You Can Use the Internet the Old-School Unixy Way With Shell Accounts

"One reason to sign up for a shell account is that shell providers often
have friendly user communities. Many providers have their own IRC,
Usenet, or bulletin boards where users can exchange messages. The users
tend to be other Linux and Unix enthusiasts. These spaces are just fun
to hang out in."

https://www.howtogeek.com/use-the-internet-the-old-school-unixy-way-with-shell-accounts/