Benway
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Benway is the name of a character in many of William Burroughs' novels, including "Naked Lunch". Usually referred to as "Dr. Benway" or "Doc Benway," he was used by the author to parody the medical profession and, perhaps, the misuses of science in general. More of a maverick surgical artist than a doctor, Benway lacks a conscience and is more interested in his performance (and his next fix) than his patients' well-being.
The character and surname was appropriated for what was perhaps the first online persona ever recognized. His posts were posted on the Community Memory BBS, the first electronically accessible Bulletin board system.
One of his posts:
(from the Community Memory message base, ca. 1973)
***** IEF XQPRSTQXL SYSPRINT OFFSET INTERRUPT *****
APPLIESTO: ALL BOOGIES, BEANERS, BOLOS & BOZOS ......
DOC BENWAY HERE .......... NURSE, SLIP ME ANOTHER AMPULE
OF LAUDANUM .......... RECOLLECT ONCE ME AND CLEM CLONE WAS CHEWIN
JOHIMBE BARK OUT BACK OF JODY'S ALL-NIGHT PET SHOP .......
NOT A FINER MAN IN THIS WHOLE ZONE
THAN OL' CLEM 'N JODY CLONE .....
****WHERE WAS WE, YEAH ---- USE AUTHORIZED DATA BASE ACCESS
PROTOCOLS ONLY ..... SENSUOUS KEYSTROKES FORBIDDEN ..... DO NOT
STRUM THAT 33 LIKE A HAWAIIAN STEEL GUITAR ..... GRAND CONCLAVE
OF THE PARTIES OF INTERZONE: CHECK YOUR BOX FOR DETAILS.....
PERSONAL ATTENDANCE REQUIRED; SEND NO REPLICA. BENWAY OUT.
TLALCLATLAN ......
