Sounds like someone didn’t remember their childhood (or wasn’t there). The early BBSs were (in majority) run by geeks.

I do remember two in Hawaii that were family or female efforts. Both were social efforts that got some of us more-shy types out into the sunlight.

The Swamp was run from a couple’s home in Waipahu. They would throw BBQs periodically just so we could meet each other face-to-face. Their fetes were of the type where it was safe to bring your kids (there was even an Easter egg hunt).

The Oral Majority (in response to Moral Majority politics) was aimed at a bit younger crowd but was still organized to get people outside (though mostly at night). They organized pool parties, bowling contests, and at least one penthouse party in Honolulu.

Admittedly, these two were the minority. The remainder of the BBSs on the island were either run by businesses (Amiga shops led the effort) or by us geeks with extra cash (phone lines were expensive) and no life (with a BBS tying up the phone line, no one could call you).

In any case, maybe you could pretend there were more women involved? Are you sure that Ms. Denning or Ms. Hopper didn’t run a BBS?