Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Digital Man to All on Thu Feb 05 2026 10:08 pm

This is kind of a rant, sorry.

Every few weeks or maybe it's months, someone posts a support question in the Synchronet BBS group or (worse) direct messages me on Facebook asking me Synchronet support questions.

It's a fair rant! Don't be sorry!

I was one of those people that started asking questions on the Facebook group, back in 2020 when I was getting started in the hobby. Once I discovered the resources like the wiki and the online Javascript reference, I never did so again.

(I'm also not even on FB anymore, so there's that :P)

I think there are a few reasons why people (ab)use Facebook for seeking support.

1) Newcomers to the hobby don't know the jargon, and therefore don't know the questions to ask and topics to seek in the wiki. The wiki is invaluable for experienced sysops, however if I put my feet into the shoes of the uninitiated, I have to admit it seems pretty daunting.

2) The (flawed) notion that their question posted on FB will be more visible and get answered more quickly.

3) FB is right there in their pocket, unlike DOVE-Net which isn't necessarily as readily accessible, at least not initially for newcomers.

I get your rant completely, but I also get the inclination for some to ask questions on a platform they're already familiar with. At least they're asking questions and trying to understand.

Now.. for those that say you're not supporting them, they're just wrong. You've never been anything but generous with your time answering questions and supporting this software.

|08ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
|15 Ü|07 Ü |08Ü |11codefenix |08³
|15 Û|07ÛÛÛ|08Û |09ConstructiveChaos BBS |08³
|15 Þ|07ÜÛÜ|08Ý |01conchaos.synchro.net |08³ |08ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
|07
---
þ Synchronet þ -=[ ConstructiveChaos BBS | conchaos.synchro.net ]=-
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Digital Man to All on Thu Feb 05 2026 10:12 pm

I don't get sites like this:
https://synchronetbbs.org/

Yeah, this is a whole other topic. And I have strong opinions about this site and its offerings which I've mostly kept to myself. Suffice to say, I think it's one of the leading causes of stock Synchronet boards that plop on top of the Telnet BBS Guide site only to die a few days later.

|08ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
|15 Ü|07 Ü |08Ü |11codefenix |08³
|15 Û|07ÛÛÛ|08Û |09ConstructiveChaos BBS |08³
|15 Þ|07ÜÛÜ|08Ý |01conchaos.synchro.net |08³ |08ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
|07
---
þ Synchronet þ -=[ ConstructiveChaos BBS | conchaos.synchro.net ]=-
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Digital Man to All on Thu Feb 05 2026 10:12 pm

Similarly, I totally don't get sites like this

Sorry, hit wrong key.

I don't get sites like this:
https://synchronetbbs.org/

Looks like a project someone wanted to start just for something to do:)
Looking at the website, it looks like this may have been made by:
Marisa Giancarla.


Denn

... Youth and skill are never a match for age and cunning.

---
þ Synchronet þ the Outwest BBS - outwest.synchro.net - Home of BBSBASE 6.0
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Digital Man wrote to All <=-

Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Digital Man to All on Thu Feb 05 2026 10:08 pm

Similarly, I totally don't get sites like this

Sorry, hit wrong key.

I don't get sites like this:
https://synchronetbbs.org/

Neither do I. Seems like they're trying to make money by selling
pre-fab SBBS's for "sysops" that don't know how to run one themselves.
I think that's "Marisa's" site.

Or Discord channels dedicated to "supporting" Synchronet. Why? We
already have #synchronet on irc.synchro.net

I think many newer folks don't know about (or how to use) IRC. It's
pretty "old skool", ya know. :-)

Don't you want want all the people that actually have answers and the people that need those answers in the same place? Why spread the discussions around so much?

Many (most?) folks today need a clickable/colorful/gui/fancy interface
to do anything. BBS/text/IRC isn't that.

Don't get me wrong, I agree with you and support your reasons.


... Gone crazy, be back later, please leave message.
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Digital Man to All on Thu Feb 05 2026 10:08 pm

Every few weeks or maybe it's months, someone posts a support question in the Synchronet BBS group or (worse) direct messages me on Facebook asking me Synchronet support questions.

I wonder what the intent or purpose of the Facegook group is? There doesn't appear to be a group description; just a list of rules for the group.

If it's mainly a support group, I wonder if a Facebook group could be configured to not allow posts and have a sticky post at the top to re-direct people to go to another site or place for support questions - though I think it's more of a general Synchronet group, not mainly for support.

Maybe one of the rules for that group should be to go to the wiki, Dove-Net, or the other official areas for support rather than posting support questions in the Facebook group or sending you direct messages. Then if anyone does post support questions in that group, they could be kindly (and sternly?) reminded about the rule and the official avenues of support. Repeat offenders could have support questions removed, after being reminded of the official support avenues.

Nightfox

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þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Digital Man to All on Thu Feb 05 2026 10:12 pm

I don't get sites like this:
https://synchronetbbs.org/

Or Discord channels dedicated to "supporting" Synchronet. Why? We already have #synchronet on irc.synchro.net

I didn't know that site existed..

That site has a rotating set of screenshots, one of which is on my BBS showing my user list mod, and it's captioned "What a list of users looks like in Synchronet". That caption is incorrect, since that's not the stock user list; I actually made that mod to look like what I saw on another BBS years ago. Also, it looks like that screenshot was taken in 2009, so it seems that site has bene around for a long time.

Nightfox

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þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Codefenix to Digital Man on Fri Feb 06 2026 10:37 am

3) FB is right there in their pocket, unlike DOVE-Net which isn't necessarily as readily accessible, at least not initially for newcomers.

Uisng a smartphone, you could use the web interface on a Synchronet BBS to post a question on Dove-Net.

Nightfox

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þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Denn to Digital Man on Fri Feb 06 2026 08:25 am

https://synchronetbbs.org/

Looks like a project someone wanted to start just for something to do:) Looking at the website, it looks like this may have been made by: Marisa Giancarla.

I was looking for a piece of software in my Linux distro's package manager recently and happened to see her name in one of the packages.. I forget which package that was now.

Nightfox

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þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Gamgee to Digital Man on Fri Feb 06 2026 09:55 am

Or Discord channels dedicated to "supporting" Synchronet. Why? We already
have #synchronet on irc.synchro.net

I think many newer folks don't know about (or how to use) IRC. It's pretty "old skool", ya know. :-)

BBSing is also pretty old-school; maybe even moreso than IRC, I think. :)

Nightfox

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þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Nightfox to Codefenix on Fri Feb 06 2026 08:52 am

Uisng a smartphone, you could use the web interface on a Synchronet BBS to post a question on Dove-Net.

Granted, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the average newcomer to Synchronet seeking help on FB on how to set up their stuff doesn't know how to do that. :)
---
þ Synchronet þ -=[ ConstructiveChaos BBS | conchaos.synchro.net ]=-
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Codefenix to Nightfox on Fri Feb 06 2026 01:17 pm

Uisng a smartphone, you could use the web interface on a Synchronet BBS
to post a question on Dove-Net.

Granted, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the average newcomer to Synchronet seeking help on FB on how to set up their stuff doesn't know how to do that. :)

I think a lot of people are still familiar with web browsers and web sites.. There are web forums people use that don't have their own dedicated app, so people would naturally have to use the web browser for that. For Synchronet, it would just a matter of loading the web browser and going to a Dove-Net BBS (Vertrauen would be a good choice).

And if someone is aware of what Synchronet is and are interested in running it, I imagine they're technical enough to be fine with using a web browser to load a BBS's web site.

Nightfox

---
þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Codefenix to Digital Man on Fri Feb 06 2026 10:37 am

Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Digital Man to All on Thu Feb 05 2026 10:08 pm

This is kind of a rant, sorry.

Every few weeks or maybe it's months, someone posts a support question in the Synchronet BBS group or (worse) direct messages me on Facebook asking me Synchronet support questions.

It's a fair rant! Don't be sorry!

I was one of those people that started asking questions on the Facebook group, back in 2020 when I was getting started in the hobby. Once I discovered the resources like the wiki and the online Javascript reference, I never did so again.

(I'm also not even on FB anymore, so there's that :P)

I think there are a few reasons why people (ab)use Facebook for seeking support.

1) Newcomers to the hobby don't know the jargon, and therefore don't know the questions to ask and topics to seek in the wiki. The wiki is invaluable for experienced sysops, however if I put my feet into the shoes of the uninitiated, I have to admit it seems pretty daunting.

2) The (flawed) notion that their question posted on FB will be more visible and get answered more quickly.

3) FB is right there in their pocket, unlike DOVE-Net which isn't necessarily as readily accessible, at least not initially for newcomers.

I get your rant completely, but I also get the inclination for some to ask questions on a platform they're already familiar with. At least they're asking questions and trying to understand.

While I was writing that rant, I was thinking (sort of answering myself) that a lot of want-to-be sysops aren't really interested in *using* BBSes for messaging. Maybe they're only interested in hosting door games or ANSI art or whatever and don't care to figure out how to sign-on to another BBS and post a question there and check back for an answer. And that's what bothers me: they want to run a BBS, but can't be bothered to *use* one for its primary intended purpose. USENET (alt.bbs.synchronet) is gated to the SYNCHRONET (discussion) as well, but they can't seem to be bothered to post there either.

Now.. for those that say you're not supporting them, they're just wrong. You've never been anything but generous with your time answering questions and supporting this software.

Thanks. I definitely try to limit the support I give on non-official platforms/channels so as to not encourage their continued use for that (without being a jerk).

Messaging was the original purpose of BBSes and BBS software and if we (including myself) don't use them for that purpose, then they'll never get better or more capable at that.

I see support questions as a gift, an opportunity to make the software better (fix a bug or make it more intuititve or whatever), so I get frustrated when I *want* to support the sysop (asking Qs on FB or Reddit) but also want to encourage them to use the official support conference/channels. And then when I do, they just disappear, their valuable questions/feedback along with them. :-(
--
digital man (rob)

Breaking Bad quote #46:
If I ever get anal polyps, at least I know what to name them. - Saul Goodman Norco, CA WX: 68.1øF, 61.0% humidity, 9 mph WSW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs --- SBBSecho 3.36-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Denn to Digital Man on Fri Feb 06 2026 08:25 am

Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Digital Man to All on Thu Feb 05 2026 10:12 pm

Similarly, I totally don't get sites like this

Sorry, hit wrong key.

I don't get sites like this:
https://synchronetbbs.org/

Looks like a project someone wanted to start just for something to do:)
Looking at the website, it looks like this may have been made by:
Marisa Giancarla.

Yeah, it's Marisa's. And she occasionally will pop in here to ask a question, but mostly is disconnected from those "in the know" about the software she appears to have such an affinity for. I find it weird.
--
digital man (rob)

Breaking Bad quote #31:
Feels like one of those cones put on dogs so they don't lick their own balls. Norco, CA WX: 68.1øF, 61.0% humidity, 9 mph WSW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs --- SBBSecho 3.36-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Nightfox to Digital Man on Fri Feb 06 2026 08:47 am

Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Digital Man to All on Thu Feb 05 2026 10:08 pm

Every few weeks or maybe it's months, someone posts a support question in the Synchronet BBS group or (worse) direct messages me on Facebook asking me Synchronet support questions.

I wonder what the intent or purpose of the Facegook group is?

It's been many years now, but as I recall, an ethusiastic Synchronet sysop thought there should be a place to discuss Synchronet on Facebook, so they created it. I was added as an admin/moderator shortly after. I just post announcements there and try to direct people asking questions where to go to get good answers/discussions.

Maybe one of the rules for that group should be to go to the wiki, Dove-Net, or the other official areas for support rather than posting support questions in the Facebook group or sending you direct messages. Then if anyone does post support questions in that group, they could be kindly (and sternly?) reminded about the rule and the official avenues of support. Repeat offenders could have support questions removed, after being reminded of the official support avenues.

Sure. I imagine there are Facebook groups to dicuss Mastadon, Discord and Reddit too and every other "social media" software or platform. But I wouldn't think to go to FB to seek support for them. Seems odd.
--
digital man (rob)

Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #43:
IBM = International Business Machines (Corporation)
Norco, CA WX: 68.1øF, 61.0% humidity, 9 mph WSW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs --- SBBSecho 3.36-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Nightfox to Codefenix on Fri Feb 06 2026 01:19 pm

I think a lot of people are still familiar with web browsers and web sites.. There are web forums people use that don't have their own dedicated app, so people would naturally have to use the web browser for that. For Synchronet, it would just a matter of loading the web browser and going to a Dove-Net BBS (Vertrauen would be a good choice).

Sure, but you're thinking like someone who already knows the ins and outs of a Synchronet BBS with a webserver. A newbie doesn't have such knowledge going into the hobby, and needs to be directed to those things. It just makes sense that they'd start out by seeking answers in the places they're already used to (FB, Reddit, etc.).

|08ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
|15 Ü|07 Ü |08Ü |11codefenix |08³
|15 Û|07ÛÛÛ|08Û |09ConstructiveChaos BBS |08³
|15 Þ|07ÜÛÜ|08Ý |01conchaos.synchro.net |08³ |08ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
|07
---
þ Synchronet þ -=[ ConstructiveChaos BBS | conchaos.synchro.net ]=-
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Codefenix to Nightfox on Sat Feb 07 2026 09:32 am

I think a lot of people are still familiar with web browsers and web
sites.. There are web forums people use that don't have their own

Sure, but you're thinking like someone who already knows the ins and outs of a Synchronet BBS with a webserver. A newbie doesn't have such knowledge

Not really; my line of thought was that even if someone isn't familiar with Synchronet, I think many people are familiar with using a web browser and should be able to have a look at the Synchronet wiki and read the documentation. Also, they could look at, say, Vertrauen's web site and look in the Dove-Net message areas for Synchronet; ecwebv4 is similar to a web forum where you can read through messages.

When I first started using Synchronet and didn't know anything about it, I started reading through the Synchronet documentation (at the time, the wiki didn't exist, so I read through the older web-based documentation). That was my first thought for learning about Synchronet; I wouldn't have thought to post in a Facebook group to ask questions about Synchronet.

Nightfox

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þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

This is kind of a rant, sorry.

Every few weeks or maybe it's months, someone posts a support question in th

I always answer when I see these messages. I always try to guide them in the ysops and give them a link to the "how to get support" wiki page which inclu , they'll say "oh sorry, I'll follow-up there" and the other half the time t appropriate support channels. And almost *never* do they then post the same supported them. Huh? I also get direct e-mails requests for support, but le

If you find it so hard to *use* a BBS (e.g. to ask a support question about

Similarly, I totally don't get sites like this

you have a facebook synchronet group, reddit site,etc etc

You made those things so you are obligated to provide support on them.
i realize it's the wrong tool for the job so you should just remove them
and stick to your guns and use the support channels you want.

Doing so you are reducing the amount of people you reach and the amount of support you can give.
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þ Synchronet þ Datastream BBS dsbbs.net
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

I don't get sites like this: https://synchronetbbs.org/

Or Discord channels dedicated to "supporting" Synchronet. Why? We already ha

Don't you want want all the people that actually have answers and the people

people are trying to blindly do something. marissa doesn't know much about synchronet but he makes these sites. you should private msg them and ask them to take them down. the only problem is they've been running for many years. so you can't just do that now.
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þ Synchronet þ Datastream BBS dsbbs.net
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

On 05 Feb 2026, Digital Man said the following...

I don't get sites like this: https://synchronetbbs.org/

they're selling hosting

i dont think marissa makes any money selling hosting to these fly by night sysops. he gives them a free demo and they abandon it.

i wish i had a good answer. maybe they just feel entitled to YOUR answer and

maybe it'd be wise to forward all the links (and this page itself)

https://www.synchro.net/docs/index.htm

you can't use social media and complain when people use social media. the synchronet shit should be yanked from fb and reddit.
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þ Synchronet þ Datastream BBS dsbbs.net
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Digital Man to All on Thu Feb 05 2026 10:12 pm

I don't get sites like this: https://synchronetbbs.org/

Yeah, this is a whole other topic. And I have strong opinions about this sit te only to die a few days later.

ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ Ü Ü Ü codefenix
³ ÛÛÛÛÛ ConstructiveChaos
BBS ³ ÞÜÛÜÝ conchaos.synchro.net
³ ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
---
þ Synchronet þ -=[ ConstructiveChaos BBS | conchaos.synchro.net ]=-

well the operator tries. the problem is the type of people they attract are not really sysops. i talked to him about it but he still does it. i dont think he makes money doing it, either.
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þ Synchronet þ Datastream BBS dsbbs.net
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Or Discord channels dedicated to "supporting" Synchronet. Why? We already have #synchronet on irc.synchro.net

also deuce always bans me when i login there to report a problem!
no idea why!
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þ Synchronet þ Datastream BBS dsbbs.net
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Codefenix to Digital Man on Fri Feb 06 2026 10:37 am

3) FB is right there in their pocket, unlike DOVE-Net which isn't necessarily as readily accessible, at least not initially for newcomers

Uisng a smartphone, you could use the web interface on a Synchronet BBS to p

Nightfox

but it would totally suck doing so.
---
þ Synchronet þ Datastream BBS dsbbs.net
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: |15Mrí to all on Sun Feb 08 2026 11:12 pm

also deuce always bans me when i login there to report a problem!
no idea why!

You're not serious, right? The reason is pretty obvious.
--
digital man (rob)

Steven Wright quote #31:
The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up.
Norco, CA WX: 64.6øF, 41.0% humidity, 0 mph ENE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs --- SBBSecho 3.36-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: |15Mrí to Nightfox on Sun Feb 08 2026 11:13 pm

Uisng a smartphone, you could use the web interface on a Synchronet BBS to
post a question on Dove-Net

but it would totally suck doing so.

Probably not any worse than using any other web forum though..

Nightfox

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þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Digital Man to All on Thu Feb 05 2026 10:08 pm

right direction (e.g. give them a link to the appropriate wiki or documentat pages), but I also *always* tell them that Facebook is not where we prefer t

Idea.. Make a page that says "It looks like you asked me for support on Facebook... Try the wiki first, then ask for support in one of these preferred places:" and just respond to all questions with a link to that page.

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þ Synchronet þ TIRED of waiting 2 hours for a taco? GO TO TACOPRONTO.bbs.io
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

To: Digital Man

Re: Re: Facebook Synchronet BBS group
By: Mrí to all on Sun Feb 08 2026 11:12 pm

also deuce always bans me when i login there to report a problem! no
idea why!

You're not serious, right? The reason is pretty obvious.

Because I told him his wife has a dick nose.

sorry deuce!
--- Synchronet 3.20d-Win32 NewsLink 1.2
* Data Stream - dsbbs.net - telnet://dsbbs.net
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)