People always throw out “MUDs” in their lists of internet applications as if MUDs have experienced significant growth since 1992.*

I know it’s because a lot of the early literature focuses on them, which makes sense because they were actually a new and vibrant online community when the early research was being done, but at this point I don’t think they’re terribly relevant unless you’re trying to explain the difference between hard core internet geezers and everyone else, which hardly anyone ever is.

So anyway, I got back from ASA and I’m tired because my internal clock thinks it’s midnight and the margaritas from happy hour at Compadres to celebrate my triumphant return have worn off.**

I met a lot of cool people doing interesting work, and I thought that our presentation on third places in virtual worlds went quite well, especially when you consider that it took place at 8:30 in the morning on the first full day of the conference. A more substantive post may or may not follow in the next few days; please recall that I now have 10 days to pack all my shit and move back to Wisconsin. And there’s a poster presentation at PARC in there somewhere, too.

*Year chosen because that’s the year I started playing MUDs, but I was sort of late. And they didn’t really take off at my junior high, although I did inspire a few fellow orc slayers.

**After the conference, I felt it was best to gradually reduce the alcohol consumption rather than abruptly cutting it off.

3 Responses to “People always throw out “MUDs” in their lists of internet applications as if MUDs have experienced significant growth since 1992.*”

  1. Nick says:

    10 days?! Aw, crap, we’d better hang out again soon.

    Speaking of MUDs, remember that time I got everybody on SEMO’s IP address kicked off of Ancient Anguish for like a month? That was hilarious.

  2. Dad says:

    Yeah, and remember the two years or so when it was never possible to call our house because you were always on dialup? I used to have to log in to Ancient Anguish and shout “Cabell! Ask Mom if I should get milk on the way home!”

  3. K says:

    I love the way you just naturally use words like “substantive” even exhausted and post-margarita.

    Hope you get the rest you need, and that the packing goes OK.

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