My ex was building his own computers in the mid-1970s and was online (with an intranet, and later with DARPANET) in 1978. I must have been one of the first recipients of emailed love-notes in 1978. He kept trying to get me interested and bought me my first PC in 1981. Kept emailing me from work in 1985 and telling me what errands I should run for him. This somewhat diminished my enthusiasm for the internet.
I do clearly remember him telling me, ca. 1986, that this was the future and soon the whole world would be connected.
>> My ex &etc
How could you dump a cool nerd like that??!? Shame on you.