@ancient_catbus@randomdent standalone local BBS systems rapidly morphed into regional BBS systems via call forwarding (electric blue covered most of SF Bay Area) and national networks (WWIV) via various ad hoc infrastructures BBS also used door software internet gateways to connect to smarthosts Bang path email example: pacbell.com!boo!tweekco!alizard
@ancient_catbus@alizardx@randomdent the first connected computer I used had a 300 baud acoustic coupler modem. I could call some Unix computer (called gandolf) at my Dad’s work to play Collosal Caves adventure game. I ran a BBS (Southern Maryland RBBS) during high school, eventually connecting it to FidoNet