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				    Leeches
		       + Their "contribution" to the world

				  Written by:
				 The Electron
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     Sure, you have heard enough about leeches, but I feel that I should tell 
you my opinions of these people, and try to explain why they behave as they do.

     The term "leech" was first developed by The I.C., who ran the I.C.'s 
Socket in 1983-1984. Yes, the correct spelling of "leech" is "leach", but the
2 E's add something to it. The I.C.'s system was quite large, and had callers
from all over the country. He used the term "lame local leech" (LLL) to 
describe people who are local callers. These local callers usually used their 
real names, and NEVER posted anything. They called as spectators; seemingly 
afraid of posting. Most of the time, their modems were aquired as presents,
and were it not a gift, they would never have bought a modem by themselves.
They usually did not know how to use the system, and spent literally hours on
the system reading EVERY single message they could, EVERY single G-File, using
EVERY single option on the main menu, and more important, they NEVER posted. 
They were almost invisible on the system. I take that back. Back then, most 
systems did not bother having a "userlist" function, so knowledge of these 
users was virtually non-existant.

     The only contribution the leeches made to the system was leaving E-Mail
to their friends from school who had modems. As a result, the I.C. referred to 
them as "leeches." He never deleted them, because they never caused any harm. 
He did kick some of them off the board occaisionally, but he never deleted  
them. They were not bad people, but seemed afraid to voice their opinions.

     The main reason that these people "hid" was because the system was filled 
with popular users who had a much greater knowledge in computers. The leeches 
could not get involved in the discussions, although they knew them backwards  
and forwards. Simply, the I.C.'s Socket was a SPECIALIZED board, built for two 
specific purposes; piracy and phreaking. The system had sections for disk 
piracy, video piracy, phreak code exchange, and even a few credit card numbers.

     The leeches, who were never exposed to such terms as "Metro" and
"Phreaking", did not even bother to post about it. They enjoyed the ability to
aquire such information, but never used it and never added to it.

     Also, The I.C. validated EVERYONE who called. Whether they were leech or
popular, they were all validated, and for a while, even to the higher sub
boards. He did have an anonymous board, but it was eventually deleted because
it did not fit in with the rest of the system.

     After a while, other sysops began using the term "leech", probably by
talking to The I.C. a few times. As a result, the term "LEECH" was applied to
anyone who was either a pest, or did not post.

     Until about 1984 or so, the leech had a small place on the systems. This
is mostly because the leeches had no place on the systems; for they were too 
specialized. Anyone who did not know what they were talking about was either 
ignored or ragged on for their ignorance.

     After the I.C.'s Socket was taken down, the BBS systems around this area
(the Palos Verdes area) lost much of their "pestige." .. Simply, popular users 
did not call these systems any longer. Most systems were not "big enough" for 
them, mainly because they only had about 5 sub boards and the average PV or 
Torrance sysop was proud of having 2 or 3 elite users. As a result of this,
the leeches "came out from under their desks," and began to post. The
specialization of systems was gone, and the topics of the BBS systems were
greatly expanded. There was nothing to stop these people from posting now,
because everyone was just as they were. That is why there are no "pirate" or
"phreak" boards in Palos Verdes or Torrance. Sure, there are sub boards for
such, but they are used rarely.

     The term "everyone was a leech once" is absolutely true. I was a leech,
for I called  systems and was quite intimidated by the superior knowledge and
abilities of the other users on such systems. Simply, these people knew much
more  than I did, had much more experience, and my posting and possible 
contributions to the systems would have been simply an annoyance to these 
users. This was the feeling felt by just about EVERY single user who was new
to the "modem world." As a result of this, I tried my best to equal their
abilities. After a while, I finally made a place on the I.C.'s Socket. I
finally was what I wanted to be; a popular user who had a voice in the
discussions around me.

     This did not last for too long. For, a year or so later, in 1984, the
I.C.'s Socket went down, and these popular users left the Palos Verdes area.
That same year, during the summer, I ran a system, known as the Fourteenth
Dimension. I tried endlessly to re-capture the specialization that the I.C.'s 
Socket had. I called out of state boards to advertise, and I even called elite
pirates and gave them accounts over the phone, even though they did not have
any previous intention of calling my system.

     It failed. I was proud of the fact that the 14th was MY board, but I
could recapture neither the popularity nor the prestige the I.C.'s Socket
had. Later, the systems in the PV/Torrance area became less specialized.
Messages were posted by everyone who wanted a voice on any system. Many
people, like myself, who had tried to make a place in a more elite world of
BBS systems, had "the rug pulled from under us."  .. That is why you see
people, like myself, and many times myself, talk about how good the "old days"
were. Those are people who had tried to become elite and popular people, and
may even have succeeded, but the effort given did not match the time it
lasted.

     Many of these popular and elite users lived in the Palos Verdes area.
When the I.C.'s Socket went down, and the systems became less specialized,
they found themselves in the same position as did the leeches. They felt
alienated. They called BBS's eagerly to pirate and phreak, not to bullshit
with other users. So, these users no longer called the Palos Verdes systems.
They took their BBS time elsewhere.

     That is why the systems in this area have no particular purpose and no 
particular direction. Many of the sysops put up these systems with particular 
purposes, but they do not get what they asked for.

     True, the boards in PV/Torrance are nice boards, but no one can actually 
put their finger on what they are there for. Simply, the users do not have as 
much in common.

     The average "leech" of this area became more active on the BBS systems. 
But, in other areas, where the elite/popular users still call, the leeches 
still hide in the shadows. The lack of popular users and users with superior 
abilities caused the leech of this area to become more active.

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			  The "LEECH" of later days
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     After a while, the "leech" of this area was no longer considered a leech,
because about EVERYONE else on these systems would have been considered a
leech on systems such as the I.C.'S Socket.

     Today, the word "leech" is used to describe a user who abuses the BBS
system. These new breeds of "leeches" were users like everyone else. Since
there were no popular users to indimidate them and ignore them, there was
nothing to stop them from abusing the BBS system. In order to understand my
point, I will use an example.

				   Erik Jay

     No, this is not where the rags begin. I use Erik Jay as an example
because I feel that he is almost a perfect example of my point.

     He started using a modem in about May of 1984. This was right before the
I.C.'S Socket was taken down. He probably called the I.C.'S Socket and had an
account, but he was a "local leech". He, as all other "leeches", used his real
name. He never abused the I.C.'S Socket because he knew that he would be
stepped on if he did so.

     But, when the Socket went down, his abuse began. He logged onto systems
with multiple names. I will not mention those  names, because they are not
important. The important part is that under these names, he was an utter fool
who ragged on people for no particular reason, and he violated many of the
basic morals that, if violated, usually lead to deletion on most systems. His
abuse was not limited to the BBS systems, as he prank called many users, most
of which he did not know, but had their phone numbers. In all, he was a pain
in the ass.

     He popped up right when the I.C.'S Socket went down. This is not
suprising. The I.C.'S Socket was the system where such acts were not
tolerated, and such foolishness led to a user's deletion, and he was
considered an "immature fool" by all of the other users.

				 Example #2:
				 Sid Vicious
     
     I must admit, I hate Sid Vicious very much, but I will try to make this
as objective as possible.

     Sid Vicious came in when the I.C.'s Socket was long gone, and the
specialization had long since diminished. He, as did Erik Jay, logged on with
multiple names, prank called users, tried to crash the software, and even
logged on with other people's names.

     The reason I hate him is because he logged onto other systems with my
name. He would call systems, particularly Tele-Cat systems, and logged on with
"THE ELECTRON". While using my name, he demanded high access, and many times
was granted it. He would say things such as "I wrote your board! Give me a 99
level!" .. While using the 99 level, he would abuse his options as a co-sysop
any way he could. Although he, under my name, is eventually deleted, those
sysops who believe that it was me who called and abused the level hate me
forever, for something I had no part or no knowledge of. He gets some
enjoyment out of this, but I have learned not to be too concerned by it. If I,
or anyone logs on to your system as "THE ELECTRON", please, do not give me
high access, or even validate him unless you call me at 213/544-3163
(first name Mark) and ask me if it was me who called the system.

     What is my point? My point is that these people were "put off" until 
1984-1985. Such acts were unheard of before then, because the systems had
users who would tear the leeches apart. Were Sid Vicious and Erik Jay on the
I.C.'S Socket, their abuse would not have taken place on that system.

     Today, people like "Sid Vicious" and "Jeff the Ripper" talk about how the
"leech takeover began in 1984." .. Well, it did not begin at all. Its
beginning was sparked by the end of The I.C.'S Socket. Sid, Jeff the Ripper,
and Erik Jay were "leech users" like everyone else. The question now begins,
"Then why did they stand alone in becoming such assholes??" .. I do not know.
I suspect it is because Erik Jay "started a trend." Little do people know that
Erik Jay is a pathalogical liar who was raised by a father who still has the
macho-image and  gold chains dangling from his neck. I will say no more about
him, because conversation with him can prove the point I have been making in
the last 2,768 words in just a few minutes.

     As far as Sid Vicious goes, he brags about being one of the "most popular
users in California". He talks about how he is the "greatest leech of all
time" and that he is the "talk of many discussion boards throughout the
country." This is, obviously, bullshit. He believes that what he has done has
made a name for himself. Instead, it is made him something else, which I
believe you have already figured out. What is his "contribution??" Well, it
was re-defining the  word "leech". The early leech was a respectable person
who naturally felt intimidated by the superior knowledge of the users around
him. Now, the leech is someone (not playing with a full deck of cards) who
tries his best to bother as many people as he can, at one time. I am sure he
has reasons for this, but I do not want to psycho-analyze him, but simply
discuss his "achievements."

     Sid Vicious called Future Scape (213-470-4948). He was, as usual, a
leech or a pain in the ass. He was deleted, and the users on the system did
not even  consider him a distraction. This is because Future Scape has popular
users on it who call for a few directed purposes. I believe the sysop told me
that Sid was "begging to be let back on." .. He will never be let back on that
system, at least not with his real alias. For that matter, Sid will probably
not call Future Scape again. On Future Scape, Sid Vicious was a fool, and he
was intimidated by the user's obviously apparent disregard for stupidity.

     In my area, everything has to be "regulated". The auto-message, the
appendable voting booth, transfer section, general file section(s), message
bases, and about everything else has been abused, misused, or not used at all.

     That is because the BBS system of today was originally designed during
the time of the I.C.'S Socket, where such options were a two-way game, some
give and some take.

     If the popular users, such as were on the I.C.'S  Socket, to come back to
Palos Verdes, the current users on those systems, who could be considered
"leeches" would be pushed back "into the shadows." .  . .  I am not saying
they belong  there, but simply that their uprising would be destroyed were the
popular users to come back and call the systems around my area.

     I am not a very well-liked user in Palos Verdes. I suspect it is because
I do not consider PV-boards "good boards." They have turned, in 2 years, from
well directed information exchanges to non-serious,multi-purpose "hang-outs"
and these boards are not called for a reason, but just "to pass the time."

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				  End of file
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				  But not yet
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			   Why did I write this file?
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     At first, I wrote this file intending it to be a rag on Sid Vicious, but
it turned out to be more of a "leech history" file than anything else. I
realize, after writing this file, that any system that still has the popular
users on it is a "lucky" system. For, the sysop never has to delete users. The
users themselves will do an excellent job of putting people where they belong.
Sure, the "lucky" systems have what could be considered "social classes", but
at least there is control. Any sysop who has "popular" users should do 
everything in his power to make sure to hold onto them with his bare hands,
for those are the people that determine whether a board is "good" or "bad."
.. The software, functions, M0DZ, sysop, sub-boards, and the megabytes are
all relative things that will not determine whether or not the system will
succeed in its purposes. What it all comes down to is the area. Some areas
are blessed  with users who do not allow such "leeches" to rise, and others,
like Palos Verdes, have a blessing that once-was and should-be.

