Curious? There's a board for almost any concern under the cursor
- Publication: Chicago Tribune
- Date: 1986-05-30
- Author: Douglas Balz
- Page: A47
- Language: English
No one knows how many electronic bulletin boards there are in the Chicago area. A recent list contained phone numbers for 231 boards, but some of those boards have shut down and others have probably sprung to life.
Since February, 1978, when the CACHE Bulletin Board System (C.B.B.S., 545-8086) went on line, boards dedicated to most of the popular computers (Apple, Atari, Commodore, IBM and CP/M machines) have proliferated. A more recent development is the board dedicated to specialized subjects.
For example, Dr. Who fanatics can find three boards in the area devoted to the cult TV show. For more information, call Logopolis (484-7782).
Lawyers can call the LAWMUG (Lawyer's Microcomputer Users Group) BBS, which describes itself as a "resource for new ideas and directions in the practice of law," but nonlawyers are welcome, too (280-8180).
Medicine, too, has found its electronic niche: C.O.P.H. 2, a bulletin board for handicapped people (286-0608).
The Women's Room describes itself as a "feminist BBS" and contains a general talk board, a feminist talk board and a mail board. Recent messages on the general board carried such titles as "Hormones, anyone?" and "Sweets for the Sweet" (225-9138).
There is also GOD'S BBS (GOD'S stands for "Gospel Outreach Download System"), which contains more than 50 files on such topics as "The Bible ... Is it True?" "Dungeons and Dragons ... Satanic?" and "God Forgive Me When I Whine" (934-6060).
One of the best places to begin a search for a bulletin board that suits your needs is the list Dick Sonka has compiled. It can be found on several area boards, and on Sonka's own board, the Computer Guild BBS (640-7980). New users are welcome to call the board Fridays through Sundays; the rest of the week it's for registered users.
Another source of BBS numbers is on the board operated by the North- Pulaski branch of the Chicago Public Library. The board also has reviews of restaurants and books, lists of libraries equipped with computers for library patrons and other features (235-3200).
A few facts of electronic life:
-- If the BBS line is busy, don't be surprised. A typical board has only one phone line, and the more popular boards seem to be busy all the time. Hang up, try another board and call back later. When you do connect, you'll hear a high-pitched electronic bleep. When you hear the noise, hit your keyboard's "return" or "enter" key a few times, to let the system know you're there.
-- Be prepared to provide some personal information when you call a new board. Malicious callers, who love to wreak havoc with bulletin boards, have made system operators (known as sysops) more security-conscious. Before you receive full access to a board, you may have to provide your real name, mailing address and phone number.
-- Some boards cost money. The larger systems, with hundreds of free programs and more than one phone line, typically charge fees of $15 to $50 a year.
But the great majority of boards are free, some containing large files of software, others that are devoted to subjects close to your heart. The only way to find out is to flip on the modem, and call ... and call ... and call.
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- APA 6th ed.: Balz, Douglas (1986-05-30). Curious? There's a board for almost any concern under the cursor. Chicago Tribune p. A47.
- MLA 7th ed.: Balz, Douglas. "Curious? There's a board for almost any concern under the cursor." Chicago Tribune [add city] 1986-05-30, A47. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Balz, Douglas. "Curious? There's a board for almost any concern under the cursor." Chicago Tribune, edition, sec., 1986-05-30
- Turabian: Balz, Douglas. "Curious? There's a board for almost any concern under the cursor." Chicago Tribune, 1986-05-30, section, A47 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Curious? There's a board for almost any concern under the cursor | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Curious%3F_There%27s_a_board_for_almost_any_concern_under_the_cursor | work=Chicago Tribune | pages=A47 | date=1986-05-30 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=22 March 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Curious? There's a board for almost any concern under the cursor | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Curious%3F_There%27s_a_board_for_almost_any_concern_under_the_cursor | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=22 March 2025}}</ref>
