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.

I always answer when I see these messages. I always try to guide them in the right direction (e.g. give them a link to the appropriate wiki or documentation pages), but I also *always* tell them that Facebook is not where we prefer to support Synchronet sysops and give them a link to the "how to get support" wiki page which includes that anti-Facebook logo I made a long time ago and tells them *where* to get support (including Reddit!). I'll like a broken record on Facebook about this. About half the time, they'll say "oh sorry, I'll follow-up there" and the other half the time they'll just continue to ask me tech support questions and then get upset when I stop answering or getting more direct with in responses, requesting that move the discussion to the appropriate support channels. And almost *never* do they then post the same support questions in the official support conferences here (on DOVE-Net, FidoNet, or USENET). And seemingly often, I'll see these same people post complaints later saying I never supported them. Huh? I also get direct e-mails requests for support, but less often.

If you find it so hard to *use* a BBS (e.g. to ask a support question about BBS software you're trying to use) - they why do you want to run a BBS? I just don't get it.

Similarly, I totally don't get sites like this
--
digital man (rob)

Synchronet "Real Fact" #14:
SBBSecho was originally written by Allen Christiansen (King Drafus) in 1994 Norco, CA WX: 63.6øF, 50.0% humidity, 4 mph W 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: 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/

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

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?
--
digital man (rob)

This Is Spinal Tap quote #41:
Ian Faith: It says "Memphis show cancelled due to lack of advertising funds." Norco, CA WX: 63.6øF, 50.0% humidity, 4 mph W wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs
--- SBBSecho 3.36-Linux
* 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

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

probably because they already have other Discord servers they're on, so it made sense for someone to just create one in the same space. some people just collect them for everything they're interested in (including youtube channels)

[facebook stuff from other message]

probably should just go private and use that for family heh

i wish i had a good answer. maybe they just feel entitled to YOUR answer and don't want somebody else's. or they think they're going to wait less. who knows.

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

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

to wiki equivalents, because links from there show up in DuckDuckGo a lot and probably are linked from who knows where else (including others under docs like the tcp faq and support.html with no anti-facebook logo hehe)

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/12/25 (Windows/32)
# Origin: cold fusion - cfbbs.net - grand rapids, mi
* 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

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.

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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)

If you find it so hard to *use* a BBS (e.g. to ask a support question about BBS
software you're trying to use) - they why do you want to run a BBS? I just >don't get it.

I do not get it, either. If it is your facebook group, maybe it is time to take it down or limit who can originate posts on it (so you can keep it for annoucements, etc.)?

That said, I find myself thinking smiliar questions when I post about a possible bug in the bbs software support echo just to be told that the
correct place to talk about/report them is a website.

I do it, but I don't really get that, either.


* SLMR 2.1a * 2 + 2 = 5 for extremely small values of 5.
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þ Synchronet þ CAPCITY2 * Capitol City Online
* 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. :)
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þ Synchronet þ -=[ ConstructiveChaos BBS | conchaos.synchro.net ]=-
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)