talizorah

Usenet and the message boards being referred to are ‘proto-internet’ services. Think BBS, where your computer dialed into a service, and you could interact with that builiten board, the messages and users on it, as well as any files it had available for download.

Usenet had newsgroups that were very diverse and specific, and originally were just like message boards, but at some point, the major remaining Usenet servers started just sharing to each other, or maybe more appropriately, they would reference each other.

As someone mentioned before, it’s a protocol just like HTTP. There’s a bunch of servers all hosting webpages made in hypertext, and we just jump between them with links. Likewise, there’s a bunch of servers out there hosting newsgroups, but you have to find a gateway to get started. The reason there’s no ‘one’ company is akin to asking why all websites aren’t hosted/owned by one company.

If anything… It’s kinda like lemmy/fediverse stuff. You make an account with one instance, but since the protocols are the same, you can use your account on that one instance to talk to the whole fediverse network, multiple instances.

Why it costs is because at this point, it’s an archive. A huge archive, of not just text discussions, but also all the files that have been posted since a very long time ago. And just like the currently ‘free’ archive.org, it costs money to host all of that. Usenet is a bit less resource intensive than a modern website, so it can just basically sit… But they just ask that you pay to access it, pay to have an account. In this case, you’re paying to access a network that is separated from the rest of the internet at large.

I definitely identify with the second kid. Being tossed around so much because they tried to figure me out and failed definitely doesn’t help. “You’re good! But not good enough.”

I still suffer from this. Promising early start, intense self-confidence issues and depression by the end.

Can drive manual, 30s, USA.
I had a particularly bad automatic transmission in my first car and went with a manual shortly after.

I’ve been wearing a rainbow pin and watch band for over a year, with the same idea in mind: hoping it made others feel safe and seen. I will support them to the end and beyond.

I have a fear that my appearance overwrites any of that intention of goodwill, though. When I was struggling, members of the LGBTQ+ community were my only solace and are the only reason I’m around today. But those people never saw me physically, just spoke online. It’s sad to know my support of them and my undying thanks may never be seen past the person I am on the outside.

I end up not having the energy to focus on myself at all. But it really doesn’t help to know that.

Ah, just realized you’re on Lemmy. No worries! Basically, there’s a few different sites that are all talking the same “language”. So while you’re on lemmy.world, I’m on kbin.social, but we both can see the same posts and talk to each other.

I had a similar experience with Reddit trying to find support from the community there. ADHD sucks, and while having a positive attitude is good… sometimes you’re tired of being positive and want to just talk about what’s frustrating.

I’ve used the jump from Reddit to just… approach it more honestly. Everyone is pretty new to this mode of operation. Be you, be transparent, be kind. I’ve felt better speaking up here than I ever did on Reddit. Best of luck!

I hope so. My experience thus far between Kbin and Mastodon are very positive. ADHD, ASD, etc. seem to be more common, therefore better understood and accepted.

Everyone is different and struggles differently, but hey. Hopefully you find some friendly faces here ^^