LandzDown Forum
Miscellaneous => LandzDown Lounge => Topic started by: Corrine on June 08, 2016, 12:42:44 AM
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I heard from a number of LzD members asking me if I knew what was happening when they couldn't get to Freedomlist (FL) at the beginning of the month. At first it appears that "Webmaster" had merely forgotten to pay the domain renewal. However, DomainTools (http://whois.domaintools.com/freedomlist.com) was quickly updated to show an update:
Dates Created on 2000-05-31 - Expires on 2017-05-31 - Updated on 2016-06-02
Although the domain name was renewed, it appears that Al decided not to continue. Seeing as how the forum had very little activity after his changes last year (instructions provided to the Admin/Mod team as to what was no longer allowed), it is no wonder the site was dying.
So, RIP Freedomlist. You were where I got my start. The official launch of Freedomlist was March 1, 2000. At that time it was merely a message board with the forum software added later and registration after that. When I finally got approval for Internet access at work, by April of that year, I decided it was time to get connected from home. On my lunch break, I researched free ISPs and discovered FL and decided it was time to connect my home PC (Windows 95) to the Internet. So, I found an extra phone line in the basement, managed to fish the line through the ceiling tiles, drill a hole in the floor and popped in AOL CD and off I went to FL checking the list of Free ISPs (FISPs).
Here's the oldest FL page on the Internet Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20000815083949/http://www.freedomlist.com/ and this is what will go down in history as the last capture: https://web.archive.org/web/20160323104205/http://www.freedomlist.com/forum/
In addition to Aaron, Winchester73, GR@PH;<'s, Paddy and myself, I believe I've "captured" all the FL members who are members here ((I hope I haven't missed anyone. If so, please give a holler!): Ron350, Deborah, v_v, Lost, Pete, techie, plodr, frapper, richc46, Orillia3, jaycharles, Eln Lou, CaptainTripps, darksurfer, Dude111, Bruce Bailey, Kemosabe. Please join in and share your memories, thoughts, whatever about FL.
A special thanks to Curt for my rose (https://i.imgur.com/Z1RTWQj.png).
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Ah well. Registered in 2001, only the second forum that I ever posted in regularly. I probably had a higher wordcount there than anywhere else on the net.
Too bad archive.org is so spotty. Future historians just lost an important corpus for studying my early life.
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Yes, we have a lot of history from FL but we won't forget you, digger!
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....... I believe I've "captured" all the FL members who are members here ......
Actually, there are others, who chose to use different usernames.
If they don't choose to reveal themselves, I won't tell :)
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Of course it is up to them.
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It's where I meet a number of people many moons ago. It was really the only forum I used. Life has changed and a free ISP has pretty much went to the wayside. Corrine and I were the first moderators, of the forum. It always maintained a General (G rating) throughout it's life.
The forum did provide assistance to a number of people over the years. Operating systems have changed over the years, Security has gotten better, but in those days Ads were becoming a major problem, the old bluescreen for many. OS systems didn't have firewalls, malware/antivirus protection, young internet browsers. Many users weren't aware of Windows updates.
As I said, life has changed, the need for security and protection hasn't. The choice of the sites direction has always been the webmasters, and I guess this is what he wanted.
Yeah it does go back a few days
https://web.archive.org/web/20010420223355/http://www.freedomlist.com/forum/viewforum.php?forum=3
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It was one of the first forums I joined. That makes the 4th of early forums that are now gone.
It was a great place to get information on free or cheap dialup ISPs when that was what most of us used, back in the day. Now I'd give up quite a few things before I ditched my broadband connection.
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I was one of the ones that queried Corrine about possible changes to Freedomlist back on 6-2-16. Even though the domain name was renewed as Corrine pointed out I had the feeling that Freedomlist might have seen its last 'electrons.' The site was already comatose with virtually no vital signs so why bother to keep it on life support?
Like many others I joined the site early on in November 2001. I had been using the site for maybe a year before that. But finally after constant badgering from "drchaps" (aka as "Steve") I finally did register.
Back then most of us were constantly looking for any and the best free isps (dial-up) and any other information that we could get about free stuff and free assistance. Over the years the emphases of the site evolved from free isps, free assistance, and free (internet) stuff, to free security assistance and software update information, and finally to miscellaneous and general conversation and (sigh) contentious political issues. The constant interaction about all these many issues and more---both constructive and not so constructive---amongst members and repeat visitors eventually developed a sense of community that seemed quite genuine and tangible. As one of my old posts there indicated Freedomlist came to resemble that old cafe down the street where everybody eventually shows up and knows everyone else. Surely everyone may not speak or converse or even get along with everyone else but the familiarity and that sense of "knowing" simply added to the feeling of community.
While I am sure that there are similar sites elsewhere Freedomlist was a very special "corner" of the internet for myself and probably many others. That genuine and tangible feeling of community and dare I say even 'warmth' is what I have missed most of all.
The fact that the web site lasted so long and perhaps left so many memories should be celebrated. Most certainly Corrine's efforts to help keep the site going for many years (probably for more than the last half of its life) should also be acknowledged, lauded, and celebrated.
*** Kudos Corrine, clearly "we" and the web site would not have survived that long without you! Thank you again and again!! ***
Kudos too to our fellow final active staff members techie and plodr for all of their efforts over the years. Can we say that we fought the good fight (to keep things going)?!! (Smile)
At the same time the disappearance of Freedomlist is also a reminder of the ephemerality of everything that "is" the internet: here today and possibly gone tomorrow, perhaps without warning or even leaving a trace---except for some old memories! Let us guide ourselves accordingly.
To all those who remember: may those old memories provide us with warmth and solace for as long as they last!
Cheers to all!!!
v_v
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It is always sad to see another forum go after all the good work that they did gone but never forgot.
GR@PH;<'S
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Thank you Corrine. It was a wonderful forum and is missed. I am sorry it had such an unfortunate ending. this is something new with, hopefully, a lot of old faces. :)
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I remember when I started at FL. I got into some raher interesting discussions with certain members about, albeit, political things, which, looking back, was really silly on my part.
But I did get a lot of useful information about ISPs, products, free and other things. I offered advice, when needed to fellow members. Wow, FL had been in existence since 2000. Wow, am I getting old. ???
This forum here reminds me of the old FL in many ways.
RIP Freedomlist 2000-2016
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You guys were the BEST that site ever had Corrrine!!!
You are an amazing staff member and Im glad to have been a part of Freedomlist!!
I dunno what I did to the admin there after you left.... He was very mean to me... He deleted almost everything I posted FROM EVERY MESSAGE BASE all the time just about and Its sad......
Am I really that bad?? (Please be honest if anyone wants to answer me) I dont mean to be...........
Im glad I was invited here!!!
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RIP Freedomlist: my second 'tech forum' and it was invaluable during my dial-up years. I think it was just a couple of months ago I went back (nostalgia) and saw that all the posts were old. Not surprised its been laid to rest, but still a bit sad. Nice memories.
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Howdy y'all! :D
I emailed the Freedomlist.com domain owner who didn't respond then stumbled upon this with a google search. Glad I did because of the archives here. Thanks!
Freedomlist fell out of use over the years but still came in handy when I must quit Charter cable for 30+1 days to come back at a lower promo rate. During that period I must survive on dialup, which I've done once again. My old XP computer with built-in modem still works great. I also have a W8.1 computer with an external USB dialup modem which is sluggish on dialup, not sure why.
Currently I'm on 1access.net which is a reliable 5 hour connection. Also took advantage of Juno's first-month-free offer. Now I'll be back on cable in a couple of days.
Dialup works for almost everything, still, except it's very slow to load some modern websites. Eventually, by refreshing with F5 as needed, it usually gets the job done. The trick is to multitask doing something else while waiting. For example enter a URL then go eat breakfast or get a cup of coffee while waiting for it to load... :)
Also it helps to keep a bigger browser cache. I even entered some DNS addresses into my HOSTS file for quicker access to commonly visited sites. DNS lookups on dialup seem relatively slow for some reason, no matter what you do.
Cheers,
JohnnyBob
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Welcome Johnny :)
I emailed him also but I doubt he will reply to any of us..... He just is not a nice person.......... Its nice to have Corrine and all the staff here on this site (Mostly the same as on freedomlist (plodr,etc))
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At last, Freedomlist has passed into history and has been laid to rest after nearly 2 years of site owner induced agony! The healthy, forward moving FL has been missed because it was a place to gather valuable info, share a smile, a laugh or tidbits of wisdom through discussions of serious and frivolous subjects. Until 2010, FL was my main source for dialup ISP's when 56k was my only option for internet access. I always found the security & software update information invaluable until it was suddenly deemed as inappropriate (eventually nearly every worthwhile post was deleted or dismissed as non-relevant to FL's unstated direction).
I'm glad to see many former FL members have migrated over to this forum where we can still keep up with important issues and solutions. LandzDown is a great forum but it lacks the open spirit of the old FL which just happened during it's early evolution. It would be impossible to try to design a forum with that sort of "spirit" because it can never be duplicated. R.I.P. Freedomlist. :(
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FL's unstated direction
Boy, you sure said a mouthful.
Even though I dropped dialup for broadband in 2004, FL was one of the first places I checked daily.
Feel free to start any off topic discussions in the Lounge. No one will throw your posts in the trash.
It was especially discouraging when the webmaster changed the rules daily and moderators had threads removed simply for asking what was allowed and not allowed.
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... On a positive note, we got the rose avatar restored :)
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LandzDown is a great forum but it lacks the open spirit of the old FL which just happened during it's early evolution. It would be impossible to try to design a forum with that sort of "spirit" because it can never be duplicated. R.I.P. Freedomlist. :(
LandzDown Forum (LzD) is and was originally created as a "help" site. The original Freedomlist (FL) was merely a table listing of free dial-up ISPs. A forum wasn't added until later. Yes, I was there every day. FL was the first tab in my start pages.
Feel free to start any off topic discussions in the Lounge. No one will throw your posts in the trash.
Except politics :) . Unlike FL, where the forum contributors were primarily in the U.S., LzD has a much broader base of members.
... On a positive note, we got the rose avatar restored :)
Yes, my rose avatar, a gif from Curt (one of the FL Admins), was hosted at FL.
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Ahh yes, the good Captain finally chimes in.
It would be impossible to try to design a forum with that sort of "spirit" because it can never be duplicated.
This is what makes "special," s p e c i a l !
v_v
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FreedomList.com is redirecting to dropcatch.com
FreedomList.com
This domain expired / dropped on 2016-08-06
They claim to be a re-seller of expired domains, but I'm not sure how reliable they are. WOT gives then a "yellow" rating.
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It's legit, they snag up domains that are left open or unpaid. They then put them up for auction to highest bidder.
http://whois.domaintools.com/freedomlist.com
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No redirect this morning, but a page put up by....
www.qiangmi.com is a famous domainname escrow company in China.
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Fish?
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Google is a wonderful thing to use: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So_Long,_and_Thanks_for_All_the_Fish
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"So long and thanks for all the fish" is a reference to a book from the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". It is just a joking way to say goodbye.
FL was officially started on March 1, 2000. Many of us were together close to the entire time. I found the site in April of that year. The site bloomed and grew for quite a while. However, at one point the site owner returned to his home country, leaving me only his mother's phone number (which I was never able to reach). He paid the hosting fees, I paid the domain renewal and then he later returned to the site. Things were fine for a while but then in 2013, he had some things to deal with and handed over all the keys to the site to me. Unfortunately, when he made his final return last year was when things changed as others described.
For those of us who were there every day year after year, it is sad to see what happened to it.
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Google is a wonderful thing to use: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So_Long,_and_Thanks_for_All_the_Fish
Thanks. I missed that one, yet after reading the plot summary, I need a nap. Good thing that it's a holiday today here in Japan. ;)
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"So long and thanks for all the fish" is a reference to a book from the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". It is just a joking way to say goodbye.
FL was officially started on March 1, 2000. Many of us were together close to the entire time. I found the site in April of that year. The site bloomed and grew for quite a while. However, at one point the site owner returned to his home country, leaving me only his mother's phone number (which I was never able to reach). He paid the hosting fees, I paid the domain renewal and then he later returned to the site. Things were fine for a while but then in 2013, he had some things to deal with and handed over all the keys to the site to me. Unfortunately, when he made his final return last year was when things changed as others described.
For those of us who were there every day year after year, it is sad to see what happened to it.
Interesting. Thanks for the details.
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This is where it sits now, for sale I would suppose. The original site said it sells them for $59.00, and then puts them up for auction if more than one offer to purchase the name is offered. Who would know now what the cost is to purchase it?
http://freedomlist.com/
It looks like a Chinese auction site for domain names.
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Wow. It seems to be changing on an almost daily basis. Recently for a while it seemed like there was an active auction going on for the site name. I don't remember how many days that lasted.
Then for a few days it seemed like the page said "dropped" or something like that.
For the last few days there was just the standard "404" error.
Now today the Chinese auction site appears to have picked it up like techie described.
I just wish that everything was archived somewhere so we could all refer to it. (Sigh)
v_v
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There are 208 saves of FL pages at https://web.archive.org/web/*/freedomlist.com. Just pick the year and the dates with the blue circle mean pages were saved. When you click the Forum link like this one from 2001 which was before there was forum registration, https://web.archive.org/web/20010420223355/http://www.freedomlist.com/forum/viewforum.php?forum=3, you'll find that the are even saved posts.
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Thanks for the archive links Corrine. While the archive is certainly not complete it does provide a few glimpses over the life-years of the site.
It felt like I was looking at really old pictures, which is basically what the pages are at this point.
Or maybe the better analogy would be that it was like looking at fossils: preserved structures with all of the life gone out of them! (Sigh)
v_v
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Wow...
I just happened to type freedomlist.com (on a whim), and it's gone...
I'll have to boot up one of the old computers and see what my user name was back then. I pretty much fell out of the forum when the registration thing started, but still stopped by to see what was up every couple of weeks for years.
Those were exciting times for computers and the internet! I still have all the computers from those days, all the way back to the junky Packard Bell 486 in the mid nineties. Maybe I'll bring them all out of storage in another 10 years or so, heh heh...
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The "registration thing" started around the end of 2000, early 2001 so you'll need to go back quite a ways, nyancat. Do let us know if you figure out your username though.
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I just wish that everything was archived somewhere so we could all refer to it. (Sigh)
v_v
When things first began going 'south' on FL, I started searching through the site and thought that maybe I should start taking full page screenshots just in case the forum disappeared - after 2 hours of reading, I realized that it would take a massive team effort to ever get that accomplished. Now, I wish I'd saved even a few pages because the online archive is only a small sample of what was...
A quick run through of My Documents revealed that I DO have a couple pages saved from July 28 & 29, 2008. The thread of the 28th was started by "plodr" with the last post by "pldor". The cleaned up post of the 29th was ended by "tehcie". This was during Sk8trBoi's attempt to further annoy Corrine and the other admins. Maybe I should print them out, frame them and send copies to Corrine, plodr & techie??? ;D I sure wish I had the page concerning covering the vents on his laptop - and the one where I asked Corrine what towels she recommended for that purpose when I purchased my first laptop. Maybe they're on the archive site or hidden somewhere on my computer? Good and bad times - weren't they?
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Save your ink CaptainTripp. Some of those threads are in my memory bank.
I've since run across many a user as clueless as Sk8trBoi at other places on the internet. It seems like there is a never ending supply of people who should never go near a computer.
I tell my husband about some of the posts and he says, "that can't be for real. Surely someone is making that up." Nope, sadly not.
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Sk8trBoi certainly was a trip. I doubt any of us who were around then will forget about covering the vents on his laptop to protect it from food.
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Ahh yes, the "julie" / "Sk8trBoi" episodes / memories! Tickles your fancy, don't they?! (Smile)
v_v
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Some memories are best forgotten! :D
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But you know Corrine, at every forum, there is someone to replace those posters you wish you could forget. ;) I won't name names!
I frequent quite a few forums and certain names stick in my mind. When I see a new thread by one of these people, I think "now what nonsense is he/she posting about". I generally read to get my laugh of the day, shake my head and move on where I can offer some genuine help.
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So true, plodr, so very true.
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Starting yesterday Thursday 8-25-2016 the Freedomlist.com name pulls up a page with a site name of "MandarinMusing". It is hard to tell whether the page was just hijacked by a hacker or whether some entity is holding it for ? ? ? As it currently stands the page seems non-functional but perhaps potentially dangerous in the future (with possible treacherous links)?
v_v
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It didnt take long for someone to grab the domain!!
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If you have given the old freedomlist a good WOT rating, you may want to change or remove it. The new site is riding the original sites WOT reputation rating. A Chinese bearing company, selling makeup products???
It requires to login or registration to view there products, email phishing, probably.
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I wonder if the same guy is running it?
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I wonder if the same guy is running it?
I doubt it...
The content is unrelated to the domain name.
This may be one of those shopping and/or search sites that gets temporarily "parked" on unsold domains.
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I got an interesting reaction from WebAdvisor when I clicked on my FreedomList bookmark today.
The first screen is where WebAdvisor redirected me to.
The second screen is the report, it didn't tell me much, but threat level was considered "high".
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I got an interesting reaction from WebAdvisor when I clicked on my FreedomList bookmark today.
The first screen is where WebAdvisor redirected me to.
The second screen is the report, it didn't tell me much, but threat level was considered "high".
It could be that I notified McAfee Site Advisor and ask them to review it based on current and not previous site experience.
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Techie and I have both added reviews at WOT. Feel free to "agree" or add your own review: https://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/freedomlist.com?utm_source=addon&utm_content=popup-donuts
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Loved it for over 15 years... There was a lot of very useful information and help for me. I was a very novice internet user and didn't know much about computers at all. My green hand had to be held a few times as experienced users helped me navigate this rather daunting world. You've rescued my old Dell more than once. Thank you for everything.
I don't get to LandzDown as often as I did Freedomlist but, when I do, I love seeing familiar people. I hope to see more!
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I don't get to LandzDown as often as I did Freedomlist ...
I was thinking the same thing today and wondering when you'd be back to visit. :)
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Hi there, old time FL member, decided to join here. Nice to see old FLers here. Hello all :)
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Well, well, well, look who finally showed up -- one of the very earliest members of FL. Hope all is well.
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Yes, things are fine. Here is a my thread about Linux and older PCs that is still active and may help some folks:
http://tinyurl.com/j7lrcjz
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I remember when "Niekas" set up the Linux forum.
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Yes, given the change at Freedomlist in its last few years and even more intense changes in the last few months, I was wondering if the site was hacked and someone wanted the forum closed. Cause for a long time the webmaster was very nice, open and friendly. Towards the end he had changed 180 degrees completely. Such a personality would never put in time to open such a forum and assist others. And if it truly was the webmaster and he changed so much, can't help wondering what made him do this big change in personality ? Medications perhaps, some real big personal challenge, personal failure or even disappointment with freedomlist itself maybe. New members were not joining, most of the old members were posting irregularly, so perhaps even web traffic was decreasing.
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There certainly were changes. Based on my private interactions with him, Niekas never really was the same after he returned home in 2005 and it went downhill from there.
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Yes, one of the most vital things I noticed was that most FL users were from US. He shared anti US sentiments in his replies to some of my posts. This indicates a very vital point that shows his core thoughts.
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I think he was the meanest to me!!!
He started deleting everything I posted just about (On every base) .. I ended up in a big argument with him but it didnt help anything.....
You can see my thread title here:
http://web.archive.org/web/20160324064301/http://www.freedomlist.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=4
I cant seem to pull it up thru that though!! (Other threads come up :()
I posted innocent replies.. 1 congratulating Corrine and he deleted that!!
A very nasty person...... I knew he was gonna take it down!!
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http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/russia-is-preparing-for-a-nuclear-war-with-the-united-states
There is likely a deep reason for such a hostile behavior towards almost all members. Check the link above.
The one thing I personally observed was that most FL members were simple, small time folks who wanted to share
a bit, get some help and move on. So, many things can happen in the bigger scheme of things. However, I am always nice to the small, simple person no matter where they are from. This is peaceful and kind.
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Just noticed that "McAfee WebAdvisor" has stopped blocking access.
WOT is still "green".
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Just noticed that "McAfee WebAdvisor" has stopped blocking access.
WOT is still "green".
I'm not getting the same McAfee result that you are, it is still blocked. The site now is kind of fragmented if you get there.
http://www.mcafee.com/threat-intelligence/site/default.aspx?url=http://freedomlist.com/#
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Just noticed that "McAfee WebAdvisor" has stopped blocking access.
WOT is still "green".
I'm not getting the same McAfee result that you are, it is still blocked. The site now is kind of fragmented if you get there.
http://www.mcafee.com/threat-intelligence/site/default.aspx?url=http://freedomlist.com/#
If I "google" it there's still a WebAdvisor "red Xed circle" by it's link, and the "site report" is still showing "high risk" (just like your link), but it's no longer blocking my access.
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Nothing is forever, accepting and preparing for this in advance is good for the long term. Freedomlist.com served folks well and it is good we all have fond memories of that site. It is evident now that the time to move on came long ago. Let us all pray for the peace, well being and the moving on to more positive thing for webmaster, all the mods and members. It helps to focus on the good we can do in terms of learning, networking positively and supporting others no matter where we go from this point. There are a lot more sites today and more folks who need our support and interaction.
Best Wishes to all. :)
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Thats a nice reply bud!!!
Yes even though Webmaster was mean and cold,it doesnt mean we have to be does it??
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I'm finally here. :) I registered at Freedomlist in Feb, 2001, I think, after being a visitor for some time before that. I was there until the end. :(
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Glad you finally made it, Boz.
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Another long lost Freedomlister resurfaces!
Welcome Boz.
v_v
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Welcome Boz!!!!!
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Another long lost Freedomlister resurfaces!
Welcome Boz.
v_v
Thank you, v_v! Yes, it's been a while! :D
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Welcome Boz!!!!!
Thank you, Deborah! It's good to see you! 8) :)
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Where's your old avatar, Boz, or are you going to opt for a new one?
I wasn't sure if the Internet Archive would show where images were originally hosted or not so went looking for yours. Turns out, I clicked on an interesting thread in the archive with a lot of names, many of whom are here but also a few others not forgotten, including blsJason, Curt, kelticwizard, Aznboi1396.
http://web.archive.org/web/20151017024816/http://www.freedomlist.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35570&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
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Where's your old avatar, Boz, or are you going to opt for a new one?
I wasn't sure if the Internet Archive would show where images were originally hosted or not so went looking for yours. Turns out, I clicked on an interesting thread in the archive with a lot of names, many of whom are here but also a few others not forgotten, including blsJason, Curt, kelticwizard, Aznboi1396.
http://web.archive.org/web/20151017024816/http://www.freedomlist.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35570&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
Got it. Thanks!
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I was wondering when you were going to show up, welcome back Boz :)
Freedomlist is just part of the past now.
All things change and sometimes it just happens. My first Walkman, a AM transistor radio in a shirt pocket ;D
A computer wasn't even concealable at the time. Imagine if someone told you 45 years ago you would have a computer, phone, and music player just one device in your pocket.
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Hah, I grew up when radios either had to be plugged in or have crystals. I had a crystal set that I used an alligator clip to clip to the metal baseboard radiator and listened with a single earplug.
When transistor radios came out, I was thrilled that you could walk around with a radio unplugged! My first transistor radio was huge. It did not fit in a pocket.
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Hah, I grew up when radios either had to be plugged in or have crystals. I had a crystal set that I used an alligator clip to clip to the metal baseboard radiator and listened with a single earplug.
When transistor radios came out, I was thrilled that you could walk around with a radio unplugged! My first transistor radio was huge. It did not fit in a pocket.
My father told me that when he was a kid he woud find the crystals needed for the crystal radio by the railroad tracks. I never made one, but I did have one of those Johnson-Smith pen radios (in the shape of a pen), which I just alligator clipped to a piece of metal and the one earplug.
I'm glad to see some of the old crew...I was just going through my old pass-cards and thought I would try to get involved in the word game and somehow found this place. It makes me feel good inside to be able to talk to old friends. With all the help at DFF and FL, it seemed just like family. Cheers to all!
p.s. Does anyone remember the 'Laugh boxes/bags" JS used to sell which laughed when you turned it on, and it kept laughing until everybody started laughing with/at it?
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Well guh! (That was your tagline I think.) Glad you found this hangout for some of the old crew at FL.
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Good to see you, guh!
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thinking of you all very warmly and wondered what everyone is doing now..
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Trying to stay out of trouble. Deb, and most definitely ready for spring weather! The area where I live is what locals refer to as "Upstate NY". We got hit a week ago Wednesday with an 80 MPH wind storm. The county had over 100,000 without power, including well over 10,000 in the town that I live in. Over 20 roads were closed in town because of either the 241 trees that fell in roads, power lines in the roads or both. Homes had trees through the roof. Power companies from Montreal, New Brunswick, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio and elsewhere came to assist. I was among the lucky ones, didn't lose power, had just one tree down in the back, two huge limbs and lots of brush.
Then, a week to the day later, Wednesday, March 15, the Nor'easter called Stella hit us with 20+" of snow -- heavy, blowing snow. Fortunately, the last of the people who lost power the week before got it back by the end of the day. I have a great snow plow contractor so no problems there. Roof contractors had already been busy placing tarps on roofs damaged from the wind storm. With the wind & snow out of the north coming across Lake Ontario, the north side of my roof was mainly clear but there were deep drifts of snow on the south side. The drifts were so deep, I couldn't get them with the "roof rake" and was fortunate to be able to get someone to come and shovel to prevent ice dams.
So, yes, bring on spring!
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I was wondering how much snow you got, Corrine. We had 12.5" on Monday night/Tuesday but thankfully in March you can count on the temps getting warm and it melting quickly. We were in the 40's on Sunday and yesterday and will be in the 50's today so I can see patches of grass. My poor daffodils that were getting ready to bloom are still buried in snow.
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In snow you must tread cearfully.
GR@PH;<'S, (https://www.landzdown.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi5.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy197%2FANG-Graphics%2FHammys_pint.gif&hash=cc0389ecbc422dd802c9559495afa0ed259644e2)
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We, in Seattle get 1/2 an inch and we close schools. An inch and, we call out the National guard. We do have a lot of rusty bones, however.
Quietly, I was thinking of you and sending bunches of heated, good energy your direction as well as a few hugs.
Hopefully, with Spring now upon us, good weather will prevail.
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How Photobucket is now shaking down its users
http://nypost.com/2017/07/05/how-photobucket-is-now-shaking-down-its-users/
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orillia3, there's already an earlier thread about this
http://www.landzdown.com/web-news/photobucket-tos-change!/
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The computers we used when on Freedomlist are like dinosaurs now, the P2 and the P3s. No one even wants them. Saw a youtube video where one person even got an old P2 laptop for 3 bucks on garage sale once, felt quite touching to see. They still mostly work and do their job tho.
I still prefer to use an old P4 mostly. Still have the P2 - IBM Aptiva I used to access FL, it is still functional. This thread has served as a nice healing for FL days.
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Nice to see you Vijay!
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Nice to see you Vijay!
Thanks Corrine, just wanted to share that some of the computers from the era of start of FL are going for a good sum now on ebay. Someone brought this to my notice recently. Anything over 10 years is considered old in IT. FL was started almost 15 years ago. So check online and see if it is worth selling your old PC, donating it to someone else etc., before trashing it if you still have it around.
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Actually, FL was Created on 2000-05-31!
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Actually, FL was Created on 2000-05-31!
Yes now I recall, guess with time I am getting the dates mixed up a bit. In another 5 years computers from that era will be really antique.
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Just tonight I took 11 computers and 4 monitors to the local Goodwill that does recycling. There were several 80286, 80386, and 80486 chip machines in that mix, along with an old 8086 by Texas Instruments (this one had two full size 5 1/4 inch floppies!). The monitors were mostly 14 inch models. I think that most of these items long preceded Freedomlist and also the internet as we currently know it.
Even still I have an AT&T 6300 (circa 1985) laying around.
v_v
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v_v, good to see you again.
That's a lot of hardware!
Today I'm taking two, still working, Surfboard modems to BestBuy to e-cycle. Comcast won't allow DOCSIS 2 modems after 18th January 2018 so those modems can't even be used as backup in case my new modem goes down.
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A reminder popped up on my calendar for tomorrow, what would have been FL's 18th anniversary. I had saved the URLs (now blocked by Malwarebytes) and Al's comments in the calendar details:
"well freedomlist.com domain name was register a bit later then site was started. also forum added even later.
Anyway i opened site march 1 2000. Thats birthday of freedomlist"
and from 8/28/2000 when the IPB forum was installed replacing the message board:
"Discussion has been setup on this server. Previous messages hasn't been lost, but havent been transfered to the new database because of version and database differences. For now lets keep it going have fun everyone"
So, rather than celebrating FL, I'm celebrating all the many friends made along the way.
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(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0737/9291/products/thumbs_up_emoji_white_sml.jpg?v=1496441057)
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sigh. . . .
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One of those things to store in the memory banks.
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sigh. . . .
Agreed!
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Take the best from FL experience, improvise and move on. :)
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Been there, done that and here I am. :)
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Been there, done that and here I am. :)
Reminds me of another situation ;)
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Been there, done that and here I am. :)
Reminds me of another situation ;)
Indeed! Thirteen years ago.
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Another year since the anniversary of FL first going on line and I'm happy that some of the same friends from those years are still around.
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Another year since the anniversary of FL first going on line and I'm happy that some of the same friends from those years are still around.
Maybe a few years ;)
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But have we grown up yet?!! (Smile)
Cheers to the "some" who have remained around, and
Appreciation and Gratitude for the fond memories!
Keep the faith!!!
v_v
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Freedomlist--such sweet memories. ;D
I certainly made my voice heard on this site, The early 2000s the possibilities were ther. But here I am at Landzdown. I've been much more mellow, if you will, since coming here.
Freedomlist RIP ;D
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I missed the anniversary. I miss Freedomlist. But I still have the memories!
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At least we can still stay in touch here, Boz.
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Im curious..... Has anyone heard from the admin??
I wonder what he is doing these days??
I remember when we were having problems with the site I desperatly tried to get a hold of him which I finally did.....
Im glad I can talk to you all here :)
Peace and love to you all :)
EDIT:
I just noticed the site is running the same version of SMF now that we are on the site im a co-admin at :)
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No, there hasn't been any sign of Al.
Hard to believe that next May it will be 20 years ago that FL started.
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In addition to Al, I wonder whatever happened to other old Freedomlist friends that haven't showed up here? In no particular order:
bruce bailey (Registered LzD 11/2015)
Curt
blsJason
drchaps
waltky
sambrone
curious john
aci-john
Others?
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In addition to Al, I wonder whatever happened to other old Freedomlist friends that haven't showed up here? In no particular order:
bruce bailey (Registered LzD 11/2015)
Curt
blsJason
drchaps
waltky
sambrone
curious john
aci-john
Others?
Oh! How could I have forgotten:
R Vijay
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R Vijay is a member. Profile of rvijay07 (https://www.landzdown.com/index.php?action=profile;u=3681).
From a quick walk through the "Welcome" threads, here are some other FL members who registered here:
Profile of manimal (https://www.landzdown.com/index.php?action=profile;u=3685)
Profile of Lost. (https://www.landzdown.com/index.php?action=profile;u=3352)
Profile of orillia3 (https://www.landzdown.com/index.php?action=profile;u=1813)
jaycharles (https://www.landzdown.com/index.php?action=profile;u=3353)
Profile of v_v (https://www.landzdown.com/index.php?action=profile;u=3278)
Profile of Deborah (https://www.landzdown.com/index.php?action=profile;u=3275)
Profile of darksurfer (https://www.landzdown.com/index.php?action=profile;u=3267)
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Oh, okay. Thanks for the link to R Vijay's profile!
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Apparently Bruce Bailey is alive and still repairing musical instruments.
https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?193966-Bruce-Bailey-in-Miami-Florida-Rocks!
sambrone started a forum, like Al, then 5 or so years ago disappeared.
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Good detective work, as always, plodr! Although Bruce Bailey hasn't visited here in a while, it is good to see that he is regularly active with his profile there showing Last Activity Today 03:41 AM!
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.....sambrone started a forum, like Al, then 5 or so years ago disappeared.
Still alive
https://www.facebook.com/tangoc9999
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Thanks, guys!
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It took me a while to get through all 85 pages of the membership list, but here are a few other former Freedomlist people who at least have registered at Landzdown:
captaintripps
eln lou
ghost (?)
gopher john.
But most of these have nearly no activity and have not been heard from in years.
Time passes. . . . (Sigh!)
v_v
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Sadly, Ghost is no longer with us. ANNOUNCEMENT With a sad sad heart (https://www.landzdown.com/forever-in-our-hearts/announcement-with-a-sad-sad-heart/msg197618/#new).
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Yeah, good ol' Freedomlist. I missed those sometimes spirited posts I had back and forth which, fortunately, didn't go too far. All in all, for its time, it was a rather enlightening experience being at FL. RIP Freedomlist. ;D :)
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It took me a while to get through all 85 pages of the membership list, but here are a few other former Freedomlist people who at least have registered at Landzdown:
captaintripps
eln lou
ghost (?)
gopher john.
But most of these have nearly no activity and have not been heard from in years.
Time passes. . . . (Sigh!)
v_v
Hey v_v -- Don't pay the ransom, I've escaped!! :)
I know it's been over 2 years (maybe 3?) since I've posted here. I've visited the forum a few times but couldn't log in because I forgot the password and the one to my recovery email. I knew I had a text file somewhere with a list of passwords but it was nowhere to be found until...today (27th) so now I should be around from time to time.
Here's to Freedomlist as Barbra Streisand said long ago:
"The Way We Were"
Mem'ries,
Light the corners of my mind
Misty water-colored memories
Of the way we were
Scattered pictures,
Of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another
For the way we were...
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Good to see you back, CaptainTripps! Now don't lose that password again. :D
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Hey v_v -- Don't pay the ransom, I've escaped!!
Darn it! I will try to put a stop payment on that check!!
Ahhh yes, "what a long strange trip it has been!" (Smile) I am glad that you escaped, hopefully fully intact and none the worse for wear.
As with Corrine welcome back kind sir, even if only from time to time!
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Today marks the 20th anniversary of the beginning of FL. From the first post in this thread:
The official launch of Freedomlist was March 1, 2000. At that time it was merely a message board with the forum software added later and registration after that.
Hard to get over that many of us have been virtual friends for the past 20 years (although I didn't join FL until April of 2000).
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I came to FreedomList a bit later, because there was another site about free ISPs.
The forum is gone.
The email is gone.
The content is so out of date, it could be nostalgia.
But it's still there ... http://www.addlebrain.com/
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Yes, nearly 20 years is a very long time! In the "virtual life" of the internet it seems like forever, and highly unlikely to happen for a group of people. Maybe one or two or three or so, but for a group of people mostly anonymous to keep up their virtual relationships for nearly two decades . . . well just how often does that happen?!!
It has been a blessed run!
May the spirit live on!!
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I came to FreedomList a bit later, because there was another site about free ISPs.
The forum is gone.
The email is gone.
The content is so out of date, it could be nostalgia.
But it's still there ... http://www.addlebrain.com/
Ah, yes! Another blast from the past! I made a few posts there many years ago.
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Has anyone been curious enough to visit freedomlist recently?
Today one of their advertisers was openly marketing heroin, cocaine, and "pills".
I thought that was pretty much limited to the darknet markets.
Yes, it's occurred to me that it could be a sting.
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Wow! Good find, Pete. I hadn't thought to see if the domain name had been taken over by someone else.
Interesting copyright seeing as how DomainTools (http://whois.domaintools.com/freedomlist.com) shows 2016-08-06 as the registration date for that Chinese business hosted in California. It is was taken over ~two months after Al didn't renew hosting: (c)2015-2016 freedomlist.com All Rights Reserved
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I've looked in on the site before.
It looked pretty much like it looks now, and seemed to be marketing the unlikely combination of cosmetics and bearings. It made me wonder what kind if company it was.
After the additions I saw today, I'm wondering if they're just hosting ads, and aren't particularly careful about what's being advertised.
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I almost forgot to bump this old thread. Hard to believe that it has been 22 years since the official launch of Freedomlist on March 1, 2000. Aside from being where I got my start helping on forums, what is special about FL is the many people I met there and still stop in here from time to time.
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I still find myself fondly thinking back to my Freedomlist days. Somehow it seems like it was a better time, but then again, I've always been a sentimental idiot! :-)
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We did have a great group there, Boz. It will always hold a special place in my heart.
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So Corrine wrote,
what is special about FL is the many people I met there and still stop in here from time to time
and as if on cue Boz shows up with some 'fond' thoughts! (Smile)
I'm with both Boz and Corrine, those days were and are fondly and warmly remembered---and they will always hold a special place for many of us.
Boz, yes those early days DO seem and feel like they were a better time. Maybe there was more 'freshness' and 'innocence'. I guess that I am not just speaking so much of Freedomlist in particular with those words as also probably more of the internet in general. Maybe an appropriate contrast and analogy would be like those were the carefree days of 'elementary' school; nowadays everything feels like the pressing and pressurized days of adulthood! Maybe that is a bit overstated but it definitely is the 'trend' of my feelings!
Whenever a Freedomlister chimes in here at Landzdown for me there is always a special feeling of 'remembrance' and 'shared times'. Brief moments and small things, perhaps, but they do count for something!
v_v
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Maybe an appropriate contrast and analogy would be like those were the carefree days of 'elementary' school; nowadays everything feels like the pressing and pressurized days of adulthood! Maybe that is a bit overstated but it definitely is the 'trend' of my feelings!
Definitely not overstated, v_v.
As to remembrance, note that I still "wear" the (https://i.imgur.com/Z1RTWQj.png) that Curt made for me when we could add avatars after a forum update.
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Aside from the forum, I was grateful for the free/cheap phone number listings to help someone get on the internet. I don't miss dialing into the internet and tying up the phone line! I do miss the discussions we had there in the forum.
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... Maybe an appropriate contrast and analogy would be like those were the carefree days of 'elementary' school; nowadays everything feels like the pressing and pressurized days of adulthood! ...
Very appropriate! I think the majority of Freedomlist members were relatively new to the internet so we, or at least I, learned a lot from the forum and several "open" forums of the time so it was like school. That was our "social media" of the time before the advent of Facebook, Twitter, etc. Landzdown is my only social media even though I don't post often. I hate all the other "social media" outlets. (Wait a minute - I almost forgot that I did join OK.ru but that's only used as a movie/tv source.) Anyway... before I start ranting and raving, I met many really nice and helpful people at FL and have lots of good memories of those times. It's great that so many migrated from FL to LD. You can blame v_v for dragging me here. :D
... I was grateful for the free/cheap phone number listings to help someone get on the internet. I don't miss dialing into the internet and tying up the phone line! I do miss the discussions we had there in the forum.
Me, too, plodr. I wish I had kept a list of all the different dial-up's I used before the blazing fast 1MB dsl from Frontier was made available. (BTW, it's not improved from 2010). Now, since I moved in 2017, I have 400MB cable internet from Suddenlink at the inflated price of $115 per month (no TV) but I digress. The discussions we had there ranged from serious to ridiculous but they were lively and enjoyable. It was a kinder, gentler time in the world and it's sure nice to remember.
And now I disappear again for awhile. 8)
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It was a kinder, gentler time in the world
Yes, people were courteous. I do miss that.
At least here, people are still respectful of others. I don't do any "social media" because I'd prefer to talk to people on the phone (of course not all the robo callers we get - those get an instant hang up) or by email.
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Ahhh yes, all the struggles of dial-up and trying to get the cheapest and most reliable service. That was my modus operandi during those early days and that was the core of Freedomlist's beginnings if I remember correctly: how to get things "free" and then later on "cheap" after "free" disappeared. Then the site's 'help out' and 'assistance' sections mushroomed almost all of a sudden and Freedomlist actually became somewhat 'well-known' in the early internet search engines. Then later the "General" discussion section came into its own as sort of 'the neighboorhood bar or cafe'. Out of the interactions involved with all of the preceding that tangible sense of "community" evolved that most of us remember.
While Freedomlist did slowly go through a dying phase before disappearing completely I do wish we had been able to save all of it just for reference, even if most of the information would clearly be passe and out of date. Having it around would be like reviewing 'old diaries' and 'class yearbooks'. (The "Wayback Machine" is tantalizing . . . {sigh})
And I wonder where blsjason, drchaps / steve, orillia3, digger, frapper, kelticwizard, etc, are these days?
But yes, time does move on. . . .
v_v
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And I wonder where blsjason, drchaps / steve, orillia3, digger, frapper, kelticwizard, etc, are these days?
Actually, frapper visits here often. In fact, he was online earlier today. Both digger and orillia3 are members here although has only one post from 2016 but orillia3 did visit in January.
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I "talk" to frapper almost daily. He is just more of a looker than a poster.
I used to "talk" to manimal almost daily but he gave up his computer for a smart phone and moved to the Florida Keys. I suspect he is enjoying the nice weather and doesn't spend time online. No need if you don't have the headache of a computer!
Meanwhile in my part of PA we are having a gray, snowy day with increasing winds and wind chills over night near zero. I just hope the power stays on - not for the internet but to keep the house warm and be able to microwave coffee. ;D
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Every so often after I've read the news and checked my email and scrolled through enough fraudulent ads on facebook, I'll ctrl-L up to my address bar and start to think "freedomlist", but then I remember. That's when I know there's nothing left to check up on for the day. I reached the end of the internet.
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From a quick walk through the "Welcome" threads, here are some other FL members who registered here
Thank you Corrine..... Its good to see so many of us have gathered here.....
Another GOOD site your on!!
Its good to see Plodr here!!!