Back in the olden days, they had these things called Bulletin Board Systems.  You dialed into them - when you could get a line, because you see, they usually had 2 or 3 lines and they were always busy - with your 300 baud modem.  You could type stuff and other people could type stuff back at you.  I never had any truck with it, too much one handed typing going on if you know what I mean.

Later on, but still in the olden days I reckon, at my university we had this thing called Internet Relay Chat.  Legions of college students typing with one hand.  Deplorable.

Nowadays you can't swing a cat without hitting somebody's instant messaging thingy.  It's disgusting and uncouth. 

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