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G4EBT > PACKET 17.08.10 22:22l 136 Lines 5722 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : D31831G4EBT
Read: GUEST
Subj: Re: GB7FCR Going QRT
Path: IZ3LSV<IZ0AWG<IK2XDE<DB0RES<DK0WUE<GB7FCR
Sent: 100817/1616Z @:GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU #:40698 [Blackpool] FBB-7.03a $:D31831G4
From: G4EBT@GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU
To : PACKET@WW
6k alert - read or kill as desired!
Trevor, M1CUK, sysop at GB7FCR, wrote:-
> Hi everyone,
> My thanks to all that have made use of the bbs over the years and to
> the loyal users of gb7fcr who helped keep the bbs afloat through
> difficult times, it's been a pleasure to run the system for you all,
> But things move on and users move away / go silent key / lose interest
> in packet over the years, this time last year there was 180- 250
> connects per day now that's down to 8 or 10 user connects and 20-30 bbs
> connects transferring what little mail is still on the system.
I was saddened to note the impending closure of what was a major UK BBS
until UK traffic declined to negligible levels, but it came as no
surprise. The decline in activity has been remorseless since the peak year
of 1998.
In 2003 when my local RF BBS, a forwarding BBS and node closed, I'd
resigned myself to quitting packet, but was offered telnet facilities by
Trevor at GB7FCR, which also had impressive RF facilities for people in RF
range of the BBS.
In the ensuing years Trevor has been most helpful and GB7FCR has never
skipped a beat. Despite Trevor having endured ill health, accidents and
other setbacks, GB7FCR has always been there for us to use or not to use
as the mood takes us.
Sysops such as Trevor have used their time, money, equipment and expertise
the world over to run a BBS 24/7/365, year after year, for little thanks
and no reward, other than the satisfaction of a job well done.
Others may disagree, but I've always felt that what packet has needed
most was a healthy level of bulletin activity. It is - after all - a
communications medium, and arguably, what matters most in 'communications'
is the message - not the medium.
As BBSs have closed over the years, sysops have invariably cited the same
reasons - too few users & too little activity to justify the trouble and
expense of running a BBS.
UK bulletin activity rose from 20,000 in the early 1990's peaking at
almost 90,000 in the late 1990's, but by 2003 had fallen to below 30,000.
As far as I can tell, in 2009, traffic arriving at GB7FCR dwindled to just
12,845 and in the 12 months to 17 Aug 2010, fell by another third to
9,878. There's no reason to believe that this decline will not continue on
its inexorable downward trend - packet long ago lost its 'critical mass'.
The reasons for the decline are manifold, and not unique to the UK. Those
who blame it on interent are deluding themselves. In my view - not that my
view counts for much - the main reasons for decline are:
1) Discourteous combative behaviour, causing many to leave packet or to
not write bulls for fear of ridicule and personal attacks. Even a spelling
mistake may risk derision from some who claim to be "upholding the
standards". (Though not standards of courtesy, that's for sure).
2) Lack of intellectual content, be the subject amateur radio or not.
3) An inability to disagree with another's point of view without being
disagreeable, instead of putting a well-reasoned alternative view.
4) The "opportunity cost" of time spent on packet is too high, in terms
of the lost opportunity to do something else more productive or agreeable
within, or outside, amateur radio, with which packet must compete.
5) Packet - like most of amateur radio - is technically moribund.
(Not so much a diagnosis of a sick patient as a post-mortem on a dead
one).
On a personal level, after 15 years and close on 15,000 bulls on almost
500 topics, what finally did it for me at the end of 2009 was the utter
inability of a small but vociferous number of users who were writing bulls
which were not only disagreeable, untruthful and intellectually bankrupt,
but IMHO, probably unlawful.
And this in a hobby that purports to be about international friendship
and understanding, a key purpose of which - in accordance with the terms
of our licence - is to "seek, receive and impart information and ideas of
all kinds".
Each bulletin which comprise invective, offensive nicknames, false and
defamatory statements, or incitement to racial hatred uploaded on packet
has been another nail in the coffin lid.
No sysop would allow an amateur into their shack to use their gear to go
on air and behave in that way, so why they've allowed it on packet, where
there's a paper trail back to the sysop, responsible in law as the
'publisher', and the writer as the author, is beyond comprehension.
Heck, on packet, people even seem incapable of referring to Windows or
Winpack without coining terms such as "Whingepack" and "Wincrap", and a
request for advice on packet will often risk ridicule.
Enough already.
It's for others who still use packet to decide whether the present
standards, intellectual content/lack of, and level of activity make
it worthwhile.
Before the final curtain falls on GB7FCR, it only remains for me to say
a sincere thank-you to Trevor, to my good friend Mel, G4WYW and to Steve,
G6AOS, both of whom have ably assisted Trev behind the scenes as remote
sysops. And a special posthumous thank-you to our dear departed friend
Roger Barker, G4IDE, whose Winpack program has been such a joy to use.
To the remaining sysops and users wherever you are, in the words of Ed
Murrow: "Good night, and good luck"!
Quote of the day:
"An enemy may stab you in the back -
A friend may stab you in the front.
True friends don't carry knives".
Anon.
Best wishes
David, G4EBT @ GB7FCR
British Vintage Wireless Society Member
G-QRP Club Member, No: 1339
Cottingham, East Yorkshire.
Message timed: 17:00 on 2010-Aug-17
Message sent using WinPack-Telnet V6.70
(Reg), and Win 7, 32-Bit, running fine.
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