On May 13, 2016 03:15pm, Mark Lewis wrote to Allen Prunty:

 ML> now, what kind of special interface is really needed for a mobile or
 ML> tablet to access a BBS?? seems to me that one only needs a telnet or
 ML> ssh app... possibly a rlogin one, too... aside from that, what is
 ML> really and truly needed??

Mark,

I am going to go where no one will dare to go and I think you will absolutely
agree with me on this one.  The younger generation has been dumbed down to the
point where if I go to McDonalds and the total is 5.06 and I hand the young
person a ten and they quickly push the button that says "$10" then I hand them
.06 and they look at me with the deer in the headlights look.  (Seriously I had
a manager tell me I had to take the change the computer said I get back to
prevent "short change" scams).

The young people now are NOT SOPHISTICATED enough to use something without a
specifically designed push here click that interface.  They have become so
reliant on simple systems that they lack basic problem solving skills such
as how to give a $5 bill back instead of $4.94.  The thing that's most
horrifying is the cash register at McDonalds tells them to give back 4 $1
Bills, 3 quarters, 1 dime, 1 nickle, and 4 pennies. I've worked as a substitute
teacher and was horrified at their writing, and math skills.  I am amazed that
the average high school graduate who had a "C" average can function in society.

The reason why Face book (which at it's core is nothing more than a BBS) is so
popular is because it has been dumbed down to the point where anyone can use
it.  People don't have to learn much to use Facebook because everything has
already been laid out for them.

Mark, you are one of the most sophisticated writers online... and there aren't
very many left.  I can tell you take a lot of time and care in your responses.
The crowd today only wants to write a short one paragraph response to a one
paragraph post full of emoji's and abbreviations.  We are living in a world now
where the average person who uses online services lacks the ability to write...
or perhaps they are just too lazy to invest the time in creating a good post.

The thing that horrifies me even more is if we were able to come up with a
simple mobile solution that did not require setting up a point (I doubt that
the average person who graduated HS with a C average could) would only dilute
and degrade the quality of conversation that most of us enjoy.

Just my $.02 worth here.

Allen

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