There were numerous dial-up viewdata-based bulletin-board systems (BBSs)
around in the '80s (some even connected together as networks) and were very much a precursor to widespread Internet access that followed in the '90s.
I used to rinse the phone line in the school computer room hanging out on some after classes, live chatting with people, sharing BBC Micro demos, etc.
(
Happosai _,,,,_(O ; o)_,,,, Thu 6 Jan 2022, 17:05,
Reply)
Fuck me!
One of my old hangouts is still kind of on-line!
(
Happosai _,,,,_(O ; o)_,,,, Fri 7 Jan 2022, 0:42,
Reply)