What would message boards like DU Lounge, Ask Reddit, etc. have been like in the 1980s?

[battleknight24]

Here are some examples of what I think would have been posted:

- Hey ladies, some guy friends and I are starting a metal band... what brands of makeup and hairspray do you recommend?

- Anybody else think Bill Cosby is just the coolest guy ever?

- My cassettes and 8 tracks sound awesome; is a CD player really worth it at all?

- I can't decide... should I buy a Nintendo or a Sega Master System?

- I'm totally out of the loop... what is this whole Iran-Contra thing about, in a nutshell?

- Which one of "The Outsiders" will have the biggest career? Tom Cruise was okay, but my money's on C. Thomas Howell... he is so talented!

- If I to pick one new band that's going to have a long career, I'd pick Johnny Hates Jazz. "Shattered Dreams" is such a rocking song!

[Warpy]

1. Depended on where you were

Lefty tabloid papers in Boston were on the ball. Mainstream news, not so much.

[Angleae]

2. I just got a new 1200 baud modem, you can't believe how fast it is.

[rusty quoin]

3. The eighties were pretty good.

It was before the national of Rush. I especially blame him for destroying America. And so did Fuck Trump give him a medal.

The eighties were okay, but Reagan and Trump sucked. The latter I wanted nothing to do with ever.

And then he came back. It sucks.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

4. Does anyone else watch...

... Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous?

My parents want me to study science, engineering or medicine, but gag me with a spoon! I am sooo getting a degree in business!

[Voltaire2]

5. Usenet was a vibrant community and lots of fun.

[quaint]

6. The WELL

Great community with in-depth discussions and smart, funny, non-anonymous posters.

[hunter]

7. Hey, I remember very well what those boards were like.

If you think I'm a lunatic now you should have seen me then...

Some foolish people gave me an internet account in 1979 and I've been here since.

I also had accounts on GEnie and Delphi.

As I recall Fidonet was awful. Too many asshole misogynistic libertarians who thought they were computer gods. The saddest thing was they didn't know how wretched they were.

Nintendo and Sega didn't exist in my world. I was an Atari 800 guy and fairly competent in the Apple II ecosystem as well. In many ways the 6502 was the first RISC processor and the forerunner of the ARM processors that have taken over the world. The X86 ecosystem is bullshit. Always has been.

As someone who went to school with people who became celebrity pop, porn, and political stars, it may seem odd I wasn't involved in any of those cultures because my grandma and her sister were Hollywood. They tried to engage me in that madness but I flunked out when I was four years old. Only two of my siblings passed and have television and movie credits. One sister maintains her SAG membership.

The odd thing about discussion boards, etc., of the 'eighties is that very few people had any idea that whatever they posting could live forever.

It's not something I've ever worried about.

I was hot. I was messy.

There are plenty of naked pics and I still am.

[Polybius]

9. I got GEnie in early '93

Sadly, that was the tail end of its greatness. They changed their plans to pay by the minute in mid-1993, and I was forced to quit. I was online several hours a day. After that, I found and fell in love with the BBS world. Amazing times, until the internet killed it.

I had an Atari 8-bit as well, then switched to the ST. I stood with it longer than the vast majority of Atarians: until the mid 90's. Absolutely love the Atari PD/Shareware scene. Today I have reconnected, and post frequently on Atari Age.

[Polybius]

8. Definitely buy a Sega Master System

I've had mine since 1987, it's hugely under-rated. Phantasy Star beats anything on the NES.

[LeftInTX]

10. I can't wait for this shoulder pad fad to be over with

I'm so getting my hair permed this weekend

Am I the only person that didn't vote for Reagan?

I think the royal wedding is overrated

I hate that "Don't Don't You Want Me" song

What's with all the alligator shirts lately?

Why are there so many televangelists on TV all of a sudden?

Michael Jackson is suddenly the coolest guy in music...imagine that?

I want my MTV

I'm sick of night time soap operas

Does everyone really like kissing Richard Dawson?