MERRY CHRISTMAS to IrelandOFFline & Boards.ie ?...

Paddy20

I wish a very **Merry Christmas and a Happy new year, to ALL at :- IrelandOFFline [IOFFL] and their hosts, Boards.ie.

From,

Paddy20:;)

De Rebel

I'm guessing here but if this is early because you are off on one of your "trips" to Dublin then I hope it goes well for you and that we see you back here soon, hale and hearty and making noise as usual.

j

NeoSlicerZ

I second that paddy.

Bard

Question: MERRY CHRISTMAS to IrelandOFFline & Boards.ie ?...

Answer: erm... YES!

What's this... our second Christmas since the inception of the organisation? It's nice to see that there's something to show for it... that being UTVip, Esat NetSmart and, albeit ridiculously overpriced, eircom i-stream. The ultimate goals of IOFFL are still a good bit off yet, of course.

Speaking of Christmas, I'm looking forward to seeing if Esat BT *do* actually release a 256Kbps DSL product by then...

Gordon

Happy Christmas!

What is IOFFL's birthday by the way?

Bard

Originally posted by Gordon
Happy Christmas!

What is IOFFL's birthday by the way?

May 13th 2001

Dustaz

Originally posted by Gordon

What is IOFFL's birthday by the way?

Hmm, theres a few contenders for that.
13-05-2001 - First meeting takes place of 'concerned netizens' in light of the Esat Letter (cant find the thread with the photo in it )

19-05-2001 Ireland Offline name is chosen

21-05-2001 Website goes live.



edit: Gah, foiled by the website

LoGiE

Originally posted by paddy20
I wish a very **Merry Christmas and a Happy new year, to ALL at :- IrelandOFFline [IOFFL] and their hosts, Boards.ie.

From,

Paddy20:;)

And good tidings to you sir:)

It's yet another sign that christmas gets closer every year....

MDR

*looks at his watch* ... its still November ... bah humbug

Bard

Originally posted by Dustaz
Hmm, theres a few contenders for that.
13-05-2001 - First meeting takes place of 'concerned netizens' in light of the Esat Letter (cant find the thread with the photo in it )

19-05-2001 Ireland Offline name is chosen

21-05-2001 Website goes live.



edit: Gah, foiled by the website

The idea for a national organisation for Internet users in Ireland actually stretches back further, with meetings having taken place back in February of 1999 with a view to forming such a pressure group.

( usenet discussion which led to the formation of the ill-fated IUGI ... which fell apart, despite all good intentions... just as well IrelandOFFLine was vastly more successful!)

Good old archive.org and google.com, eh?

DC

And what does everyone want in their xmas stocking?

DSL or FRIACO if you're nice.

An evening out with Etain Doyle if your naughty.

byte

I'll be nice, really I will!

ando

bah, its still 4 weeks away I hate when people get premature. Christmas for me starts when I say goodbye to the job for a few days :rolleyes:

Tellox

Bah,this goes to show how much the installation of DSL really is.
the fat man in red is bringing me that this year

Calibos

insane poster is right;)

DonegalMan

Originally posted by ando
bah, its still 4 weeks away I hate when people get premature.

Normally feel same way but if you read Paddy's previous posts you will understand he has his own reasons for being early.

Best wishes to you, Paddy in every possible way.

Martin

OHP

Same to you P20 and a Happy Birthday too

OHP

stormkeeper

Merry Christmas to you as well Paddy

fisty

dont wanna say merry poxy humbug christmas.
I do wanna say cheers to ireland offline people for doing those things they do.
good job fellas.

Paddy20

Hi Folks,

Dustaz may have locked my "Who agrees that IrelandOFFline have almost won the **Campaign ? thread.

However, you can still wish them a Merry Xmas here- at the moment?

Best wishes too one and all," Even Dustaz?".... but hurry up before this is LOCKED as well??...!.

See you.

Paddy20

Stonemason

After all it is nearly xmas

Happy christmas to one and all ho ho ho

DeVore

There are and have been many internet "concerned" groups. I think May 13th is as good a starting date for IOFFL as can be picked.
There are other groups out there (IIU, OPEN even as far back as the EFI) but each has its agenda and activity level. IOFFL has been very successful and its creation should be celebrated imho (as a simple member)


As for Boards.ie, thanks for the christmas wishes, we've really given very little to the IOFFL people that they couldnt have done themselves but its made both groups stronger and its curious that we are seeing a huge jump in impressions on the site as Broadband starts to roll out...
A roundabout christmas gift from IOFFL to Boards.ie I think

Here's to another year of cheering you guys on from the sidelines!

DeV.

timod

Dev,

Getting way OT now, but just wondering, if you have any idea of numbers of poeple who are on boards because of IOFFL.

I know that I for one joined boards because of IOFFL way back in May '01

De Rebel

I was led here by an IOFFL link. But I have found at least 4 other boards which are of interest. Can you track this?

Paddy20

Hey,

Nice too see people back wishing a merry Xmas to one and all?

COOL:p

Paddy20;)

dahamsta

Getting way OT now, but just wondering, if you have any idea of numbers of poeple who are on boards because of IOFFL.

Be very hard to do. You'd get some from the first post people made on Boards, but most of the people on web forums are lurkers. And you can't do it with the first thread people viewed, because it's not logged. Easiest way'd be to ask I reckon.

adam

vinnyfitz

I also found the Boards by reading about IOFFL in the media.

Bard

For me, boards.ie came first. I was using the boards for about a year before IrelandOFFLine came along.

When I was putting the first IrelandOFFLine web site together, I thought that it'd be a good idea to get a discussion board set up on this site for the organisation.

So I did it... and myself and dahamsta moderated it for a time... which proved to be both a frustrating and rewarding experience at the best of times! The baton of moderatorship has since been passed on to Dustaz and sceptre who are doing an excellent job of keeping the control and direction of the forum in check.

It's nice to see how the general conversation and attitudes on this forum have evolved and grown since it's fairly rocky start. The forum and the organisation have both been through some difficult times but it's great to see both carrying on relatively succesfully.

May you all have a Merry Christmas, full of speedy downloads and reliable connections

spongebob

Say

"Happy christmas to you too Paddy20"

gwan ya divil

M

Bard

Originally posted by Bard
... May you all have a Merry Christmas ...

DC

The spirit of Christmas wins through in the end

DeVore

Thats an interesting question (about what draws people here).

Undoubtedly people have found boards.ie through IOFFL. (IOFFL actually kinda advertise themselves while the Boards guys...um... well ... we like cake!). Noone finds Boards just by typing in random letters into a browser. Someone always tells them about some Board or other and they are then enticed to stay by finding other boards they are interested in. THEN THEY ARE MINE MOOHAAAHA... *cough* ... sorry about that.

Undoubtedly IOFFL is one of the busiest boards at times. During the recent upheaval we've had upwards of 30 people on the board.
Now we have 215 at max people on boards at any time so while thats not a majority or anything, its a nice chunk.

I think the two things complement each other nicely now. Boards has (quite gratifyingly) become one of the main congregation points for technologists in Ireland. As such we can raise awareness of IOFFL amongst new members. This works both ways as IOFFL also draws technologists to Boards.

Theres no doubt in my mind that we have both grown stronger together.

DeV.

yellum

Hmm, heres an idea. Everyone senf a Christmas card with their wishlist to the lads in IrelandOffline, then IrelandOffline delivers all these cards to the government.

Seen it working before for another group. Got some nice coverage, it being of a Christmas theme and all that.

dahamsta

Jeebus Tom, you're getting more like McCormac every day. How long before you become a recluse and spend your entire day watching spiders and hacking set-top boxes?

heh

adam

DeVore

Ah but JMCC doesnt have TINFOIL UNDERPANTS LIKE I DO to keep the IEDR from stealing my thoughts!

Anyway, what brought on that comparsion?

DeV.

dahamsta

Ah but JMCC doesnt have TINFOIL UNDERPANTS LIKE I DO to keep the IDER from stealing my thoughts!

Course he does, I only sold him a pair last week.

Anyway, what brought on that comparsion?

The "Boards Is Wonderful" diatribes are a little reminiscent of the "whoisireland.com is great" stuff from John. S'alright boy, I'm only pullin' yer leg.

adam

DeVore

Yeah, I'm very proud of (and protective of) Boards.ie.
Its really important that we have somewhere for just regular joe-soaps to be able to communicate without feeling part of someones Business Plan....

I mean, theres NO WAY a limited company with shareholders and investors and a board of directors could host IOFFL. I mean, half the stuff here is sufficently actionable to at least *threaten* a case against a company.

Freedom of speech wont be lost through dictators and fascism. It'll be lost to corporate liability concerns.

DeV.

Dustaz

Originally posted by DeVore
I mean, half the stuff here is sufficently actionable to at least *threaten* a case against a company.

And thats the stuff that gets though

Paddy20

DeVore,

You said it, "Freedom of speech" eh.

Nice one.

Merry Christmas to you and all at Boards.ie:D

Yours,

Paddy20:cool:

zynaps

Originally posted by DeVore
Freedom of speech wont be lost through dictators and fascism. It'll be lost to corporate liability concerns.

DeV.

At least we don't live in China... although, they do have broadband I guess

zynaps

Nollaig Shona everyone!

Bard

Originally posted by DeVore

I mean, half the stuff here is sufficently actionable to at least *threaten* a case against a company.

Or try to DoS them?

*Someone* DoS'ed the IOFFL web site TWICE during the time I was running it (and the attacks knocked it offline, along with a number of commercial web sites which were sharing the same server)...

The IP address of the attacker was interesting to say the least...

Pretty ripe, tbh...

timod

The IP address of the attacker was interesting to say the least...

Oh, do tell!

Paddy20

Timod,

I totally agree with you, "Oh, do tell!" Bard.

Name & Shame ! Go on?

Paddy20:cool:

Bard

Oh, do tell!

No.

I'm not making any accusations.

I didn't see the IP address, - I was just told by the server administrator quite clearly what network it came from. There's a subtle clue in the last post.

Anyway, this happened over a year and a half ago and and I've mentioned it before ... so it's hardly 'news'.

Paddy20

HOW, can anyone - now - not wish "IrelandOFFline & Boards.ie" a **Merry Christmas and a HAPPY NEW YEAR?.

After Davids magnificent WIN, even I feel like getting legless? but I am not allowed too - at the moment, but heres hoping!.

I have not felt so pleased, since I first discovered NOOKIE??...

Yours,

Paddy20:D

Celt

Originally posted by paddy20
HOW, can anyone - now - not wish "IrelandOFFline & Boards.ie" a **Merry Christmas and a HAPPY NEW YEAR?.

After Davids magnificent WIN, even I feel like getting legless? but I am not allowed too - at the moment, but heres hoping!.

I have not felt so pleased, since I first discovered NOOKIE??...

Yours,

Paddy20:D

I DONT KNOW, how anyone? at - this - moment can not wish? "IrelandOFFline & Boards.ie" a **Merry Christmas and a HAPPY NEW YEAR?!?.

BUT, there are - always - begrudgers? and people who just dont like seeing other people succeed?

richindub2

It is indeed? a - "sad" - state of affairs??.

Celt

Originally posted by richindub2
It is indeed? a - "sad" - state of affairs??.

I must? - ambivalently - agree??.

Paddy20

This thread should have more "Positive" replies than the UTV one!, and that is not because I started the thread - somewhat early - or with hindsight, was it?...

This is my true sentiment on this matter.

Yours,

Paddy20;)

Paddy20

Anyone NOT posting HAPPY CHRISTMAS to ALL the above. Will NOT be getting any Christmas "Prezzies"? This year!...

You have been warned, so do not blame me OK.

Yours,

Paddy20:p

Paddy20

Hey,

**It is the 1st day of December 2002, so why not wish everyone, including the " media Jourmalists " who lets face it have been a "great help" in making the general public aware of just how much they have been duped by Eircom.net?.

I am especially addressing the begrudgers and sceptics who as yet - have not been caught up in the spirit of the season?.

Lets, here from all and sundry. This Christmas there really is something too celebrate, am I right?...

Yours,

Paddy20,:D :eek: :cool: