I remember sneaking into their room after they fell asleep to steal the phone extension cable back to reconnect so I could stay up all night talking to Americans! The first time they got one of those massive phone bills I was in SO much trouble.

Eventually, in like '97 or so, my father wound down the ISP he was running and got a 128k leased line into our house (which was basically unheard of). I came home from school and discovered a cable running across the landing and into my bedroom, and quickly figured out I had a permanent 24/7 connection. I don't think I left the keyboard for the entire weekend :D

They took away the mouse, then the keyboard, and eventually the modem. It wasn't about cost - it was the equivalent of taking away the PS5 controller when you have a younger teenager being disrespectful.

I wound up with backups, and eventually my own PC.

Are you me?

(were you on #gb back in the day?)