As the essence of the Internet changes so do the various aspects and parts that make it what it is. We know that the Internet is a way to trade information, communicate, and engender community. There are many different ways in which we can interact with other people online that include chat rooms, e-mail and the like, but one of the oldest forms of interaction available on the Internet obviously still remains today – the message board. Throughout the history of the Internet message boards have slowly began incorporating many different aspects of media, sleeker and more aesthetic page design and images are a stark contrast to the old bulletin boards of yore. Bulletin boards allowed people to publish their own thoughts, and receive information from others that they might not be able to receive before, today the purpose stays the same but has allowed the message boards of today to grow into huge sprawling communities that include people from all four corners of the earth, trading stories, pictures, and insults. Friendships and enemies abound on these message boards that grow into their own subcultures. The oldest of which develop their own “dialects” and even rules for posting, the oldest members can often be seen commenting on past discussions and drama that had occurred years before, making a message board like a static group of friends that may or may not have even met before, complete with their own inside jokes and feelings. Off-Topic.com or “OT” is a veritable super board that I was once a member of. Despite the volume of it’s users, it remains a relatively well kept secret as when you first join you are alerted that “the first rule of OT is – don’t talk about OT.” OT uses Phpbb coding to generate it’s interface which is supposedly incredibly easy to learn in fact many phpbb boards incorporate the principal of modularity allowing anyone to create a customized interface after filling out various fields and clicking appropriate buttons based on the different features you wish to include or not include in your forum. OT was the creation of a Houston resident that codes all of the phpbb himself. I was a member of OT during v 4.0, OT has now been around long enough to have reached its 9th version and obviously many things have probably changed. The forum itself is generally a large collection of 17 – 25 year old males that enjoy discussing cars, video games, and complaining about movies. There are a vast majority of different forums within the message board that cover a wide variety of topics that include a section for tutoring, and a section devoted entirely to selling your old stuff i.e Ebay although the forum aspect allows many members to barter and haggle for different items. Users are notorious for spending a large portion of their time on this message board and around finals or exams there can be seen many posts by users asking administrators to be banned for specific amounts of time so they cannot access the site and spend their time studying. OT really has developed it’s own history which many new users slowly become acquainted to, as they participate in discussions and listen to stories of old members and things that used to happen. There is a strict way of conducting business on the forums and as a result many “newbs” are chastised and berated electronically for “reposting” or general stupidity. There exists a unique group of “OTisms” that many members use to convey feelings and streamline typing. OT is the embodiment of Rushkoff’s renaissance. The way in which OT has really developed into a “family” and it’s own unique culture is a prime example of the way internet usage engenders community. The trading of ideas, and the way in which different media forms like pictures, music, and even movies are shared shows us how the internet has grown since it’s infant stages. On OT you yourself become the author of the story being told. In debate with others you can argue or support other ideas and interact in some what can sometimes be truly fulfilling conversation.