messaging (General file) A mid 1980s term for text files,
usually short and unpublished found on
BBSs. The g-files
section on BBSs contain text files of general interest,
viewable on-line; this is as opposed to files in the file
transfer section, which are generally downloadable but not
viewable on-line.
When used on the
Internet, this term generally refers to the
types of file most often associated with old BBSs such as
instructions on
phreaking or making bombs.
(1996-06-20)