> we started
> pimping the list to all the bus folks who asked questions on the
> ...argh, can't remember what it was called. the thingie where they had
> all the separate categories, like autos.vw.bus ... and stuff like
> pictures.binary.clearsky.bluebird.stupid.droppings and so forth. the
> ancestor to the 'modern internet'.

USENET. From what google shows, looks like maybe rec.autos.vw? Seems like
there was also some sort of early proto-list at something called "cherise".

anyway, we suckered ...er,
> convinced people who had buses (not just vanagons) to move over to the
> mailing list.

I think I found the earliest recorded evidence of Gerald Skerbitz (with the
aid of his accomplice Joel Walker) baiting the trap...
<*http://tinyurl.com/prdep>*

--
John Bange
'90 Vanagon - "Geldsauger"