
LA VERN & PC STREET 714 596-0084 the personal touch - good
FREE BYTES 714 775-0116 loads of progs.
TAKE-A=BYTE 714 847-5025 wide variety
CONSULTANTS EXCHANGE 714 842-6348 progrmmers bbs
THE TAX BOARD 714 974-3730 THAT'S ME !! tell me what
UNDERDOG BBS WA. 1 206 725-9233 best progs. in US, subscription
A LADIES ROOM 714 832-2273 Crash, be back end of Jan.
FIDO PLACENTIA 714 524-8351 educational - talk to a teacher
SUNSET BAR & GRILL 714 733-0288 good variety, lots of time
THE WEASEL BOARD 714 998-4149 specializes in the arts. Hum?
AL GUTKIN - The Tax Bd. 714 974-3730 THATS ME AGAIN - free ad.
THE MED BOARD 714 964-0454 Doctors Bd. Learn about Aids
TBD BBS CARONA 714 735-0865 Independent contractor bd.
WELLSPRING UCI 714 856-7996 University of Cal. Irvine
DIAMOND BAR BBS 714 861 1549 Connected with the Crows Nest
ANAHUG 714 774-7860 New to my list - looks good