Mindlink
One of the first internet service providers in the Vancouver area was Mindlink! BBS service.
After my introduction to Peacenet and other Usenet groups, I realized there was a whole world of interesting reading to explore.
In 1991, I became member number 256 on Mindlink! and began to explore. I had a 300 baud modem with dial-up.
I learned to telnet and a bit of Unix was all I needed to navigate mainframe computers. This information allowed me access to computers all over the world in major corporations and universities. There was no security. It was very hit and miss though because often there was nothing that I was interested in reading.
Mindlink! Guide index and pg1
When I started using computers there was very little help available. So manuals were precious sources of information.
Mindlink! BBS layout
The BBS was always interesting because there was interesting news about technology and computers on Usenet. We had IRC chat and from the command line I could type SHOUT and send a text to every internet user logged in to the system.
Mindlink! manual pg2 detail
Membership letter 1991
Mindlink Membership package showing logo
There was a culture of respect and politeness. It seems that early internet users were mostly technicians, professors, researchers and other similar, highly educated individuals. I was a rare artist, but there were quite a few writers.
