A summary for those that haven’t been keeping up with this series:
I found a number of 5.25″ disks at a thrift store a number of years ago. I finally got around to acquiring a 5.25″ disk drive and extracting the contents a while back. Since then I have been posting the contents here.
Based on the contents, at least some of these disks were apparently once owned by someone named Connie who used to run the “Close Encounters” Special Interest Group (SIG) on Delphi in the mid 1980s.
A specific definition of this SIG was found in a document on one of the disks: “This SIG, known as ‘Close Encounters’, is a forum for the discussion of relationships that develop via computer services like the Source, CompuServe, and Delphi. Our primary emphasis is on the sexual aspects of those relationships.”
This service was text based and was accessed via whatever terminal program you used on your computer to dial in to Delphi’s servers. Many of these disks have forum messages, e-mails and chat session logs. All of this is pre-internet stuff and I don’t know if there are any archives in existence today of what was on Delphi in the 1980s. In any case, much of this stuff would have been private at the time and probably wouldn’t be in such archives even if they existed.
This post includes the contents of DM0917.DOC which is dated September 17th, 1985. This is a screen capture of another mail reading session and relatively lengthy compared to some of the others. There are e-mails dated from September 15th, 1985 to September 17th, 1985. Some topics include help for a new user, computer shows, a “TIG*LINES” newsletter, more between Connie and Rod including part one of a biography from Rod, and plenty more.
See the previous post here.
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DM0917.DOC
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read 1 #1 15-SEP-1985 12:22:24 MAIL From: BOS1A::RIDPATH To: CABUYS Subj: HI HELLO, I HREAD YOUR PROFILE AND SAW THAT YOUR MANG. OF CABUYS SIG)(SIG) WELL SINCE I HACEVE NEVER HEARD OF IT THOUGHT I'D SAY HELLO AND NASKASK? WHAT/AWHERE IS IT, ON DELPHI ? THAT'S IT FOR NOW RIDPATH MAIL> re To: BOS1A::RIDPATH,CABUYS Subj: RE: HI Enter your message below. Press CTRL/Z when complete, or CTRL/C to quit: Hi! I am the manager of the In response to your message, I am the manager of the Close Encoutners\srent\nter s Sig. To get to the sig, at the MAIN> prompt, type GR CLO. If you have trouble locating us, please holler and I'll try to help some more! -Connie <cabuys> Sig Manager ^Z New mail on node BOS1A from CABUYS "CONNIE" Press RETURN to return to reading your mail MAIL> read newmail #1 17-SEP-1985 21:14:02 NEWMAIL From: BOS1A::CABUYS "CONNIE" To: BOS1A::RIDPATH,CABUYS Subj: RE: HI Hi! In response to your message, I am the manager of the Close Encounters Sig. To get to the sig, at the MAIN> prompt, type GR CLO. If you have trouble locating us, please holler and I'll try to help some more! -Connie <cabuys> Sig Manager MAIL> d MAIL> select mail 22 messages selected MAIL> #2 15-SEP-1985 17:33:28 MAIL From: BOS2A::TSBJR To: CABUYS Subj: WHAT NEXT HI AGAIN! THANKS FOR ANSWERING MY MESSAGE! QUESTION IS: WHAT DO I DO NEXT? DO I NEED TO HAVE A "CONGEFERENCE", OR PROVIDE MORE INFO? I'M ALSO NOT TOO SWIFT YET ON HOW THE SIG OPERATES AND HOW TO FIND MY WAY AROUND. <please help!!> THANKS A BUNCH, --TSBJR (TOM). MAIL> re To: BOS2A::TSBJR,CABUYS Subj: RE: WHAT NEXT Enter your message below. Press CTRL/Z when complete, or CTRL/C to quit: Hi Tom! Now that you've found the Close Encounters sig, the best way to learn how it all works is to take a look at the Help files and experiemnt\tnme\ment a little with the sig. If you encounter a specific problems, just le me know\wonk em e\et me know. As for teh conference, that has now been wa As for the confernence\ecnen\ence that has now been waived for all new members. -Connie ^Z New mail on node BOS1A from CABUYS "CONNIE" Press RETURN to return to reading your mail MAIL> read newmail #1 17-SEP-1985 21:16:50 NEWMAIL From: BOS1A::CABUYS "CONNIE" To: BOS2A::TSBJR,CABUYS Subj: RE: WHAT NEXT Hi Tom! Now that you've found the Close Encounters sig, the best way to learn how it all works is to take a look at the Help files and experiment a little with the sig. If you encounter a specific problems, just let me know. As for the conference that has now been waived for all new members. -Connie MAIL> d MAIL> select mail 21 messages selected MAIL> dir MAIL # From Date Subject 1 BOS2A::TSBJR 15-SEP-1985 WHAT NEXT 2 BOS1A::RODM 15-SEP-1985 Do you see how I detected the*OUTPUT OFF* MAIL> MAIL> d 1 MAIL> #2 15-SEP-1985 20:34:14 MAIL From: BOS1A::RODM To: CABUYS Subj: Do you see how I detected the urgency? From: BOS1A::CABUYS "CONNIE" 15-SEP-1985 11:36 To: RODM,CABUYS Subj: I need you as soon as possible! but please be careful. MAIL> d MAIL> #3 15-SEP-1985 21:48:50 MAIL From: BOS1A::CABUYS "CONNIE" To: BOS1A::RODM,CABUYS Subj: RE: Do you see how I detected the urgency? I know, sweetheart, I know. My need was as urgent as my message indicated. Still, after all we've been thru, it's sometimes difficult for me to ask. I'm not sure it will ever get any easier to ask but at least you will know that when I'm desparate enough to ask, the real urgency is there. I love you so very, very much.! Love, Connie MAIL> d MAIL> #4 15-SEP-1985 21:53:21 MAIL From: BOS1A::CABUYS "CONNIE" To: PEABO,ELLISCO,CABUYS Subj: First, congrats! Second, let's go guys! <grin> Third, best time for conference for me is *any* time but Sat. night! Holler if there's anything I can do to assist either of you! -Connie P.S. Would one of you change my editor in Insiders to EDT, please! Thanks much! MAIL> d MAIL> #5 15-SEP-1985 21:54:05 MAIL From: BOS1A::PEABO To: BOS1A::CABUYS Subj: Thanks very much! peter MAIL> d MAIL> #6 15-SEP-1985 22:07:17 MAIL From: BOS1A::CABUYS "CONNIE" To: PEABO,ELLISCO,CABUYS Subj: another small request When you edit my Insider's membership file to change the editor to EDIT, would you make two other small changes: Would you zap the F flag as I have a contract and W flag so F is not needed & would you fix my name so it reads Connie instead of CONNIE. (picky,picky aren't I?) <grin> Thanks much! MAIL> d MAIL> #7 15-SEP-1985 22:24:28 MAIL From: BOS1A::CABUYS "CONNIE" To: CHRISALLEN, ALEXLANE,CABUYS Subj: Hi Chris & Alex! Will either of you be at the Great Southern Computer & Electronics Show in Orlando in October? Also would you be interested in investigating the possibility of having a "Delphi" booth at the next show in Jacksonville? Due to the nature of the topic of my sig, I can't go "public" but I would be more than willing to promote your sig in such a joint venture as I'm sure we could work out some agreeable terms of some sort. Please, let me know what you think. -Connie Buys MAIL> d MAIL> #8 16-SEP-1985 00:57:09 MAIL From: BOS1A::ELLISCO "Dick Evans" To: CABUYS Subj: REQUEST Conniie, your request has been filed and will be acted upon just as soon as Peter and I can get our act together. If all goes well , that shouldn't take long. I hope that we will be able to get things in order in a very short time. There should be a number of changes that will please some and anger others, it is all part of the plan to try to improve the service that INSIDE should be rendering to the SIG Managers. (my thoughts) To find out what is going to happen, we will both have to wait for Peter and JohnWG to spell it out for us. I have had my say and neither of them screamed too loud, so we shall see. It should be fun <grin> I lalways did like Monday's K Ks <bigger grin> Hope all is well with you, I haven't had a chance to talk with you in at least a coon's age. Last report I got, you weren't feeling too well. Hope all that is behind you now. Now that I no longer get a bill for my time on the system, I'm going to try and do a bit more visiting. I want to get to know the Mgr's and their staffs. It sill help me be more helpful.[sill=will] I would also like to hear from you and your staff about their n"needs" and "wants" from INSIDE. Hopefully we will be able to meet all of the needs and many of the wants. The "wish" list may still be that for some time to dcome. <biggest grin> So , til we can all see what will be happening, be carfeful and take care Agape. Dick MAIL> d MAIL> #9 16-SEP-1985 06:33:25 MAIL From: BOS1A::CABUYS "CONNIE" To: BOS1A::ELLISCO,CABUYS Subj: RE: REQUEST Dick, The *one* thing I hope we can have in INSIDER very soon is a section for just Sig Managers. There are some things that affect only us and frankly I'm rather tired of a certain wordy person who shall remain nameless who jumps in on everything in such a belligerent way. Got to run - more later. By the way since I'm in a rush, please feel free to forward a copy of this to Peabo if you want to. I'm not posting my request in the Forum because of the person alluded to above. <smile> Have a very good Monday! -Connie MAIL> d MAIL> #10 16-SEP-1985 10:45:16 MAIL From: BOS1A::RODM To: BOS1A::CABUYS,RODM Subj: RE: Do you see how I detected the urgency? My Delicous Darling, I just had to shoew you that! I want you to know that you should ALWAYS call out when you need me!! I would give almost anything to be able to tell you that I will ALWAYS be there when you call but I can't make that promise, but if it is POSSIBLE I will be the re I LOVE YOU! ###****> TONIGHT is the NIGHT! <****### MAIL> d MAIL> #11 16-SEP-1985 12:51:41 MAIL From: BOS1A::TIGLON To: @ FRIENDS Subj: ISSUE TWO OF ... ===================== = T I G * L I N E S = ===================== Monday, September 16, 1985 Issue 2 Volume 1 TIGLON Productions 1985 All Rights Reserved =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= HAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYBIRTHDAY =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= A warm Happy Birthday goes out from the Staff here at TIG*LINES to our fellow Tig*Mate FRIDAY Happy 30th Birthday Rich!! Many more!!!! ======================================= !!!CENTERFOLD CENTERFOLD!!! (All staples removed) The Premier ==Tig*Centerfold== is: ******************* Bruce Stewart (BGS) ******************* As seen in a recent bathroom mirror, Bruce tends to be a shy, yet whimsical character very worth the premier centerfold honors. Not only is Bruce deserving of a digital pic (once we *can* do that on Delphi), but he also deserves recognition for his wonderful humor and helpful manor on-line. His style for the good things in life such as art and music often leads to some very interesting conversations in the small hours of the morning on COnference. Bruce makes his home in New York, NY alone with his Zenith computer. On-line, he drives women frantic, and off-line, he says he never touches the stuff. Bruce, loving art in all forms, can sometimes be found browsing through museums and art galleries or even sitting in the audience of a concert. Being a world traveller, he wants to see Italy someday. His travels have taken him to France and Spain, among others. Someone also needs to teach him French. If you see BGS on-line, give him a yell or a /page! He'd love to chat to you all!! ======================================= METRO CPU STUDIO BBS ======================================= Videotape, TIG*LINES' own BBS guru, operates the CPU Studio with his IBM PC and enjoys every minute of it. His system supports all computers and even has a Women's Section and an Adult Section. Call it soon at 212-757-3387 and join the masses!! *************************************** TIG*LINES is proud to announce it's ==FIRST== advertiser: +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ * *MICRO ARTISTS NETWORK* * +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ MANIAC!, as the Delphi SIG is lovingly referred to as, is made up of truly artistic and talented people and gives Micro Computer users the place to express themselves. Through music, graphic art, or prose and poetry, MANIAC! offers something for everyone's taste. (Look who the SYSOP's are!!) =Ellen Kaufman= The 'Gertie Stein of Telecom', Ellen finds time to run this SIG and never see a clean dish in her house. She boasts of her new Commodore 128 and wishes it to could teach her to type *without* macros! Ellen is helped from many sides of the computer industry by Bob Fried (MAC); Bob Retelle (Atari); Rick Sterling (CBM Music and Graphics); Howard Gazes (CBM Music); and Bob Stout (Apple). MANIAC! is excited to present its weekly DATAbase updates for all to read. Hurry and get your files while they last!!!!!!! MANIAC!MANIAC!MANIAC!MANIAC!MANIAC! A UPDATE 9-15 M N DATABASE NEW TOTAL A I================================ N A MANiac central....... 18 I C APPle Graphics....... 36 A ! MUSic Apple.......... 9 C M ATAri Graphics....... 18 153 ! A TUNes Atari.......... 6 51 M N COMmodore Graphics... 11 230 A I JUKebox Commodore.... 15 389 N A MAC Graphics......... 1 23 I C MELodies Mac......... 12 A ! IBM Graphics......... 40 C M SCOres IBM........... 9 ! A MISC Graphics........ 12 M N ARRangements Misc.... 1 A I PRInter Pics......... 2 76 N A POEms Prose Parodies. 1 23 I C A !MANIAC!MANIAC!MANIAC!MANIAC!MANIAC EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA!!!!!!!!!!!!! MANIAC! announced last week (in mid- production of TIG*LINES) the latest SUBSCRIBER DRIVE ================ This is *your* chance to sign up your friends for DELPHI at a nominal rate of only $10.00 for a life-time membership, a DELPHI command card, and one (1) free hour of connect time!!! Just type at the 'username:' prompt, CONTEST, and at the 'Who referred you?' prompt, enter ELLENK. This will get your friend into the DELPHI system!!! Go and get 'em gang!! ======================================= THE TIG*QUESTION OF THE WEEK ======================================= WHERE WOULD *YOU* LIKE TO TAKE A CRUISE TO?????????? Send all answers to TIGLON! Tallies will be printed in upcoming issues! Till next week my fellow gang members, HAPPY TELE-READING!!! TIGLON Publisher of TIG*LINES A TIGLON Production 1985 All comments to TIGLON MAIL> d MAIL> #12 16-SEP-1985 13:11:28 MAIL From: BOS1A::RODM To: CABUYS,RODM Subj: Life Story Part I My Beloved Darling Connie, In keeping with my obsession to tell you everything I can and to share with you every part of my life both past and present and in following to see if I actually can still write to anyone I am going to attempt to write to you in an ongoing form the story of my life. I am sure that this will out do the most boring writtings known to man but I want to tell you all I possibly can! I will try to date and title each episode so you can pick and choose what you care to read, scan, or ignore. I will try to write additional episodes whenever I can and send them to you as completed. This is another original 'hair-sceemed idea' and we will see what I can do and what you can tolerate. HERE GOES !!! Episode 1: Origin I was born on April 7, 1947 at the General Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri but I do NOT know who my real parents were/are but was adopted by my legal parents at the age of 6 months and lived at an appartment located at 1509 Admiral Blvd., Kansas city from then until I was 14 years old. This apartment and address no longer exist in that the entire 8 block area surrounding that address was condemmed and leveled and is since that demolition in approximately 1967 (6 years after my leaving) has remained a grassy vacant lot near the center of the city. During my growing up the only things that come to mind that are worth mentioning is my being very much a loner since I had no brothers or sisters and this made me very vernable to being beaten up by the bully's of the area and on a couple of occassions being threatened and on one occassion cut with a knife and to this day I have a strong reaction and in some cases a defense reaction to a knife being pointed at me. The other event that comes to mind is riding my bicycle of an enbankment over the freeway, but that deserves an episode of it's owm. During this timeframe I spent what week-end time (sunday) I could (after church or one sunday per month instead of church) going with my father to fly in his small two passenger airplane. Between the time I was able to reach the controls with the help of pillows (7-8 yrs old) and my graduating from high school I spent over 3000 hours flying time of which almost 1000 hours I had at the controls. This led to an eventful day when I was about 9-10 yrs old which frightened me so bad that I didn't fly for a year following it. This story also deserves its own episode. At the age of 14 my parents bought a house located in the Northeast Section of Kansas City (3216 Roberts) which is a reasonable lower middle income area and this is where my mother still lives today. This move was because of the plans to destroy the apartment building we were in (which didn't happen years to follow) and also to guarentee my being able to go to Northeast Jr. and later Northeast Sr. high school which was esentially all white whereas if I stayed where we were I would have to go to Manual High School which was about 75 Percent Black During this time frame I discovered girls, started working on a weekly radio show, become VERY interested in electronics, and simultanious to my Jr. and Sr. years went part-time to the University of Kansas City studying electronics. All of these topics deserve there own episodes also. Following graduation from high school I went to K. C. Junior College and worked part time as a radio announcer. In this first year I met Charlet (now my wife), and joined the U. S. Army. In the year following that I completed Army Basic Training (boot camp), Went to an Army Communications School (Ft. Gordon, Ga.) (Graduating with the highest grade average of the 2200 students in the school session I was in), I was sent to Germany to work in Mobile Communications Repair, and on Christmas Eve Morning (7:30 am, Dec. 24, 1966) was awaken to the news of my Father's death and returned to the US for his funeral. Following that I was reassigned to Ft. Leavenworth which was about 65 miles from K. C. so I could be with my mother. (Compasionate Reassignment) I lived at home and commutted to the post. During this year I married Charlet (Oct. 20, 1967), and upon getting back from my honeymoon learned of my orders to Vietnam. Following my "Special" Vietnam Training and a 30 day leave I left for Vietnam on a one year assignment (Jan 10, 1968). I arrived in vietnam during the first week of the "Tet Offensive" of 1968 and that too is quite an episode to be told! I worked in Intellegence for about 4 months and then was assigned to a communications facility between the Mekong Delta and Yeu Meng Forest.(the southernmost compound occupied by US Forces - Vi Thanh) I spent the week of my first wedding anniversary with my wife in Honolulu, Ha. as my "R&R" from Viet Nam (Oct 18-24, 1968) and then returned to Viet Nam for the remainder of my tour. I returned from Viet Nam and was released from active duty on Jan 14, 1969. I returned to the Radio Station in Kansas City that I was working at upon entering the Army and became a senior announcer and later the news director of the station. Because of the time and oppertunity ending I am going to end for now! (To Be Continued)..... MAIL> d MAIL> #13 16-SEP-1985 13:44:21 MAIL From: BOS1A::CHRISALLEN "ARTPRO SIG MANAGER" To: BOS1A::CABUYS Subj: If we can justify the cost, we would love to promote delphi in any Jacksonville conventions! As far as the GSC&ES shows are converned, I personally have a bad taste in my mouth from ACCESS Jacksonville experience. Hope to meet you someday! Chris Allen MAIL> rep To: BOS1A::CHRISALLEN,CABUYS Subj: Enter your message below. Press CTRL/Z when complete, or CTRL/C to quit: Thanks, Chris. Perhaps one day when we do meet, you can tell me more of your experiences with GSC&ES! -Connie ^Z New mail on node BOS1A from CABUYS "CONNIE" Press RETURN to return to reading your mail MAIL> read newmail #1 17-SEP-1985 21:21:59 NEWMAIL From: BOS1A::CABUYS "CONNIE" To: BOS1A::CHRISALLEN,CABUYS Subj: Thanks, Chris. Perhaps one day when we do meet, you can tell me more of your experiences with GSC&ES! -Connie MAIL> d MAIL> select mail 9 messages selected MAIL> dir MAIL # From Date Subject 1 BOS1A::CHRISALLEN 16-SEP-1985 2 BOS1A::ELLISCO 16-SEP-1985 "o MAIL> d 1 MAIL> #2 16-SEP-1985 19:18:37 MAIL From: BOS1A::ELLISCO "Dick Evans" To: CABUYS Subj: "other " request. Connie, I have told Peter my thinking on that already. If we go with a plan similar to the one I sent him there will be two restricted sections. One for managers only and one for staff only. Also all of the managers will only be users when they come to Inside. Just like the rest of the world when they come to your SIG. It may take a bit of arm twisting but, I think that we can have a very good, responsive SIG that will serve the managers and staff. Agape Dick MAIL> d MAIL> #3 17-SEP-1985 01:24:05 MAIL From: BOS1A::RODM To: CABUYS,RODM Subj: My Beloved Darling Connie, I hope you had presant dreamspleasnt dreams! I wish I could have been there to share them with you! I must be asleep too, I put the opening as the subject!!! I guess I had better go to bed and sleep. But first.... I LOVE YOU youYOU! I LOVE YOU! I lLOVE YOU! NEW WORD[: MORTHOVE! (1) A term or unit of measure to express a passion that is 1000 times as deep felt as what is equaxpressed noby theterm love. (2) A state of passion that is irreversable, inalterable, and of the magnitude refered to above. (root words: MORe THan lOVE) I am so very deeply in morthove with ypuou! I morthove you, Connie! Morthove, Rod MAIL> ^Z #2 17-SEP-1985 14:22:09 MAIL From: BOS1A::RODM To: CABUYS,RODM Subj: I made up the word! My Beloved Connie, If you recall that several times I have mentioned that I needed a word that meant more than 'love' because when I say 'I love you' it seems to be inadequate. Then I found the song 'You Are The One' which refered to the same problem, well since I have been unable to find such a word I have invented one and here it is: Morthove - 1. A term or unit of measure of passion that is 1000 times that of the word 'love'. 2. A state or level of passion that is: irreversable, inalterable, indescribable and has a relative magnatude of 1000 times Love. (Root words: MOre THan lOVE) I am so morthove with you? I Morthove You! Morthove, Rod P.S. Post if you wish! MAIL> dir MAIL # From Date Subject 1 (Deleted) 2 BOS1A::RODM 17-SEP-1985 I made up the word! 3 BOS1A::KELLY 17-SEP-1985 MEMB MAIL> read 4 #4 17-SEP-1985 17:19:41 MAIL From: BOS1A::RODM To: CABUYS,RODM Subj: will you? My Beloved Connie, I am at the office until 7:00 PM and if you read this befotre then will you call me at '3260'<i lost mci no.><left it in my drawer at office home> I LOMORTHOVE YOU YOU! Love Rod MAIL> d MAIL> #5 17-SEP-1985 20:05:21 MAIL From: BOS1A::CABUYS "CONNIE" To: RODM,CABUYS Subj: i see you there..... but I'm going to be entering the transcript of last Sat. co in database so if you can't send to me that's why. should take about 10 minutes to upload and put in database. I love you! -Connie MAIL> d MAIL> #6 17-SEP-1985 20:14:26 MAIL From: BOS1A::RODM To: CABUYS,RODM Subj: OOPS!!!! Sorry Dear, I did a /zend before reading your mail! I hope I didn't mess things up! Gotta go! Morthove, Rod MAIL> d MAIL> #7 17-SEP-1985 21:10:48 MAIL From: BOS1A::CABUYS "CONNIE" To: BOS1A::RODM,CABUYS Subj: RE: OOPS!!!! Your /zend didn't mess anything up! I managed to do that all by myself! <grin> but of course, stubborness pays off and I was able to fix it! I love you! Morthove, Connie MAIL> d MAIL> No more messages MAIL> dir MAIL # From Date Subject 1 (Deleted) 2 BOS1A::RODM 17-SEP-1985 I made up the word! 3 BOS1A::KELLY 17-SEP-1985 MEMBERSHIP CONTEST 4 (Deleted) 5 (Deleted) 6 (Deleted) 7 (Deleted) MAIL>