• Tag Archives Delphi

  • Digital Archaeology: Codex (Floppy Disk) #8 (part 15)

    Posted on by Azrael 1 Comment

    A summary for those that haven’t been keeping up with this series:

    I found a bunch 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 A. Buys 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 previous 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.”

    Everything was text based from whatever terminal program you used 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 some of it is quite personal.

    I’ve been splitting up the contents of this disk (descriptively labeled “File Disk”) since it contains a number of documents, some of which are pretty long. A 5.25″ floppy disk can still hold an impressive amount of info when it is just text. (see the previous parts here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14).

    The contents of this post is from a document called ROD.DOC. A letter from Connie to Rod regarding their then new relationship. I believe this content or something very much like it was included in a previous post as part of a terminal log that involved sending the actual e-mail.

    ===
    ROD.DOC
    ===

    
My dearest darling Rod,

I mentioned to you that there is something I wanted to put into
writing because it would be easier for me that way.

I'm not sure, as I start this, whether I will send it to you dmail or
wait until you are here and give you a printed copy to read then.  I
want to be able to be with you but I also want you to have time to
think thru what I'm about to say and the two conflict with each other.

I would like to re-state some things we already know:

1.  You've mentioned when you come to me, you will have to give up
your present job - but I'm not sure of the exact reasons behind that
statement.

2.  You've said you are afraid of losing your son.  This I can very
well understand because of his age and you want to allow him time to
mature a little more in the hopes he can understand later.

3.  You've said your marriage would be history, which, of course, is
the only way we could be together.  This also means giving up your
home and the things you and Charlet have worked for all the past
years.

4.  You've said you would be bankrupt and I am assuming you mean the
full legal implications that are involved.

5.  You've indicated to me over and over again how segmented your life
is.

The full realization of what you would be giving up is what led to my
comment Saturday night about "destroying you". 

I am very concerned, perhaps because I don't know all the reasons
behind your various comments listed above, that you are making such
statements and decisions in a sincere effort to put that part of your
life "in a box on the shelf" - to keep it entirely segmented from the
life we will have together.

If that is the case, don't you realize that there *will always be*
ties to the past? There will be alimony.  There will be, depending on
Rodney's age at the time, child support.  There will be times when you
will have to deal with Charlet for various reasons, especially when it
comes to the son the two of you have, just as there will also be times
when I will have to deal with Chuck, even after you and I are
together.

As for the bankruptcy, that's another matter - because it will
seriously affect the starting of your own business!  Who's going to
financially back someone who can't handle their own finances? And
believe me, they will want to know all about your financial history!

And, sweetheart, don't think, when it comes to your marriage, that any
attorney is going to let you get away with giving up *everything* just
because you might want to.  Believe me! I've been there.

Anyway, now I've had my say and I think I will send it on to you so
that we can discuss it all in more detail when we are together.
I just want to be sure you don't start putting certain things into
action based on decisions you might have already made 

I love you so very much!

Love,
Connie

    📂This entry was posted in Computer Arcana 📎and tagged

  • Digital Archaeology: Codex (Floppy Disk) #8 (part 14)

    Posted on by Azrael 1 Comment

    A summary for those that haven’t been keeping up with this series:

    I found a bunch 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 A. Buys 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 previous 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.”

    Everything was text based from whatever terminal program you used 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 some of it is quite personal.

    I’ve been splitting up the contents of this disk (descriptively labeled “File Disk”) since it contains a number of documents, some of which are pretty long. A 5.25″ floppy disk can still hold an impressive amount of info when it is just text. (see the previous parts here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13).

    The contents of this post includes the contents from two related documents. The first (PRONPOLL.DOC) is an announcement about a pornography poll in Women’s Day Magazine and the second (WDPOLLS.DOC) is the results of the same poll (I think) taken on the Close Encounters Sig on Delphi along with some comments.

    ===
    PRONPOLL.DOC
    ===

    The 8/13/85 issue of Woman's Day magazine is taking a Pornography
Survey. 

We have posted the questions from the survey in our Poll area here in
the sig and ask that each of you answer them at our convenience.

However if you are interested in letting Woman's Day know your
opinions on pornography, then send your answers in writing to the
following address:

.lt
             Pornography Survey 
             Woman's Day
             1515 Broadway
             New York, New York, 10036
.el

Ellen Levine, editor of Woman's Day, is a member of the commission
appointed by General Edwin Meese to investigate the "nature, extent,
and impact on society of pornography."  The commission will hold
public hearings in Washington, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami
and New York and later issue a report.  Ms. Levine is the only
journalist in the group.

    ===
    WDPOLLS.DOC
    ===

    bro

1. WD PORNO SURVEY #1, created by CABUYS.
Creation date: OCT  5,1985

In your community, pornography has become....

CHOICE              VOTES   PERCENT
------              -----   -------
more available         3     15%
less available         7     35%
no change              10    50%
2                      0     0%
2                      0     0%
                    -----
TOTAL VOTE:            20

Type "VOTE" to vote, "READ" to read comments,  for next poll: read

Comments:


VIDEO RENTALS

Type "VOTE" to vote, "READ" to read comments,  for next poll: 

2. WD PORNO SURVEY #2, created by CABUYS.
Creation date: OCT  5,1985

Do you think pronography encourages violence against women?

CHOICE              VOTES   PERCENT
------              -----   -------
Yes                    2     11%
No                     14    77%
Undecided              2     11%
                    -----
TOTAL VOTE:            18

Type "VOTE" to vote, "READ" to read comments,  for next poll: read

Comments:
I'm basing my vote on the type of good fun pornography I enjoy...not the S&M.
WHO EVER CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF A CONNECTION BETWEEN SEX AND VIOLENCE? THE
   LAST THING ON MY MIND BEFORE, DURING, OR AFTER SEX IS KICKING ASS.
Violent porno does encourage violence against women.  I don't think erotic porno
not if the person envolved is not already strange.
There has never been shown a correlation between the two, despite what beliefs p
     DEPENDS ON THE QUALITY OF THE PORNOGRAPHY

Type "VOTE" to vote, "READ" to read comments,  for next poll: 

3. WD PORNO SURVEY #3, created by CABUYS.
Creation date: OCT  5,1985

Do you have reason to believe your children have been harmed by any exposure to
pornography?

CHOICE              VOTES   PERCENT
------              -----   -------
Yes                    2     15%
No                     10    76%
Don't Know             0     0%
I do not have childr   1     7%
                    -----
TOTAL VOTE:            13

Type "VOTE" to vote, "READ" to read comments,  for next poll: read

Comments:
     IT'S NOT PORNO THAT HARMS CHILDERN, IT'S SICK PEOPLE

Type "VOTE" to vote, "READ" to read comments,  for next poll: 

4. WD PORNO SURVEY #4, created by CABUYS.
Creation date: OCT  5,1985

Have you ever been sexually abused by someone you know as a direct result of his
access to pornographic materials?

CHOICE              VOTES   PERCENT
------              -----   -------
Yes                    0     0%
No                     12    100%
Don't Know             0     0%
                    -----
TOTAL VOTE:            12

Type "VOTE" to vote, "READ" to read comments,  for next poll: read

Comments:
I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABUSED AT ALL, BUT BE SERIOUS, IF A PERSON HAS JUST BEEN
   SEXUALLY ABUSED, OR RAPED WHO IS GOING TO ASK "BY THE WAY, DID YOU JUST READ
   HUSTLER
not applicable

Type "VOTE" to vote, "READ" to read comments,  for next poll: 

5. WD PORNO SURVEY #5, created by CABUYS.
Creation date: OCT  5,1985

All pornography should be illegal.

CHOICE              VOTES   PERCENT
------              -----   -------
STRONGLY AGREE         0     0%
AGREE                  0     0%
UNCERTAIN              0     0%
DISAGREE               3     18%
STRONGLY DISAGREE      13    81%
                    -----
TOTAL VOTE:            16

Type "VOTE" to vote, "READ" to read comments,  for next poll: read

Comments:
I do not like the violent and child types of pornography!
NO ONE CAN DEFINE PRONOGRAPHY.  THE MYTHS OIF THE WICKIN IMPIOUS GALLILEANS HAVE
   ALL SORTS OF RAUNCH, BUT THEY ALL LIKE TO PRETEND THAT IT IS FULL OF MORAL
   LESSONS.  tHE TRUTH IN SUCH DOCUMENTS AS THE METAMORPHOSES IS USUALLY
   REGARDED AS UNFIT BY THESE PEOPLE.
*SOME* pornography should be banned, such as child porn and real S & M junk.
freedom of expression rules here
NO ONE WILL TELL ME WHAT I CAN OR CANNOT READ!!

Type "VOTE" to vote, "READ" to read comments,  for next poll: 

6. WD PORNO SURVEY #6, created by CABUYS.
Creation date: OCT  5,1985

Access to and sale of pornography to minors should be illegal.

CHOICE              VOTES   PERCENT
------              -----   -------
STRONGLY AGREE         6     31%
AGREE                  7     36%
UNCERTAIN              1     5%
DISAGREE               2     10%
STRONGLY DISAGREE      3     15%
                    -----
TOTAL VOTE:            19

Type "VOTE" to vote, "READ" to read comments,  for next poll: read

Comments:
WHO DECIDES WHAT AGE?

Type "VOTE" to vote, "READ" to read comments,  for next poll: 

7. WD PORNO SURVEY #7, created by CABUYS.
Creation date: OCT  5,1985

Censorship is dangerous; pornography should not be controlled at all.

CHOICE              VOTES   PERCENT
------              -----   -------
STRONGLY AGREE         7     41%
AGREE                  1     5%
UNCERTAIN              4     23%
DISAGREE               3     17%
STRONGLY DISAGREE      2     11%
                    -----
TOTAL VOTE:            17

Type "VOTE" to vote, "READ" to read comments,  for next poll: read

Comments:
I t should be controlled to a degree there is sexual pornography and
   pornographic violence... the former may be allowable - the latter is not.

Type "VOTE" to vote, "READ" to read comments,  for next poll: 

8. SEXUAL POSITIONS, created by RODM.
Creation date: OCT  6,1985

How many sexual positions have you experienced ?

CHOICE              VOTES   PERCENT
------              -----   -------

    ===

    I guess the results of the last question will have to forever remain a mystery because that’s where the document ends…


    📂This entry was posted in Computer Arcana 📎and tagged

  • Digital Archaeology: Codex (Floppy Disk) #8 (part 13)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    A summary for those that haven’t been keeping up with this series:

    I found a bunch of 5.25″ disks at a thrift store a number of years ago. I finally got around to acquring 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 A. Buys 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 previous 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.”

    Everything was text based from whatever terminal program you used 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 some of it is quite personal.

    I’ve been splitting up the contents of this disk (descriptively labeled “File Disk”) since it contains a number of documents, some of which are pretty long. A 5.25″ floppy disk can still hold an impressive amount of info when it is just text. (see the previous parts here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12).

    The contents of this post includes the contents of a document called PEGGY.DOC. I believe this was later pasted into an e-mail (from “Connie” to “Peggy”) because I think the contents showed up in one of the earlier (and much longer) posts in this series that had a bunch of e-mail. Any time you were composing such an e-mail you would have wanted to do it locally on your computer because the risk was too great that you might be disconnected or something else might go wrong. Plus, you might very well be paying by the minute for your connection time.

    ===
    PEGGY.DOC
    ===

    Dear Peggy,

I got your letter, card, and stickers today. Thanks for the stickers -
they are some I haven't seen around here!

Since you've asked me twice what Rod called you about last week, I'm
going to *try*  to explain here and now.
I just hope that we are still friends afterwards.  (By the way, Rod
now understands that he was out of line by calling you about this!)
And *please* believe me, I'm not saying these things to hurt you - it
is just how I feel 

No, Peggy, I'm not upset over the fact that you have not split up with
Stu.  And yes, to some extent, I am upset over the changing that is
taking place within you because I don't see much change for the
better. 

What I have seen is one who was once very positive in her feelings and
thinking, who had so much confidence about her dealings with people
especially on line - I've seen that person become more uncertain, more
unsure, and not very pleased with herself.  In the words of another,
you once had it all together but you don't any more.  

I have tried to be very patient and very understanding of what you
were going thru.  But, Peggy, do you realize that you have turned your
back on what we once held to be very important to the three of us
(You, John, and me).  I counted so much on your help on line, within
the sig because you have this marvelous personality that makes people
feel at ease and allows them to talk. You *know* how to bring them out
of their shells, so to speak.  

I tried to separate your withdrawal from the sig from my personal
feelings about what was going on but I just can't do that.  The sig is
too much a part of me and I still value it's importance.  I told
myself that you had the right to do as you wished.  I tried to
convince myself that perhaps John and I had both pushed you too much
with this sig stuff or had taken for granted that you would want to be
a part of it all.  I kept as silent as I could and made every excuse
in the book but still it hurts.

I want so much to be rid of this feeling of betrayal but I guess time
will have to handle that.  I do hope that we are still friends and I
will keep in touch as often as I can.  But the very mention of Stu's
name brings this all back; altho I understand your need and desire to
talk about him, I can't deal with it.  I am sorry, so very sorry but I
don't know what else to do.

I do love you, Peggy, more than you may realize. You're my special
sister, my family, my friend, my confidant.  I hope that you can
forgive me for all this.

Love,
Connie

P.S.  Peggy, I know that at times it has looked like I've forgotten
the importance of the sig but I am very aware of this and with Rod's
help, I am working on it. It's mostly a case of setting my priorities
where Rod and the sig are concerned. And thank goodness, Rod supports
and encourages me to make this sig successful.

    📂This entry was posted in Computer Arcana 📎and tagged