The era just prior was even better IMO. BBSes were the best - bulletin board systems. Basically they were locally hosted servers, mostly ran on dial up connections. So they were almost entirely local, and usually with no more than one or two people on at the same time - though some hosts went crazy. I remember one guy had a 16 line connection! Games, chat, file sharing, and all of the best parts of the internet, with none of what it's turned into. And all 100% local. 'Hey guys up for a BBQ this weekend?' was a thing.
It also had a way better sex ratio, for reasons I don't really understand in hindsight. It was at least ~30% female. Many a match was made on those sites, not just hookup stuff, but people actually forming real relationships.
It also had a way better sex ratio, for reasons I don't really understand in hindsight. It was at least ~30% female. Many a match was made on those sites, not just hookup stuff, but people actually forming real relationships.