Ancient History

[james_davis_nicoll]

But I've never seen the transcript before.

I would have sworn that this happened much earlier in the Reagan administration than 1985.

Comments

[ghostwes.livejournal.com]

Pournelle was the first internet troll? That's... interesting.

[sethb.livejournal.com]

In the 1980's? Not even close to first.

[lyle-hopwood.livejournal.com]

That's certainly a timely reminder that everything you've ever said or done to someone else with a computer is never, ever going to vanish.

[anton-p-nym.livejournal.com]

Yes, this demonstrates the true value of the Intertubes: your silly slapfights can be preserved for all time, to haunt you, your friends, and your decendants 'till the End of Days.

-- Steve's got to keep that in mind the next time a blog or forum post builds up a head of steam...

[julesjones]

Keeping that in mind, I probably shouldn't mention that I read that as Interlubes.

I think it was a by-product of the "wanking in public *that* long ago?" train of thought.

[(Anonymous)]

I find it sinister that I've unconsciously taken on the tropes of a culture created by MIT netadmins in the early 1980s. Frankly, that transcript could be from any one of [enter comments thread/listserv/usenet group/web forum/whatever here] yesterday in itse essentials.

[martin-wisse.livejournal.com]

Seen that before, but still ...interesting....

[von-krag.livejournal.com]

He certainly acted the "troll" to me at KC '76.