About the Dead Parrot

Why "Dead Parrot"?

Because the best technology never really dies — it just gets declared dead by people who moved on to the next thing. Gopher was "dead" decades ago; it still serves pages today. twtxt, Finger, IRC, hobby operating systems, 30-year-old machines on the bench — all supposedly extinct, all still running for anyone who cares to keep them running.

The parrot is our mascot for exactly that: tech that's been pronounced deceased but stubbornly refuses to stay down. The board is a fond tribute to BBS-era computing — when connecting to a remote system was genuinely exciting and communities formed around text on a screen — rebuilt for people who still feel that pull.

The parrot may be dead. The tech isn't.

What We're Not

We're not a social media platform. There are no engagement feeds, no algorithmic timelines, no promoted content, and nobody is tracking your eyeballs to sell you things. We don't have infinite scroll because we don't need you to be slightly addicted to us.

We're also not trying to be the next big thing. We're trying to be a good small thing.

What We Are

A slow, text-friendly clubhouse for people who tinker — running as a genuine old-school bulletin board you reach over SSH. It's where we talk retro computing, the small web, hobby operating systems, vintage hardware, open protocols, and the dead-but-alive corners of the net like Gemini, Gopher, twtxt, and IRC. Thoughtful posts are encouraged. Deep dives are celebrated. Showing your work is practically a requirement.

It's text-based, menu-driven, and stocked with door games and ANSI art. If terminals and text-mode interfaces make you happy, you'll feel right at home — and if they're new to you, the How to Join page makes getting connected painless.

House Rules

We keep these short because we trust adults to behave like adults:

  • Be kind. Disagree vigorously, but never cruelly.
  • No bigotry. Full stop.
  • Stay (loosely) on-topic. Tangents are fine — that's how good conversations work — but know the difference between a tangent and a hijack.
  • Prefer substance over trolling. If your post's only purpose is to wind someone up, reconsider.

That's it. If you can manage those four things, you'll fit in fine.