I think my first real uses of the Internet were work-related and this was some time in 1995. I got dialup at home in 1996. I remember playing around with a browser called “Mosaic” and it was already archaic by then. I think my first “modern” browser was Netscape 2. I remember experimenting with streaming audio back in 1997 and it sounded really choppy and unpleasant. It was interesting but I thought, shortwave radio sounds better than this! I stumbled upon a site called “Free Republic” sometime in 1997 but didn’t sign up until 2002. I remember when news was “hugh and series!” Of course, back then, the Clinton scandals were much discussed. Now all these years later we are still plagued with Clinton scandals!
Oops, I didn’t sign up until 2003, not 2002. One thing from 2002 I vividly remember is following the thread here about the Columbia disaster. I remember hoping the missing shuttle just had some communication glitch and then having to accept that no, the worst thing happened.