Newsgroups/Usenet
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Usenet is a collection of electronic posting areas, or "bulletin
boards" also known as "newsgroups". Messages placed in newsgroups
are called "articles" or "posts." Like
actual bulletin boards in the real world, information is posted so the rest of the members of the group can read it,
and just as in real life, some groups strictly adhere to certain topics, and others are more relaxed. Finding the
right group(s) for your questions or interests is part of the challenge!
How to Choose a Newsgroup
There are literally thousands of newsgroups on the Internet, so where do you go to find one relating to
your interests? If you are using Netscape (which has a built in newsreader),
simply select Go to Newsgroups under the Directory menu. Netscape will bring up the newsgroups made available by
FONE.NET for you to choose from. It is most common to choose a newsgroup, read the articles for a while, and make
sure your question or article is appropriate for that group. If you are still unclear which group is right for your
particular post, you can ask in news.groups.questions - a group
specifically designed for users who are new to the Usenet community.
You can find lists of the more popular newsgroups in many mirror sites across the Internet. Here are a few sites to check:
- Bates College: Usenet News: All Available Newsgroups
Harley Hahn's Master List of Usenet Newsgroups
Usenet Info Center Launch Pad
ABIDING BY THE RULES
The Usenet community is exactly that - a community, with specific
"Do's" and "Don'ts" which allow everyone to peacefully coexist.
Newsgroups have established guidelines for who can post, how to post, and where to post articles, and
what type of articles are appropriate. These guidelines are commonly known as "netiquette". For a satirical and ultimately informative lesson in
netiquette, refer to Mark Moraes' clever article "Emily Postnews Answers Your Questions on Netiquette" which is
posted frequently to "news.announce.newusers" - a good read!
Learn more about netiquette HERE.
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