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BBS the Documentary [Full HD]

L33T GUY · documentary · Watch on YouTube

History of computingInternet culture & memesHacker culture & free software

What it is

Jason Scott's multi-episode documentary on the bulletin board system scene of the 1980s and 1990s, built from over 200 interviews. It captures how hobbyists ran dial-up systems before the internet went mainstream.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN recommends it as a definitive, nostalgic history of BBS culture whenever people ask what the pre-internet online world was like.

  • 2 people recommended it
  • 2 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2018, last 2026

What HN commenters said

  1. “Some of my favourite nerdy documentaries: BBS: The Documentary”

    Nerdy documentary on bulletin board system culture

    wmat, 2018-09 · Recommendation · in “Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?”

  2. “BBS: The Documentary is covers a lot of what you’re asking about.”

    Jason Scott's 8-episode documentary on BBS subculture

    aspenmayer, 2019-10 · Recommendation · in “The Life, Death and Resurrection of Computer Art Group Mistigris”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: bbs, bulletin board systems, jason scott, computer history, dial-up

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