> Another big factor was that calling BBSes used a phone line. If your family had a single phone line, it was in use when using the modem. No one could make or receive phone calls when you were online. This meant that serious BBS users and sysops running BBSes had multiple phone lines. Those who couldn't afford multiple phone lines were calling late at night when no one else was using the phone.

My brother would pick up the phone and yell into it to knock me offline.

BBSes were the gateway drug to MUDs for me. And even at 1200 baud a DIKUMUD was plenty playable.