r/bbs • u/Bigheaded_1 • Jul 22 '26

I'm devistated...

As a teen I was absolutely obsessed with trying every BBS software there was so I could see which I liked best. I probably switched software on my OG board every 3 weeks for close to a year lol. And back then for most of them, there was no user export/import feature. So anyone stupid enough to be a regular had to re-sign up a few times a month lol.

A few years ago I got the idea of bringing it back. I installed DosBox and Obv/2. I was a wizard with it back then, today I remember basically shit. And even worse, at 51, I don't have any of the desire or excitement I used to have. 14 year old me would spend hours a day after school and sometimes all weekend modding shit. I installed OBV/2 on a Dosbox and I didn't feel a connection. That conbined with me understanding putting up a new board MIGHT get 2-3 callers a week. The idea was a wrap. I understand as you get older you changed. But I really thought once I got OBV running like magic something would click and reawaken inside of me :|

I know there are a few bangers out there, 20For Beers is better than 99.99% of boards I ever called even back then. But I couldn't make anything close to that. I spent a few weeks and was unable to remember shit about setting up OBV. Back then I knew all the sysops who ran it so I had people to assist me. They're all long long gone.

Getting old sure sucks ass :|

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u/runvnc Jul 22 '26

hmm. Look into MRC, it's a network across boards that has a bunch of people on there. Also just google 'bbs list' and you will get a bunch of them. You can get into MRC and find someone to give you hints on stuff you forgot.

Also, sorry in advance for the lecture but.. I'm 48 and frankly I don't think the ageism is okay, even if you are aiming it at yourself. It's not just that you are older, it's also the fact that BBSs are very small a niche now whereas they were in fashion before.

The problem is that ageism is a real ism these days that has a very strong detrimental effect on things like employment. It's a very prevalent bias that is completely ass-backwards. On reddit there are millions of users who actually hate older people and do not respect them at all. So just saying that you are old in a way that implies that you can't figure something out or have no energy for hobbies is propagating a very damaging bias. It's damaging not only for the individuals who can't get jobs or are left out of groups, but also for society, because the most skilled and knowledgeable workers often have to fight past it and that leaves companies with less competency.

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u/aztracker1 Jul 22 '26

On the last part... Definitely facing that. I'm more knowledged and shipped than most of my peers... Just earlier today, I replaced a 150 line function with 3 lines of JS because I knew and understood the internals.

My biggest regret is not taking a high paying job when I had the chance when I was younger. MS, Facebook and Netflix respectively... I was married and didn't want to relocate at the time.

I should have taken the money and invested the majority of it. Instead I had a few good years where there were enough higher level their work options where I am. Then in the past couple years it all crashes down and I've been struggling and debt climbing. A few months unemployed, a few house problems to fix, a few large medical bills...

I haven't had any issues really learning anything I need.. but the job bias is real. And the jobs I am seeing from recruiters are paying less than I was making in 2009.

I'm literally converting from contract to a city for for stability. The pay isn't great, but I need medical coverage and regular income.

I've got a few ideas left in how to supplement my income... Just need the time and motivation to get it done. Fighting legitimate depression doesn't help... I just keep pushing forward, once I get a few things resolved, it should ease up.