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History of the MALLRATS

The newsgroup known as alt.discuss.webtv.html was started by Tip Tup in March of 1998 with the mission of helping others to learn about HTML and how to use it with Webtv. As time passed, Tip Tup developed other interests and decided to pursue them. The NG quickly dropped below 100 posts at any one time.

A new leader emerged from the cybermists by the name of Mav-. With his trusty companion Kate, they diligently worked to assist people looking for help, especially those who were intimidated by the attitude displayed in other HTML newsgroups of the time.

The general theme of ADWH became the fact that we were the "friendly" html help NG. In late October and early November, both Kate and Mav- literally were "burnt out".

They turned the reigns over to Wil Kyle and his sidekicks The Weave & Kenny (quicksilver45). It was Wil's vision that brought a new level of energy to the group. He established and met a number of goals which led to the group's independence as a self-sustianing NG. This allowed him, Weave & Kenny to "retire" on March 1st, 1999. He continued to work tirelessly to write Web pages to help ADWH & the WebTV community as a whole the entire time that he was a "webbie".

Those of us who remained diligently maintained the same philosophy that was established by them. All posters are welcome. Our only basic rule was BE NICE or BE GONE. Flamers were ignored by the entire group and thus were seldom found here (thank goodness). The group pretty much policed itself. We believe that there is no such thing as a dumb question. We drift from the main topic of the NG at times but that is done in an effort to assist those who sincerely need help.

The M.A.L.L.R.A.T.S. developed out of the ADWH regulars as a core group of posters dedicated to the growth and maintenance of ADWH & and the teaching of HTML through exercises and "missions", such as the one that gave birth to this help site.

Out of the group a leader emerged known as Gnubee aka Agent Alpha. In addition to designing many of the exercises and missions for the M.A.L.L.R.A.T.S., he strove to develop leadership and teaching skills in the other members of the group, which "promoted" him to "General Alpha".

In the Fall of 2001, a large group of trolls banded together with the purpose of destroying the major HTML teaching newsgroups. They succeeded and the groups were no longer able to fulfill their purpose.

But WebTV had developed club newsgroups which could be and maintained by the newsgroup owner, so the M.A.L.L.R.A.T.S. moved to Html.Help.Gnubee to better enable them to fulfill their mission, where they continue to teach HTML and imaging skills in a safe, family-oriented atmosphere.

The group is maintained by Gnubee (Agent Alpha) and his lovely wife, MrsK (Agent Omega).