Is there anybody there?

[Sir Tim]

During my boating years on “Lady Elgar” this newsgroup used to be required
reading for all residential boaters and it was common to meet ng
contributors whilst out cruising. This ng, like most of Usenet now seems
sadly depleted. Where has everybody gone? To web forums I suppose.

[John Williamson]

Post by Sir Tim
During my boating years on “Lady Elgar” this newsgroup used to be required
reading for all residential boaters and it was common to meet ng
contributors whilst out cruising. This ng, like most of Usenet now seems
sadly depleted. Where has everybody gone? To web forums I suppose.

Nope, there's nobody here, we have all migrated to Facebook. ;-)

There are groups there for residential boaters, narrowboat users,
Narrowboat Moaners and Rnters, Narrowboat gloaters and ravers,
continuous cruisers, a few for boaters in and around London, Bath
Birmingham...

12 volt boaters, technical help, where to find the fuel boats...

[Chris Green]

Post by John Williamson

Post by Sir Tim
During my boating years on “Lady Elgar” this newsgroup used to be required
reading for all residential boaters and it was common to meet ng
contributors whilst out cruising. This ng, like most of Usenet now seems
sadly depleted. Where has everybody gone? To web forums I suppose.

Nope, there's nobody here, we have all migrated to Facebook. ;-)
There are groups there for residential boaters, narrowboat users,
Narrowboat Moaners and Rnters, Narrowboat gloaters and ravers,
continuous cruisers, a few for boaters in and around London, Bath
Birmingham...
12 volt boaters, technical help, where to find the fuel boats...

The trouble is that you really can't discuss on Facebook (or web
forums). It's *so* much easier to have a proper, threaded, back and
forth discussion here.

...not to mention that if I want to ask a question about 'how do you
xyz with a bilge pump' it's general to just about any boating group so
specialised groups are pretty useless.

Have you gathered - I don't like forums or facebook! :-)

[MB]

Post by Chris Green
The trouble is that you really can't discuss on Facebook (or web
forums). It's*so* much easier to have a proper, threaded, back and
forth discussion here.

I have never used Facebook and almost certainly never will. Mainly
because it is only visible to other Facebook uses and you have to
register with them (i.e. give all your details) to be able to read it.

I get annoyed when someone just gives a link to Facebook but of course
you cannot then open it without registering.

The people on there do not understand usually that it is a little
private world and not part of the WWW but perhaps that is what they want.

[Sir Tim]

Post by MB

Post by Chris Green
The trouble is that you really can't discuss on Facebook (or web
forums). It's*so* much easier to have a proper, threaded, back and
forth discussion here.

I have never used Facebook and almost certainly never will. Mainly
because it is only visible to other Facebook uses and you have to
register with them (i.e. give all your details) to be able to read it.
I get annoyed when someone just gives a link to Facebook but of course
you cannot then open it without registering.
The people on there do not understand usually that it is a little
private world and not part of the WWW but perhaps that is what they want.

+1

[Julian Macassey]

Post by MB

Post by Chris Green
The trouble is that you really can't discuss on Facebook (or web
forums). It's*so* much easier to have a proper, threaded, back and
forth discussion here.

I have never used Facebook and almost certainly never will. Mainly
because it is only visible to other Facebook uses and you have to
register with them (i.e. give all your details) to be able to read it.

Which is not what the internet is all about.

Post by MB
I get annoyed when someone just gives a link to Facebook but of course
you cannot then open it without registering.
The people on there do not understand usually that it is a little
private world and not part of the WWW but perhaps that is what they want.

Talking to facebook users, most have no idea that it is a
private enterprise. For all to many it is the only access to the
internet they have and they are poorer for that.

[MB]

Post by Julian Macassey
Talking to facebook users, most have no idea that it is a
private enterprise. For all to many it is the only access to the
internet they have and they are poorer for that.

And that it is effectively a closed group not available to everyone.

I remember a news article many years ago where some praised Facebook and
how it allowed their family to keep in touch. All the features that
were mentioned were easily available outside Facebook - EMail, sharing
pictures .......

[Sir Tim]

Post by MB

Post by Julian Macassey
Talking to facebook users, most have no idea that it is a
private enterprise. For all to many it is the only access to the
internet they have and they are poorer for that.

And that it is effectively a closed group not available to everyone.
I remember a news article many years ago where some praised Facebook and
how it allowed their family to keep in touch. All the features that
were mentioned were easily available outside Facebook - EMail, sharing
pictures .......

I am quite prepared to concede that Facebook has been a power for the good
in uniting families and re-establishing old friendships. Also many people
enjoy it. But for me all this is far outweighed by the fact that FB’s
earnings are mainly derived from the sale of data which it has
surreptitiously acquired from each and every FB user and which can be used
by commercial organizations and political parties to target “persuadables”
with extreme accuracy.

I know this makes me sound like a conspiracy theorist but I believe it is a
genuine threat to democracy.

Also I know how much time I would waste if I were ever to join FB :-)

[Julian Macassey]

Post by Sir Tim

Post by MB

Post by Julian Macassey
Talking to facebook users, most have no idea that it is a
private enterprise. For all to many it is the only access to the
internet they have and they are poorer for that.

And that it is effectively a closed group not available to everyone.
I remember a news article many years ago where some praised Facebook and
how it allowed their family to keep in touch. All the features that
were mentioned were easily available outside Facebook - EMail, sharing
pictures .......

I am quite prepared to concede that Facebook has been a power for the good
in uniting families and re-establishing old friendships.

I have used the Internet for this, for decades. I still
use seach engines, e-mail etc. to stay in touch, find people and
yes information, I use e-mail for communications and even setting
up appointments.

Post by Sir Tim
Also many people enjoy it.

Many people enjoy reality TV too.

Post by Sir Tim
I know this makes me sound like a conspiracy theorist but I believe it is a
genuine threat to democracy.

Not a conspiracy theory. Facebook has contempt for
democracy - See Cambridge Analytica etc.

[ChrisND @UKRW]

Post by MB

    Talking to facebook users, most have no idea that it is a
private enterprise. For all to many it is the only access to the
internet they have and they are poorer for that.

And that it is effectively a closed group not available to everyone.
I remember a news article many years ago where some praised Facebook and
how it allowed their family to keep in touch.  All the features that
were mentioned were easily available outside Facebook - EMail, sharing
pictures .......

The biggest problem is just that fb is so *easy* - that's how it sucks
everyone in...

[Chris Green]

Post by ChrisND @UKRW

Post by MB

    Talking to facebook users, most have no idea that it is a
private enterprise. For all to many it is the only access to the
internet they have and they are poorer for that.

And that it is effectively a closed group not available to everyone.
I remember a news article many years ago where some praised Facebook and
how it allowed their family to keep in touch.  All the features that
were mentioned were easily available outside Facebook - EMail, sharing
pictures .......

The biggest problem is just that fb is so *easy* - that's how it sucks
everyone in...

I've really never understood this. It's far from easy compared with
E-Mail (or usenet). You have to navigate to wherever it is you want
to see messages, log in, etc.

With E-Mail or Usenet you just start a program and there are all your
new messages.

I'm on 60+ mailing lists and watch 50 newsgroups, there's absolutely
no way I could cope with the same sort of numbers of Facebook groups
or other forums on the web.

[Nicholas D. Richards]

In article <lvf6rh-***@esprimo.zbmc.eu>, Chris Green <***@isbd.net>
on Sat, 3 Jul 2021 at 17:31:17 awoke Nicholas from his slumbers and

Post by Chris Green

Post by ChrisND @UKRW

Post by MB

    Talking to facebook users, most have no idea that it is a
private enterprise. For all to many it is the only access to the
internet they have and they are poorer for that.

And that it is effectively a closed group not available to everyone.
I remember a news article many years ago where some praised Facebook and
how it allowed their family to keep in touch.  All the features that
were mentioned were easily available outside Facebook - EMail, sharing
pictures .......

The biggest problem is just that fb is so *easy* - that's how it sucks
everyone in...

I've really never understood this. It's far from easy compared with
E-Mail (or usenet). You have to navigate to wherever it is you want
to see messages, log in, etc.
With E-Mail or Usenet you just start a program and there are all your
new messages.
I'm on 60+ mailing lists and watch 50 newsgroups, there's absolutely
no way I could cope with the same sort of numbers of Facebook groups
or other forums on the web.

The problem is that usenet does not create an income for anyone (by
design). Therefore no incentive to spread the good news. Additionally
social media appear to be totally amoral.

Once we moved into exchange servers then commercial organisations (eg
micro£oft) started to make a profit from e-mail, by fees and fcljner.

We know how easy usenet and e-mail is to use, with the right software,
however most people only know about mirosoft/google/chrome products.

These days we are only talking to the believers.

[Julian Macassey]

Post by Chris Green

Post by John Williamson

Post by Sir Tim
During my boating years on “Lady Elgar” this newsgroup used to be required
reading for all residential boaters and it was common to meet ng
contributors whilst out cruising. This ng, like most of Usenet now seems
sadly depleted. Where has everybody gone? To web forums I suppose.

Nope, there's nobody here, we have all migrated to Facebook. ;-)
There are groups there for residential boaters, narrowboat users,
Narrowboat Moaners and Rnters, Narrowboat gloaters and ravers,
continuous cruisers, a few for boaters in and around London, Bath
Birmingham...
12 volt boaters, technical help, where to find the fuel boats...

The trouble is that you really can't discuss on Facebook (or web
forums). It's *so* much easier to have a proper, threaded, back and
forth discussion here.

Very true.

Post by Chris Green
...not to mention that if I want to ask a question about 'how do you
xyz with a bilge pump' it's general to just about any boating group so
specialised groups are pretty useless.

I am proud of the fact that I fought thye endless
splitting of usnet groups. rec.knives to rec.kives.sharp,
rec.knives.blunt, rec.knives.long, etc. etc. I was called a
Luddite.

"Are you on social media?" "Yes of course I am I have been
since 1988."

Post by Chris Green
Have you gathered - I don't like forums or facebook! :-)

I agree.

[Sir Tim]

Post by John Williamson

Post by Sir Tim
During my boating years on “Lady Elgar” this newsgroup used to be required
reading for all residential boaters and it was common to meet ng
contributors whilst out cruising. This ng, like most of Usenet now seems
sadly depleted. Where has everybody gone? To web forums I suppose.

Nope, there's nobody here, we have all migrated to Facebook. ;-)

Thanks, in that case I won’t be joining you - I refuse to help Zuckerberg
steal and misuse our data.

[Martin Nicholas]

On 1 Jul 2021 17:26:36 GMT

Post by Sir Tim
During my boating years on “Lady Elgar” this newsgroup used to be
required reading for all residential boaters and it was common to
meet ng contributors whilst out cruising. This ng, like most of
Usenet now seems sadly depleted. Where has everybody gone? To web
forums I suppose.

I'm not here either.

[John Williamson]

Post by Martin Nicholas
On 1 Jul 2021 17:26:36 GMT

Post by Sir Tim
During my boating years on “Lady Elgar” this newsgroup used to be
required reading for all residential boaters and it was common to
meet ng contributors whilst out cruising. This ng, like most of
Usenet now seems sadly depleted. Where has everybody gone? To web
forums I suppose.

I'm not here either.

Yesterday, upon the stair,
I met a man who wasn't there
He wasn't there again today
I wish, I wish he'd go away...

When I came home last night at three
The man was waiting there for me
But when I looked around the hall
I couldn't see him there at all!
Go away, go away, don't you come back any more!
Go away, go away, and please don't slam the door... (slam!)

Last night I saw upon the stair
A little man who wasn't there
He wasn't there again today
Oh, how I wish he'd go away...

Copyright info
Antigonish [I met a man who wasn't there]
Hughes Mearns

[Chris Green]

Post by Sir Tim
During my boating years on “Lady Elgar” this newsgroup used to be required
reading for all residential boaters and it was common to meet ng
contributors whilst out cruising. This ng, like most of Usenet now seems
sadly depleted. Where has everybody gone? To web forums I suppose.

What web forums? :-)

I'm still here and will happily talk boats here.

[Nicholas D. Richards]

Post by Sir Tim
During my boating years on “Lady Elgar” this newsgroup used to be required
reading for all residential boaters and it was common to meet ng
contributors whilst out cruising. This ng, like most of Usenet now seems
sadly depleted. Where has everybody gone? To web forums I suppose.

One problem with usenet was its ease of use. Trolls could destroy a
group, sometimes very useful and addictive groups, normal users
eventually stopped bothering to 'follow' these heavily trolled groups.