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 (we are talking late 1990s probably). I finally got around to acquiring a 5.25″ disk drive and extracting the contents a several years back. Since then I have been occasionally posting the content 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 MRGCO.DOC. This appears to be a chat log in a conference labeled “Manager’s Conference”. The subject seems to be about recent reliability problems that Delphi was having at the time. Based on the discussion, it sounds like it was a problem with whatever DEC machines Delphi was run on having problems with frequent crashes for various reason. While the date on the file is clearly invalid, a date in the chat log itself indicates this is from September 28th 1985.
Based on the header and the menu at the end, it looks like this chat log was being sent by Connie to herself via MCI mail. I’m not sure why as previous similar logs on these disks look like they were captured directly. Maybe in this case it was originally captured by someone else…
See the previous post here.
===
MRGCO.DOC
===
=-=-=-=-=-
From: Connie Buys / MCI ID: 115-1075
TO: cbuys
Subject: mgrs co
** deb! just joined 1 (6 members now) **
/w
GROUP LIST: 12:02:07
1) 1
JSP, ptr, Myself, Dick, Randy, deb!
- idle
AVAILABLE LIST: () = in conf
(DEB), (RANDYH), (ELLISCO), (JSP), (PEABO), (JOHNMYSELF)
------ [6 in this area]
.Randy> HI sweets.
.deb!> ** New group name "MANAGER'S CONFERENCE" selected **
.ptr> hi folks ... be with you soon from Delphi world hq
.Myself> lo deb
.deb!> Hello folkses!
.deb!>
** JOHNWG just joined MANAGER'S CONFERENCE (7 members now) **
** SOFTAFFAIR just joined MANAGER'S CONFERENCE (8 members now) **
.Myself> lo john
.Myself> et al
.Bryan> Hi, all!
** ^Dave^. just joined MANAGER'S CONFERENCE (9 members now) **
/time
28-SEP-1985 12:03:56
11 minutes (0h 10m 22s)
.^Dave^.> Beep?
JOHNWG> good afternoon all
.deb!> G'Mornin' Gib, long time, no talk, eh?
JOHNWG> close deb
.ptr> I am logging the conference, and a transcript will be posted
.Bryan> Hiya, John.
.^Dave^.> Am I here?
JOHNWG> yup
.ptr> you sure re ^^
.Bryan> Yes, Dave.
.^Dave^.> Whew!
/n Myself - CLE
.deb!> Peter....you are not affected by ROCO on a local line, then?
.^Dave^.> JohnWG, must RUN at 13:15
/w
GROUP LIST: 12:05:48
1) MANAGER'S CONFERENCE
JSP, ptr, Myself - CLE, Dick, Randy, deb!, JOHNWG, Bryan, ^Dave^.
- idle
AVAILABLE LIST: () = in conf
(MORTIMER), (SOFTAFFAIR), (DEB), (RANDYH), (ELLISCO), (JSP), (PEABO),
(JOHNWG), (JOHNMYSELF)
------ [9 in this area]
.ptr> no, ROCO has something to o with the packet interface ... Kip thinks he
has figured out what, now he has to get the software vendor to fix it!
JOHNWG> got you dave, I will be down in the baltimore area on the 8 thru the
10th of october.
.^Dave^.> Ho ho! You know my number!!! And where!
JOHNWG> ok, yup and I will call you about 5 days ahead to schedule a time.
JOHNWG> you all what to get started?
.Myself - CLE> please do.
.Bryan> I'm ready.
.deb!> yes, Sir! *SweetSalute!*
.^Dave^.> START already!
JOHNWG> OK, there are several things I want to discuss here...
JOHNWG> 1, I want you to know about what delphi is doing to get the system
working on a frequent basis.
JOHNWG> 2. I want you to know about how I would like you to interface with
peabo and ellisco in the insiders and ztest.
JOHNWG> 3. I want you to know that software improvements will start to become
swift and very atuned to what you want.
JOHNWG> 4. lastly, I want you to know that I am aware of your concerns about
the system ....
JOHNWG> and that dan, kip, and now DEC are doing everything possible to clear
this up quickly.
** Allan just joined MANAGER'S CONFERENCE (10 members now) **
.ptr> hi allan
.Allan> Hi everyone
JOHNWG> Dan sent a letter to the Pres of DEC and in so many words stated that
DEC's lack...
JOHNWG> of support was killing delphi. He responded quickly!
JOHNWG> Every day, (last week ) there was a person from dec here...
JOHNWG> every nite the system crashed, it was something different.
JOHNWG> Believe this or not, one crash was due to a line paper feed on the
750!!!
.Allan> (Is this being logged?)
.ptr> <allan, yes>
.Myself - CLE> <yes>
JOHNWG> How nuts can it get???
.deb!> (don't ask, Gib!)
JOHNWG> another time the packet switching software was a cause. Dec...
JOHNWG> for got to tell us that we needed to upgrade a rom in the system to run
the...
JOHNWG> new psi software. Nobody has written any of this down nor has anyone...
JOHNWG> been exposed to this. Again nuts!!!!
JOHNWG> sometimes we feel that dec just started in this business.
JOHNWG> well anyway, the software is settling down but not as fast as any of us
want...
JOHNWG> Dan, kip and myself have been trying to give you enhancements quickly
now...
JOHNWG> but the last month or so has been a little crazy here.
JOHNWG> That leads me to the next topic. Peabo and Ellisco...
JOHNWG> I am planning to give Peabo certain priv's to the system to increase
the...
JOHNWG> response to you...
JOHNWG> and with Dick Evans as his helper (ellisco)...
JOHNWG> I would like to have them coordinate the problems you are having and
sometimes...
JOHNWG> even fix them.
.deb!> Wow!!!!
.Myself - CLE> <fixes would be nice>
JOHNWG> We have the new forms software in the announcements area here on
Insiders and
JOHNWG> I hope that it can be used for bug reports to be concise.
JOHNWG> I have put in the sm area SETUP way for you to be able to edit
nmagreement &
JOHNWG> nonmember welcome message.
JOHNWG> we now have a way that the default editor for each sig can be
established.
JOHNWG> and by wednesday, each memberr will be able to set that.
JOHNWG> I have also put in several features to oldie.
JOHNWG> dan has been working hard to get the bugs out of forums. That should be
JOHNWG> done hopefully by wednesday.
JOHNWG> to roco has to do with the psi (as I understand) and kip is working on
that.
JOHNWG> well gang, I am going to shut up and listen to you now .
.Bryan> How about the problem with extra linefeeds?
.Myself - CLE> ?
JOHNWG> yup, kip and I were talking about that and we have several ways to fix
that...
JOHNWG> One is to set up an area on the main and sig main (set defaults) for
that.
JOHNWG> secondly...
JOHNWG> on online sigups, allow the user to be able to set those there....
JOHNWG> I think the combo of those should take care of it.
.Bryan> OK, thanks.
.ptr> it eems to me that the best approach is the default settings menu, since
no user wll understand at the time of online signup what his options mean
JOHNWG> go ahead john
.Myself - CLE> thank you Mr. G
.Myself - CLE> question...
.Myself - CLE> do you have any idea when all network links ..
.Myself - CLE> tymnet et al will be able to talk to each other inco?
JOHNWG> no, not really, kip has to take one major problem at a time, to
confuse...
JOHNWG> the two could only compond the problem. so instead, he has decided
to...
JOHNWG> keep them seperate, it is easier for him to debug then.
.Myself - CLE> <thank you>
.^Dave^.> ?
JOHNWG> not what you wanted to here, but it is the truth.
JOHNWG> yes dave.
.^Dave^.> When we aren't able to access via nets ...
.^Dave^.> but ARE via direct connect ....
.^Dave^.> do you want it reported? and if so to whom? Or are you well aware
already??? ....
.^Dave^.> This morning at 02:00 is a case in point. end
JOHNWG> we know whenever a tymnet or uninet goes down (looses connection to
us)...
JOHNWG> but I would like a log report of it to go into insiders via (forms).
JOHNWG> that is one...
JOHNWG> thing that is apparent to me...
JOHNWG> to get the response and control is owning our own network. We are
starting that...
JOHNWG> on the other hand. there are problems with that. Rome wasn't built in
a day. but we are heading that way.
.^Dave^.> Okay, thanks [have two cans and thread to contribute] end
JOHNWG> thanks dave.
JOHNWG> I have given dick evans and peabo several topics that I need to get your
input...
JOHNWG> on. They are how you want us to implement certain things like managers
delete ...
JOHNWG> of mass messages (how to archive them ) and where you want them to go
etc.
JOHNWG> You will see these shortly in the insiders and would appreciate if you
put..
JOHNWG> your two cents in on each. It is very important that these commands
get...
JOHNWG> taken care of soon.
JOHNWG> ga.
.^Dave^.> ?
JOHNWG> go dave
.^Dave^.> In our last phonecon ...
.^Dave^.> you indicated OLDIE would soon be scrapped and I said as much here on
Forum ...
.^Dave^.> has that now changed??? EDT is a BUNDLE to learn!! ga
JOHNWG> peabo and dick will be working on creating a simple straight forward...
JOHNWG> help file that we can publish. as far as oldie. I am trying to
improve...
JOHNWG> on it, just because I think there needs to be a choice...
JOHNWG> that leads me into another topic...
.deb!> *StandingOvation*
JOHNWG> I want to produce a type of command card for each sig. Color coded
and...
JOHNWG> specific to each sig. That way, both you and delphi can send them or
give them ...
JOHNWG> out as needed. Also, I am going to order business cards for each sig
manager.
JOHNWG> ga.
.Bryan> ?
JOHNWG> ga bryan
.^Dave^.> Need business cards for Princeton by 11 Oct!!!
JOHNWG> Ok dave, I will bring them down to you.
.Bryan> How about sending us some blank Delphi stationary, too?
JOHNWG> not a bad idea. Never thought about it. Also thou, I am considering...
JOHNWG> giving each sig manager a series of free usernames that they can pass
out...
JOHNWG> for demo's and for individuals to see the service and you could then...
JOHNWG> converse with them on the system.
.Bryan> That would be great!...
.Myself - CLE> <very good idea>
.Bryan> Regarding the stationary, there are times when
.Bryan> I want to correspond with someone, but writing on a blank piece
.Bryan> paper doesn't look too swift.
JOHNWG> I will check into it Bryan.
.Bryan> Thanks.
** NJOHNSON just joined MANAGER'S CONFERENCE (11 members now) **
NJOHNSON> Hi
.ptr> <hi nancy>
/s njohnson hi nance
JOHNWG> anyone else got a question?
.Allan> q
.Allan> This may have been covered in Forum before, but I'm new, so...
NJOHNSON> Do i have a bad connection
JOHNWG> ga allan, sorry about today but I had to get uninet working. The storm
did some goofie things. And I spent the nite here.
.Allan> Is there anything that can be done to get rid of the VT100 formatting
codes...
/s njohnson i read you ok.
.Allan> that appear at the beginning of forum & mail messages? Even tho
terminal...
.ptr> you mean the clear screen messages in Forum?
.Allan> type is specified as Unknown they still appear and look bad. [No
problem,...
.Allan> John, we'd like to have you next month tho!] Yeah, I think that's it
Ptr. ga
.deb!> ((I have a comment))
JOHNWG> I think that with the proper set defaults (like cis has) it should
remedy that.
JOHNWG> just one deb?
NJOHNSON> Be back have to redial
.deb!> (for a change, eh?)
NJOHNSON> - signed off -
.deb!> Want everyone else to know, I'm revising all our member help files to
reflect new changes, new commands and new understandings. will post here
when we are done.
JOHNWG> allan did that answer your question ok?
JOHNWG> thanks deb. Much appreciated.
.Bryan> Thanks, Deb!
.Allan> Not really--are you saying it's fixable NOW, or that Set Defaults will
be
.Allan> changed? ga
.^Dave^.> Deb, I've been waiting to know what we've ended up with!!!
JOHNWG> I am saying that set defaults will be changed. and soon.
.deb!> ?....now I have a question.
.Allan> OK thanks.
JOHNWG> yes deb
.deb!> the new MAIL makes a bloody mess with your disk space, and storage
charges...
JOHNWG> you bet. Calling it a mess is an understatement. I think that a new
command...
.deb!> I understand it is probably a DEC plot to sell more disks, but what can
we tell the users? they should not have to be charged for it when MAIL.MAI
keeps their deleted mails.
** DEOGBURN just joined MANAGER'S CONFERENCE (11 members now) **
.ptr> <hi chris>
JOHNWG> card explaining in detail will help matters, I want to mail that out
to...
.Myself - CLE> <very much in agreement on that one>
JOHNWG> all users.
.Bryan> ?
.deb!> I posted an announcement with simple COMPRESS/DELETE instructions.
JOHNWG> no actually, they thought it would be easier. But again, they don't
deal...
JOHNWG> with users like we do.
.deb!> thanks...ga
.Bryan> ?
JOHNWG> yes bryan
.Bryan> How do you feel about Sysops accessing the system during Prime Time?
JOHNWG> if it needs to be done then do it. Simple huh, it is just to bull
shit, don't do it.
.^Dave^.> ?
JOHNWG> yes dave.
.^Dave^.> Will members acquired since April '85 ....
.^Dave^.> get the new Delphi Manual gratus when it's ready Jul '87 ???
.^Dave^.> ga
JOHNWG> I can't answer that dave, I don't know, really the expense of that is
not...
JOHNWG> the manual but instead, the postage.
.Myself - CLE> <how abt an on-line you copy it yourself approack?>
.Bryan> - signed off -
.^Dave^.> Ummmm, thanks. end
JOHNWG> I do have some thoughts on the user guide and I have talked to dick
evans about..
.ptr> myself - how about online shopping to order an update at a "reasonable"
cost ?
JOHNWG> that, One is that we take it out of in house and have a publisher do
it.
.Myself - CLE> <also a good idea ptr>
.Myself - CLE> ?
** SOFTAFFAIR just joined MANAGER'S CONFERENCE (11 members now) **
JOHNWG> I agree with peabo, I think that command cards specific to the users
needs...
JOHNWG> would be the cheaper and easier way.
JOHNWG> take for instance, if a non member of delphi calls us and asks for
info...
JOHNWG> about delphi and we then ask some specific info like what micro and
interests...
JOHNWG> he/she has and give them a list of what is currently available, we
could,...
.Randy> - signed off -
** NJOHNSON just joined MANAGER'S CONFERENCE (11 members now) **
/s njohnson wlcm back
JOHNWG> send several command cards out to them explaining in detail their
interests.ga
.Myself - CLE> john...
.Myself - CLE> on the idea of the user guide...
JOHNWG> yes john
.Myself - CLE> if the system had an on-line version that you could..
.Myself - CLE> load in text or xmodem format <either>...
.Myself - CLE> then you could link it up to the user's bill, allowing
.Myself - CLE> the actual transfer to occur only after the users says..
.ptr> i am considering the idea of a Form that a user can ask a question and if
it ...
.Myself - CLE> yes I want to buy it and bill my account...
.Myself - CLE> you have one copy,..
.Myself - CLE> relatively easy to maintain.
.Myself - CLE> ga
.ptr> is one of a set of commonly asked problems, we mail the answer to him
automatically ...
.ptr> and this could be done in a free area in the SIG
JOHNWG> or in an area where the question is directed at.
NJOHNSON> deogburn send me log ok?
.ptr> <nancy, there is an official transcript to be posted in the database here>
SOFTAFFAIR> A free area to report problems is a good suggestion.
NJOHNSON> Good i have a bad connection
** RANDYH just joined MANAGER'S CONFERENCE (12 members now) **
SOFTAFFAIR> John, any progress on the direct phone lines?
JOHNWG> yes bryan, slow but steady. Have some problems that I have to overcome.
SOFTAFFAIR> John, one last question....
SOFTAFFAIR> Are we driving Kelly crazy yet?
JOHNWG> no I don't think so, but on the good news, shortly if you have a
problem,...
JOHNWG> all you will have to do is relay the problem to peabo and he will be
able...
JOHNWG> to fix it.
.ptr> [or go crazy] <grin>
SOFTAFFAIR> That's great. Thanks.
JOHNWG> anybody else, we have run out of beer here!
SOFTAFFAIR> Thanks for all the info, John!
NJOHNSON> Ya thanks John
JOHNWG> I will be holding these co's at least bi monthly to keep you all up to
date and...
.Randy> Nothing else up here.
JOHNWG> the progress, and tell you about your suggestions and when they will be
completed.
NJOHNSON> Good
.Myself - CLE> <excellent>
.^Dave^.> ?
SOFTAFFAIR> Much appreciated!
JOHNWG> Thanks everybody for being here. Keep up the faith. I am!!
.Myself - CLE> <dave has a question up>
JOHNWG> yes dave.
SOFTAFFAIR> Dave woke up!
.^Dave^.> John, comment akshully ....
.^Dave^.> it is a great RELIEF to know that the ....
.^Dave^.> delphian Grand Wumpi don't think all is peachee keen!!!
.^Dave^.> thanks!!!
JOHNWG> Dave, that is an understatement and the Grand Wumpi think everything
stinks now and are working...
JOHNWG> day and night to get it smelling like a rose.
.^Dave^.> Whew!
.^Dave^.> [Note, I've been connected in CO for 67 minutes!]
JOHNWG> that is one reason I drove no stop from D.C. to Boston Wednesday night.
Get things rolling strong.
SOFTAFFAIR> I noticed that SCORPIA officially bid farewell to CISQ
SOFTAFFAIR> "CIS"!
JOHNWG> well I guess that is it for now. Again, I appreciate all your efforts.
/tim
28-SEP-1985 13:10:38
78 minutes (1h 17m 3s)
.Randy> ?
JOHNWG> see you all later. Thanks
.Allan> [John, can we talk before you go about my SIG?]
.deb!> Bye John! *SweetAffections*
SOFTAFFAIR> Bye, John!
.^Dave^.> bye bye all, me RUN too!
.Randy> - signed off -
JOHNWG> allan, how about giving me a call in about 2 hours.
SOFTAFFAIR> Have fun, Dave!
.^Dave^.> - signed off -
.Allan> ok THANKS for your efforts!
DEOGBURN> - signed off -
JOHNWG> randy, you got a question?
/w
GROUP LIST: 13:12:09
1) MANAGER'S CONFERENCE
JSP, ptr, Myself - CLE, Dick, deb!, JOHNWG, Allan, SOFTAFFAIR, NJOHNSON
2) SIG CONFERENCE
deb!, JSP
- idle
^Dave^., DEOGBURN
AVAILABLE LIST: () = in conf
(NJOHNSON), (ATRICK), (SOFTAFFAIR), (MORTIMER), (DEB), (DEOGBURN), (ELLISCO),
(JSP), (PEABO), (JOHNWG), (JOHNMYSELF)
------ [11 in this area]
.Dick> he signed off, enroute to TIIN.
JOHNWG> ok, bye all
JOHNWG> - signed off -
SOFTAFFAIR> - signed off -
.Dick> - signed off -
.Allan> question for anyone remaining: ??
NJOHNSON> bye
.ptr> - signed off -
NJOHNSON> - signed off -
** SOFTAFFAIR just joined MANAGER'S CONFERENCE (5 members now) **
.Allan> bryan, i think everyone split
SOFTAFFAIR> What happened to RONL? Did he move back to CIS?
/w
GROUP LIST: 13:14:04
1) MANAGER'S CONFERENCE
JSP, Myself - CLE, deb!, Allan, SOFTAFFAIR
2) SIG CONFERENCE
deb!, JSP
- idle
AVAILABLE LIST: () = in conf
(ATRICK), (SOFTAFFAIR), (DEB), DEOGBURN, (JSP), PEABO, (JOHNMYSELF)
------ [7 in this area]
.Allan> huh?
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