History of the board

[Dooley67]

Can someone please give me some history of the board. Several weeks ago I tried looking in archives but found that anything prior to 2011 was not saved. I'm very interested in understanding the historical perspective of anything I'm involved in. I know several of you were around in the old days of the board and probably can give me some information.

D67

[Byron]

"anything I am involved in" is the difficult part there as the old board members
(what few exist) will have to know what you are involved in if they are to make a relevant recollection of a past post or posts . There were no separate forums within the board's content in those days but Mike came in the end to change the layout (and name) in order to conform to what you see on just about every other forum on the Internet.
You may well get opinions on how well it was/was not enjoyed (in its former rather chaotic state) and you will see some reactions to the reformatting in the very early posts in the archives available today (some members were not happy to lose a simple arrangement they preferred and did not wish to continue their participation).
Louis tells me the Speedo Fantasy Board existed perhaps 10-12 years prior to that - though all the history you want might be better ascertained by a request to Mike, the founder.

[Dooley67]

"anything I am involved in" is the difficult part there as the old board members
(what few exist) will have to know what you are involved in if they are to make a relevant recollection of a past post or posts (there were no separate forums within the board's content in those days but Mike came in the end to change the layout (and name) in order to conform to what you see on just about every other forum on the Internet.
You may well get opinions on how well it was/was not enjoyed (in its former rather chaotic state) and you will see some reactions to the reformatting in the very early posts in the archives available today (some members were not happy to lose a simple arrangement they preferred and did not wish to continue their participation).
Louis tells me the Speedo Fantasy Board existed perhaps 10-12 years prior to that - though all the history you want might be better ascertained by a request to Mike, the founder.

Byron,
What I really meant was any group or on this case, board of which I am a member. Hope this clarifies it.


D67

[SwimTeamSpeedo]

Hi D67,

I was active on the old board for many years before it converted to the new board. Back in those days it was known first as the "Gay Speedo Fantasy Board" then later the "Gay" was dropped (good move) at the request of some posters who were not gay. I think I started in the late 1990's, so the board goes back at least that far. I actually started posting my earliest stories there, so the loss of those archives took with it my first efforts at story writing on the board.

The biggest two differences were that there was no organization to the board, so stories, selling posts, and puzzles were all mixed in with conversational posts. Second was that you did not have to be a member and there was no sign in. Some of the posters from the old board used the same name when they came to the new one, others may have changed names. I was STS in both, but my earliest days I posted under a different name. I don't recall why I changed, but I think it was that another poster was using a name close to mine so I changed to avoid confusion.

Like this board, some posts at time got snippy. However, if you can imagine, it was a bigger deal back then because the old board had total anonymity (no sign in) so people would post nasty comments regularly. I don't think there was a private message feature (at least I don't remember there being one), so you had no way to communicate except on the open forum.

Topics did not float to the top when new posts were added, so strings just faded away and the topic would restart on a new string. However most of the conversation was the same as today, talk about swimsuits. There was also a "live chat" feature that was active at times, a chat room where you could banter live. That was a fun feature.

There are varied opinions on the old versus new. The old board was simple, the new one is more structured. I like the new board far better. First, the new one has a better mix of gay and straight (and bi) members, so there is more variety in topics. Second, the PM feature is a nice way to correspond with closer friendships you develop. Third, the topic areas make things easier to find and the floating posts, keeping current stuff up top makes sense.

Hope this helps, I am sure other long time members can add more.

STS

[Torchwatch]

Don't forget Mrs Grundy on the old board!

[shaulis]

I remember Mrs. Grundy "she" always got the board talking. Mrs. Grundy was a lightning rod for more people to post their thoughts on what she said.

[Byron]

:rolleyes: ..... as I have to lighten up (btw, should be lightning rod)

I am sure Louis would agree with you on Mrs G - she was fun as she provoked some hilarious replies on occasions (some years have passed however and she may be in retirement from her campaigns on propriety - and possibly her eyesight not so good now for reading measurements taken on skimpy speedos).

STS mentions the Chat Room and a member asked long ago for it to be restored - and as I recall Mike promised to consider that (it would not seem to have been a big problem as there was a complete waste of space with nothing in Lycra Buy and Sell Forum).

[Dooley67]

Thanks for the brief history. It helps to put some things in perspective. I would like to hear more from other folks and more about this "Mrs. Grundy."

D67

[Dooley67]

I remember Mrs. Grundy "she" always got the board talking. Mrs. Grundy was a lightening rod for more people to post their thoughts on what she said.

Shaulis,

Aren't you glad you have Byron around to correct you on your spelling in a manner that only he has perfected?

D67

[Byron]

Before you answer that please tell me the official language of the USA and how much teaching of it appears in schools' curricula.
(I seem to remember someone saying recently that we all learn from each other)

[dorcas3]

Was it not also true that "Speedo" objected to the word gay connected to their name? MG was a pain in the ass and a waste of time and space.

[louis]

I am the one that introduced MRS GRUNDY TO THE OLD BOARD, I EVEN SPOKE ABOUT HER HERE ON THE NEW BOARD, I GOT THE IDEA FROM A CARACTER IN ARCHIE COMICS, SHE WAS A VERY GRUMPY SCHOOL TEACHER HARD ON PRINCIPLES AND VERY OLD FASHION, THE BORN AGAIN TYPE YOU MIGHT SAY AND MAY I MENTION ANOTHER TOPIC ON THE BOARD IF YOU CLICKED AT THE PROPER PLACE A BIG MAP OF THE WORLD APPEARED AND YOU COULD SEE AND PLACE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE BOARD WHERE THE COUNTRY YOU LIVED. AS FOR THE CHAT ROOM WOW THE CHATS WERE OFTEN VERY HARD CORE ONE WOULD GET VERY HARD USING THAT TOPIC LOL. SOMETIMES THINGS WOULD GET VERY HARCH BETWEEN THE POSTERS BUT ON THE OUTHER HAND THERE WAS A KIND OF KIND OF FRATERNITY BETWEEN MANY SUITS WERE GIVEN OUT TO GUYS THAT COULDNT AFFORD THEM, i HAVE BENE ON THE OLD BOARD NEARLY SINCE IT BEGAN MANY MANY YEARS AND I MUST ADMIT THAT I MISSED ITN I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A PRINTED COPY OF JUST ONE ...... BY THE WAY IF MRS GRUNDY SEES THE COMMENTS SENT BY BYRON HE IS IN TRIUBLE IM SURE SHE WONT HIS COMMENTS OF HER GETTING OLD AND HER EYES GETTING WEAK AND ALL THAT POOR BYRON I WISH HIM COURAGE AND LUCK. I SENT PICS OF MRS GRUNDY ON THE BOARD AND ALLSO ON THE NEW BOARD THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO. BEWWHERE OF MRS GRUNDY GUYS SHE SURE HATES SPEEDOS.

[Byron]

Re. post#11 I have not seen this confirmed by Mike but I think it was his discretion which caused "speedo fantasy" to be dropped - at the time of the Speedo Corp.'s legal action against Dave-go-to-hell-Evans.

A pity about Mrs G but we are all entitled to our opinions and I will not be so dictatorial as to tell you to lighten up.

[Byron]

:eek: Thanks for such an informative post Louis - I must clearly be wary if Mrs G is still around and I should not assume her retirement just because she has been quiet for so long
(her portrait you last posted was a very good likeness)

[shaulis]

Bryon

Once again its not what you say it is how you say it.

[Dooley67]

STS and Louis,

Thanks to both of you for your detailed posts. They give me a better sense of where this version of the board came from. Louis - your explanation of who Mrs. Grundy is was really interesting. I had wondered if she was modeled after the comic book character from the Archie comics. Based on the descriptions of the old board, I think the structured nature of this board is more appealing to me.

D67

[sebbie]

I had kinda figured out that Mrs Grundy was really voiced by Louis, but so far as I can remember this is the first time he has admitted it.

[Byron]

Glad you raised that and first time I see it too.
But not only Louis - I remember tracking it to Fred on the old board - who sadly did not continue to the new.

[dorcas3]

I love MG=bring her back-thanks for the info.

[Byron]

A change of mind there saved you from a slap on the wrist by Shaulis.
I once said pain in the ass to Joe - and it caused me no end of trouble with
the Star Chamber, needless to say.