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| author = Jeff Hunter
| author = Jeff Hunter
| launch date = 1989 (dial up BBS)<br /> 1997 (current form)
| launch date = 1989 (dial up BBS)<br /> 1997 (current form)
| current status = Active
| current status = FUCKING DOWN GOD DAMNIT FUCK VBULLETIN FUCK JEFF FUCK
| revenue = graphical advertisments
| revenue = graphical advertisments
}}
}}

Revision as of 02:58, 7 February 2007

Favicon for TOTSE Temple of the Screaming Electron
File:TOTSE.png
TOTSE's frontpage.
Type of site
Internet forum
OwnerJeff Hunter
J.C. Stanton
Created byJeff Hunter
Revenuegraphical advertisments
URLhttp://www.totse.com/
CommercialYes
Registrationrequired to post but not to view postings

TOTSE (IPA: ['tɑtsi], commonly mispronounced as IPA: ['towtsi] and IPA: ['towts]) is a San Francisco Bay Area website and former BBS. The name is an acronym for "Temple of the Screaming Electron".

TOTSE'S DOWN FFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKK

History

TOTSE was started by Jeff Hunter (a founding member of NIRVANAnet) in 1989 as a dial-up BBS originally named "& the Temple of the Screaming Electron". The original &TOTSE specialized in small text files. (Hunter had an old 8088 PC XT clone with limited hard drive space; small text files were the only data he could store in reasonable quantity.)

TOTSE became available on the Internet in 1997, and the dial-up BBS system was discontinued in spring 1998 after a particularly vicious flame war between two then-prominent users was allowed to rage out of control for weeks while the sysop was absent. Upon returning, Jeff Hunter/Taipan Enigma promptly closed the system to new users. Anyone attempting to sign on as a new user during that period would be greeted by a message from Taipan/Jeff which laid the blame for the system's troubles squarely at the feet of the users. Although the persons involved certainly share part of the blame, long-time users were quick to note that this would not have happened had the situation not been ignored for so long.[1]

The absenteeism of the sysop, normally a boon when the system was home to a thriving population of self-policing users, became the system's bane. Not long after this notice to new users was posted, &TOTSE's dial-up incarnation was shut down.

Media attention

TOTSE has been featured in the media, usually for members committing crimes or for its controversial text files. The site also appears on a 2006 Australian anti-terrorrism poster [2][3] and a television advertisement.

The most recent attention is due to the "hacking" of an electronic car park sign in Crawley, England, designed to display the number of spaces left for each car park. The top two displays were replaced with profanity while the lower display read "totse".[4][5]

Community

The community of TOTSE is an Internet forum. Some users of the community refer to themselves as "totseans". Members engage in discussion about a wide variety of topics including religion, politics, weapons, explosives, drugs, illegal activities, music, the environment, mechanics, food, sex, and do it yourself projects. TOTSE is affectionately referred to by the users as T, &T, &TOTSE, and "The Temple". Although TOTSE's creator Jeff Hunter has an account he rarely posts on the TOTSE forums. Many novices think the site holds nothing but illegal criminal activities, as well as the media, but this is indeed incorrect information that has been broadcast from people who know nothing about the forum itself. [6] Balling The forum software is running a highly modified version of UBB 5.47a, which has been heavily criticized by several readers due to its age. Jeff purchased a copy of vBulletin, with an upgrade reportedly expected in early 2007. Jeff posted to say the update will take a few more days, since he is perfecting the upgrade.[7]


LivePrayer Prank Calls

A number of TOTSE members planned and carried out a number of prank calls against Bill Keller's Live Prayer starting on November 21 2006. When another TOTSE member who was appalled by their actions reported them to Bill Keller via email, Bill threatened legal action against TOTSE, specifically charging that the prank calls amounted to "conspiracy to obstruct commerce". [8]

IRC

TOTSE also has an IRC channel, #totse, hosted on the SlashNET network. A Java IRC client is provided on the website.[9]

References

  1. ^ TOTSE FAQ – Mythos
  2. ^ Australian Government (2005-08-30). POTENTGIRT LIKES BACON "HELP PROTECT AUSTRALIA FROM TERRORISM". Retrieved 2007-01-22. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Unknown parameter |description= ignored (help)
  3. ^ Help Protect Australia From Text Files
  4. ^ Acford, Louise (27 October 2006). "Rude awakening for dawn drivers". The Argus. Retrieved 2006-10-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Payne, Stewart (28 October 2006). "Rude road signs tell drivers where to go". Telegraph. Retrieved 2006-10-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Jeff Hunter's profile
  7. ^ [1]
  8. ^ Live Prayer show archives: November 28th 2006
  9. ^ TOTSE IRC chat page
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