newsgroups

Newsgroups

Overview

The Internet has made it easier for people to connect to one another all over the world. Newsgroups work like a message board where millions of people have the ability to write and receive comments, thoughts, or questions. Currently there are more than 20,000 newsgroups, some which receive hundreds of postings per day. Newsgroups are a popular tool for communication on the Internet. Before you join a newsgroup it is important to learn how it works.

Newsgroups Defined

Newsgroups are like "giant" bulletin boards, where people post messages by sending e-mail to the newsgroup. With newsgroups, you have the ability to browse through thousands of different messages instead of having the messages sent to you via e-mail (http://wit.bowiestate.edu/cohen/internet/Newsgroups.htm).

How Newsgroup work

A newsgroup work like a notice board at work. Some are moderated, meaning that a person will filter the appropriate message on the topic being discussed. If the message does not have relevance on the topic it won't appear (http://www.netstream.com.au/Pages/newsgrou.htm).

For a first time user, you will log on to your selected news server. From there you will be instructed on how to receive the lists of the different groups available. In a newsgroup the message heading or subject is referred to as the title of the forum. You can conserve both hard disk and bandwidth space by only keeping the titles (http://russell.tnet.co.uk/newsgrup.htm).

News groups work like this: I post a message. Jenny comments or answers my message. John writes a reply or comments about Jenny's message. For example in a pets newsgroup the process might occur as follows:

Lori: How can I potty train my dog?

David: Use a newspaper to punish it every time you see your dog pee in the house.

Cathy: Using a newspaper to train your dog can make your dog mean.

How to Pick the Best Newsgroup

A good place to start to pick a newsgroup is by an Internet search. Limit your search by choosing a topic on which you wish to discuss. Hint; the title of a newsgroup is a good indicator on what the group content is focused on. Most groups will have a document for FAQ (frequently asked questions) which to some extent is the rules of the newsgroup. This will inform the user what context is appropriate to post in the best interest of the newsgroup.

Newsgroups are open to the public where anyone has the ability to communicate. In fact you can discover thousands of topics to discuss from as favorite sports teams, to gardening. Anyone who has subscribed to a group is now able to obtain messages. For the most part there are no costs involved with using newsgroups except in some cases extra bandwidth is needed, (which is necessary for companies that require wide access).

Usenet

Some people refer to Usenet (the user net) as the most intriguing thing about the Internet. It is a compilation of individual newsgroups, covering an array of topics. Usenet is a used for debate and allows people to talk about anything and connects their expertise, practical tips and thoughts in a text based forum, to essentially anyone in the world (http://www.grosvenor-butterworth.co.uk/useful_articles/newsgroup_tips.html).

Usenet is a network that passes on messages that were stored on a news server from a posted message in a newsgroup. This message gets passed onto multiple servers and in approximately 3 days the message has connected to servers all over the world and is reached to an estimated to 25,000,000 newsgroup users. This circuit of message exchanging works the same way with other Internet Service Provider (http://www.grosvenor-butterworth.co.uk/useful_articles/newsgroup_tips.html).

Social Ramifications and Issues

Problems with Newsgroups

Unfortunately just like in e-mail you can receive junk mail in newsgroups because there are many newsgroups that are unmoderated, which gives free access to anyone in the group. At times messages can be irrelevant annoying and offensive. Some groups are not appropriate for all audiences. For example an adult site on sex would not be good for a 14-year-old child.

"SPAMMERS" make the Internet experience less enjoyable. These are jerks that send junk mail (SPAM) to you...so like the processed meat of the same name...few people like it (http://www.the-spa.com/donsworld/Tips.htm)!

To help fight against unwanted messages change your reply message when posting a message to newsgroups. By doing this you are faking out SPAMMERS, who have a program called HARVESTERS that accumulates a list of addresses of newsgroup users and transmits it onto CDs for sale. The outcome of this is more junk mail. Most experienced newsreaders will not use the same reply address for email and news (http://www.the-spa.com/donsworld/Tips.htm).

Some Internet service providers (ISP) choose to have a large amount of newsgroups available. But they often only keep group messages posted for a short period of time before they have to clear it to make room for new ones (http://www.netstream.com.au/Pages/newsgrou.htm).

Newsgroup Tips and Etiquette

There are nine helpful tips to help you in a newsgroup forum.

1. Do some homework. Read examples on the product to find people who are doing things that you need. Review through the manual and check online for help about the product.

2. Determine to which newsgroup you should post your question. Review the messages that have already been asked in the newsgroup, for recent acquisitions about your problem.

3. Use a meaningful subject line. Use the subject line to summarize the problem, instead of asking for help. Get to the point.

4. Try to ask one main question in each message. A short message with a few related questions is more likely to get attention than one with a many questions.

5. Don't ask questions in a way that require all people to answer in the negative, because you won't get an answer. Write out the question and then ask for help.

6. Do not be annoyed by receiving a half-dozen conditional answers from different people. Make it worth your while. If the suggestions are not important to you now, they could be helpful in the future.

7. Be prepared for follow up. If people have trouble figuring out what you want, they will ask you for a more detailed description on what you are asking for.

8. Don't assume that nobody cares to help you, simply because you get no answers. Don't be afraid to ask the same question twice, this will let others know the urgency behind your question. Inform the audience that this question was asked before and is the second request.

9. You catch more flies with honey. Don't denounce or put blame on anyone or program simply state the problem first and stay neutral. Register any complaint to the intended channels and stick to the facts (http://www.intrepreneurs.net/newsgroups/tips.html).