Ah, good old teletext, in a way it was a forerunner to the Internet. Checking out Backchat in the late 90's used to be the highlight of the day; teenagers could write in, or they could "ask permission to use the phone", or send a fax (I wonder how many teenagers did this?), or the most up-to-date could email their comments, which had to be "short and snappy". Yours would only be screened if you were lucky. I got quite a few up there for all to see! The merits or otherwise of "Teletubbies" was a favourite debate, as well as the slogan "what do other Backchatters think?".
A lot of the frothing that goes on in AIBU now has echoes of "Backchat"; indeed, I expect some of us who were "Backchatters" back in the day are parents on MN now.
One comment I particularly remember (not one of mine) said something like: "I love Backchat, because of all the silly things you talk about, and the arguments you have. Keep up the good work, it's so funny!" This almost sums up most internet forums.