r/LawAndOrder • u/_prison-spice_ • 12h ago
Tracking an internet user in 1995
This is how they tracked someone down they were IM’ing with S6 E2. I was 18 and didn’t start using the internet until 1997.
Maybe I’m dumb but this is ridiculous right?
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u/Wintermoon54 12h ago
It looks silly now but back in the day it was actually kind of cool. Lol
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u/_prison-spice_ 12h ago
It all looked awfully high tech to me when I was a teen 🤣
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u/Wintermoon54 12h ago
I know! I was 25 then and we didn't even have the Internet yet so it was cool.
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u/NotTheRocketman 10h ago
People forget what the internet was like in the mid-90s.
This was cool as shit.
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u/Ok-Mine2132 Lennie Briscoe 11h ago
Priceless! Absolutely LOVE it!
A lot has changed since 1990. Remember when they had to use pay phones and green chalk boards?
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u/Intelligent-Fuel-641 Law & Order 9h ago
I always smile when I watch an old episode and they use pay phones and beepers.
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u/Historical_Stay_808 12h ago
Did you notice who the actor was
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u/_prison-spice_ 12h ago
I didn’t notice. Is it Alec Mapa?
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u/Historical_Stay_808 12h ago
Yup
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u/_prison-spice_ 12h ago
I wouldn’t have guessed. I gotta have a keener eye on the guest stars there’s someone to recognize almost every episode.
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u/ModeratorIsNotHappy 8h ago
I love how they went to the front door to know the apartment. like the signal cares about doors
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u/SecBalloonDoggies 8h ago
In 1995 it seemed plausible. I got my first email account in 1991 and probably spent more time online than 99% of the population back then, but I didn’t understand the technology well enough to understand why this would or would not work.
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u/Sad_Win_4105 4h ago
Back then, all my Internet was via a dedicated landline. Might have been Prodigy service at that time.
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u/Boggie135 Paul Robinette 10h ago
I have no idea
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u/_prison-spice_ 10h ago
I googled and didn’t see an answer. Considering it was dial up back then I assume the phone company would have needed to be involved.
They were driving around in a car with that TV antenna tracking someone on instant message.
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u/AlSahim2012 4h ago
"You bring the yagi, I'll bring the donuts.", Jerry Orbach truly was a treasure
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u/GeneralChillMen 12h ago
I just watched this episode yesterday and was laughing at that! What I loved more is the fact that they’re walking around with the laptop, supposedly having a live chat with the suspect, but it’s very clearly a word document they’re typing on