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When I was 13, I checked out Steven Levy's "Hackers" from the public library. Inside I found a handwritten note from a 14 year old boy which said something to
by gilmore606 4y ago
When I was 13, I checked out Steven Levy's "Hackers" from the public library.
Inside I found a handwritten note from a 14 year old boy which said something to the effect of "If you like stuff like this, call me!" So I did! We ended up being friends for a couple years and exchanging C64 software and talking about nerd stuff.
- em-bee 4y agothat's a great story. before the internet there were no easy ways to find others who were into computers. as far as i can remember i was the only one in my school who would hang out in the schools computer room after classes. i am pretty sure there were other kids in other schools that were interested in computers, but i had no way of finding them. meeting someone like that would have been great.
- harel 4y agoWe used to place ads in a newspaper to find fellow Commodore/Amiga/Spectrum/Atari users to trade games with. It was not uncommon that my Saturdays involved my parents dropping me off at some random person's house (which might or might not have been my age) and picking me up a few hours later.
- sundvor 4y agoThis scene was incredibly strong in Norway back in the days, speaking as a then-teenager there.
- harel 4y agoThese days this would not fly... The risk of dropping a kid at some stranger's house all alone with a few floppies or tapes in this day and age could get a parent a stern visit from social services. But it was acceptable in the 80s...
- em-bee 4y agononsense. as soon as i have an address and a name, they are not a stranger anymore. i know exactly where my kids are, and no social services can tell me who i am allowed to trust and associate with.
- harel 4y agoI think you missed the jesting tone this was written in, but it's ok, I blame the font selection. It's too serious. ;-)