ntl.talk - the end of an era
ntl.talk, it is no more.
For those wondering what ntl.talk is, or should I say was.. It was a newsgroup on NTL (an ISP - now Virgin Media).
I think the easiest way of expressing this is just pasting some people’s final and last posts here.
My post, the last ever post at all in ntl.talk (I wasn’t trying!):
“Ditto. This place has been a whole lot more than just a newsgroup to me. More than just place to post.
A WHOLE LOT MORE.
The people who are making this happen - They either don’t realise because they can’t be bothered to look past the end of their nose, or are just evil rotten people.
This isn’t just any old newsgroup. It’s ntl.talk.”
It’s even made lurkers come out of the woodwork:
“Just wanted to say bye bye to ntl.talk I have lurked here for many years and have always been amused with you lot on here, watching as you have your get togethers you all seem like a nice lot, I hope things stay just as good in the FUNTO group, Cheerio
Lenie”
And all the good, real friends I’ve made:
“Don’t know how much longer we’ll be going, but each message will show people how much we care about our friends.
I didn’t join this group when it was formed, but since I have been in it I’ve had a great time. Information, advice, jokes, and real life friends.
To say we’ve managed to do all this without being moderated like some people NEED, is fantastic.
Now we’re in FUNTO. It is beginning to replace this group but has a bit to go yet.
Must go and check the doors and things, can’t stop the vandals but can try to make it a bit harder for them.
Take care everyone, see you all next-door when this place closes.
Gander.”
Hyphen’s post is the one that hit home the most for me. Echoing exactly what I feel. Also see his blog.
“Sorry I haven’t been around much lately, guys.
University obligations, over-active IRC, various other stuff happening in my life, etc have kept me away but I want to personally thank everybody who’s ever posted here for making me feel the most welcome I have *ever* felt.
I don’t know if this’ll propagate outside Ponder’s server (I don’t have access to news.ntli.net ATM) but if it does, I hope I’ll see you in FUNTO (even if I’m not that active) and for those unable to make it across, thank you and I wish you all the best.
We’ll be here, out in the rain, looking through the window at what was possibly one of the best behaved communities on the Internet. Just please remember to turn the lights and the heating off and leave a note
for the milkman.Best wishes all,
Khyle Westmoreland (Hyphen).
Pingu..
“Ever since I came to .talk, I have enjoyed the banter, the meetings away from home and getting to know the residents who are from all walks of life.
Im sure we will meet again.
So all that i have left to say is thanks Talktown and good luck to all the residents in whatever they do.So long.
–
Pingu”
Kat..
“Absolutely.
One the nicest things about this group has been the age range. I have watched kids grow up in here, felt a little like they were my own, too, as mine aren’t much older. We might not get youngsters out in the world of
free.uk, but it has been a pleasure - and still is - knowing the ones we have.
–
kat
>^..^< "
So much more has been said. So little have Virgin listened. Everyone just saying “oh it’s only a newsgroup”.
It’s not only a newsgroup. It’s ntl.talk. A whole lot more.
See you over in free.uk.ntl.talk.outcasts guys, and our own private place over at Ponder’s. Also, not forgetting all the great get togethers we have - see you at Easter. We’ll stick together. We all know that.
ntl.talk - full of the most crazy, nicest people you would ever want to know. I love you guys 
You know where the comment link is… get on with it 
Ponder wrote:
I feel so gutted the only way I can realy respond is by keeping the spirit alive elsewhere, like funto or (temporarily) the stairs
The name may have changed but the spirit of ntl.talk will never die
Posted on 08-Mar-07 at 11:09 am | Permalink
ats wrote:
Goodbye .talk!!!!
Posted on 08-Mar-07 at 11:14 am | Permalink
kat wrote:
I’ve said it’s the people that matter, not the place, and it is, but it doesn’t change the fact that this place meant so much to all of us.
Posted on 08-Mar-07 at 11:29 am | Permalink
Rix wrote:
Oh n.talk I’ll miss you :’(
But the spirit lives on in FUNTO and since that is a true usenet group, open to the whirld, then hopefully we’ll find a whole new bunch ” of the most crazy, nicest people you would ever want to know.”
Nice blog post Shell
Posted on 08-Mar-07 at 11:30 am | Permalink
Pam the goose wrote:
We were a family, nothing like the usual NG because ntl.talk flowed over into real life. We met talkers from all over England, Scotland and Wales. Not forgetting one in Ireland!
We didn’t need anyone to have the job of checking up on our posts, they were suitable for eveybody from child through to pensioner. At the odd times we were visited by someone who refused to buckle to and post pleasantly we just ignored them and they rapidly went away.
ntl.talk was a way of life. We loved it and hoped it would never disappear. Now it has and Usenet has taken a dive. At least we have managed to get Funto where we all can meet and, hopefully, it will develope like ntl.talk did.
Goodbye, ntl.talk, we’ll miss you but try to keep your memory open in the wider world of Funto.
A sincere thankyou to all talkers, they kept me sane and happy. Since we lost Grandad Allen I have become the oldest talker but I felt like a teenager amongst such lovely people
What can I say but we’ll try to keep your memory alive and spread it to others who, unfortunately, never met ntl.talk.
Posted on 08-Mar-07 at 11:33 am | Permalink
John the R-T wrote:
I mostly lurked but ntl.talk was a very friendly place. Like others I shall miss it but hopefully funto will take its place.
I’ve borrowed someones eclipse pics to show how I feel.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.payne32/temp_html/html/ntl_talk.html
Posted on 08-Mar-07 at 12:22 pm | Permalink
Beaker wrote:
I’ve been a regular in ntl.talk for something like the last seven years. I’m not sure when I first discovered it, but I do remember everyone moaning for months about not receiving their “free internet for life” disks, I think I finally got mine in August 2000, must have been on PAYG before then, can’t really remember.
We’ve had lots of happy times, a few sad ones (remember Allen and his “Sunday Sauce”?)
I had the pleasure of meeting several of the talk residents at a BBQ in 2004, and have every intention of attending more get-togethers in the future.
Posted on 08-Mar-07 at 12:37 pm | Permalink
Coats wrote:
Pretty much everything has already been said.
We’ve had good times and bad times, but throuought the life of talk we’ve always had friends to share them with. The name shouldn’t matter, but its like an old friend who introduced us all, and as a friend would be, talk will be missed.
So we now reside in FUNTO, and when I have time inbetween studying and living, I’ll be in there catching up with the friends I made in talk. Lets hope we can keep the spirit of talk alive for generations to come.
Posted on 08-Mar-07 at 2:03 pm | Permalink
Gander wrote:
Hi Shell,
Nice blog and write up of .talk (deceased). Gone but NOT forgotten.
Hopefully FUNTO has and will take over and we can all get used to the new name but old traditions.
Take care all and see you around.
Posted on 08-Mar-07 at 3:57 pm | Permalink
Rabbit wrote:
Sorry to see the end of a unique community like Talktown. Too busy elsewhere to post much in Talk but I always read it, enjoyed the piccies of the parties and even met a few Talkers.
Good luck in FUNTO, no big company can destroy the community spirit which was NTL Talk.
Posted on 08-Mar-07 at 4:59 pm | Permalink
Brett wrote:
So long to ntl.talk… from my time in there many, many moons ago I remember it as being a place where people talked and respected each others opinions. It was very diverse, but at the same time very close knit.
There’s not many communities like that one left in the web and to be part of them (no matter how many you’re a part of) always makes you feel special and it’s a shame a bit of the web is dying with it. However, I’m sure most of you guys will find a way to spread the love to other parts of this great wide web.
B -x-
Posted on 08-Mar-07 at 7:00 pm | Permalink
Shell wrote:
And for those of you wondering who the hell Brett is, he is TheMole… from years ago in ntl.talk
Thanks for posting Brett.
Posted on 08-Mar-07 at 9:46 pm | Permalink
Caz wrote:
I came to .talk at a very bad point in my life, didn’t take long before I was invited to one of the famous get togethers. I gave it a miss that time, but by the time I was ready to meet every one, well, I felt like I’d known everyone for years.
ntl.talk was more than just a bit of electronic communication, it ended up a fully grown community both online and in Real life. I’ve made some of the best friends I ever had there, its really been a lifeline for me.
The group is gone now, but the community will be a very long time vanishing.
Posted on 08-Mar-07 at 9:52 pm | Permalink
Khyle wrote:
I’ve said all I can say. Just thank you all for being there.
P.S. Keep your eyes open in Funto for more to come
Posted on 08-Mar-07 at 10:01 pm | Permalink
Brett wrote:
Sorry, forgot that it remembers me as Brett and most people obviously don’t realise who that is
Yes, I am him, the one everyone loves to hate
No probs, Shell, it’s an important ending, I think.
Posted on 08-Mar-07 at 11:20 pm | Permalink
Dazza wrote:
Feck! I can’t believe it! Haven’t posted or read for years but still makes me feel sad!
Posted on 12-Mar-07 at 2:58 pm | Permalink