One of the most popular uses of the Internet is the Usenet or Netnews groups. These groups offer information on the widest variety of topics. Users regardless of individual system can communicate with each other through a series of messages similar to e-mail.
Messages are then posted and can be viewed by other subscribers
to that newsgroup.
Communication is possible through two types of protocol UUCP (Unix
to Unix Copy Program) and NNTP (Network News Transport Protocol).
With most browsers, commands are entered in a point and click
type manner (mouse).
Newsgroups are managed through groups called News servers. News
servers generally have a person responsible for deciding how long
messages can be stored before due to space they must be deleted.
Most servers retain messages for a week and sometimes less.
Who can subscribe to a Usenet group? Anyone, as long as they
have Internet access. The same Usenet group that is read here
in Seguin can be read in England or Australia.
How do you use Usenet? Check with your Internet Service Provider.
Most providers like Connect International, Southwestern Bell
and Netcom provide user access sites.
Most browser or new readers allow users the same general abilities.
Users should be able to read, subscribe and un-subscribe.
For users of Netscape, to access Usenet, click on Window and then
click on Netscape News. If your default news host appears, click
on the folder to open it. A long list of categories will appear
(if the list takes a long time to appear be patient). The major
categories include alt (alternative), comp (computers), misc (miscellaneous),
rec (recreation), sci (science), soc (social) and talk.
Once your list, click on a category and a list of newsgroups will
appear. Under alt for example there are 5086 groups currently.
Under alt.agriculture four individual groups appear, so even
within a broad topic such as agriculture there are smaller specialized
groups.
Newsgroups often give their subscribers a great source of information
and assistance on technical matters. Subscribers can send in
questions or comments and other subscribers will often answer
the query or continue a line of discussion.
Included in most newsgroups are FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)
and FAQ's are posted on a regular basis. Newbies or new subscribers
are asked to read the FAQ as most answers can be found there.
Currently my subscriptions include; alt.agriculture.fruit, alt.landscape.architecture
(my daughter's interest), sci.agriculture.beekeeping, sci.agriculture.fruit,
rec.ponds and my absolute favorite rec.gardens. If you already
have access to the Internet, subscriptions cost nothing. Some
groups (rec.gardens in particular) will have upwards of 200 messages
a day posted.
How do you get through them? Usenet groups display the topic
of the posted message. Read only those messages that are on topics
that interest you. Mark the unread messages as read, so they
don't display but just one time.
Most replies to a message are grouped together with the original
so that any new readers can follow the thread of the discussion.
Follow-up postings even if the original message isn't included
often include a reference number that the reader can click on
to get back to the original.
In Netscape if you see a message or discussion thread that you
would like to comment on, click on re-news and a message is posted
to the newsgroup. If you wish to write the person directly click
on re-mail and a new message screen pops up so that you can enter
your comments privately.
Usenets are a wonderful place for open and active discussions. General rules for use of newsgroups include things like
1) Keep advertising out!
2) Don't use capital letters (it's like shouting at someone) and
3) Be understanding about mistakes (everyone makes them) and
4) Apologize when you do!
I would recommend that every new user reads news.announce.newusers,
new.answers and news.newusers.questions.
Susan Wehe
swehe@ix.netcom.com
http: www.netcom.com/~swehe/family.html
Susan Wehe is a member of the Seguin Internet Club and a regular
contributor to the Internet Beat column. Alll of her previous
articles as well as all articles published since June 1996 in
the Internet Beat column, are posted in the Internet in the Seguin
Internet Club web site, which is sponsored by SeguinWeb Design
and Seguin.Net. The address is http://lonestar.texas.net/~weersjt/club/home.html
This Saturday April 12, there will be a regular monthly meeting
of the Seguin Internet Club at the usual place, Century 21 D&D
at 10 am. Internet users are welcome to attend. There are no
membership dues. If able to attend, please bring information to
share with club members.
For more information about the Seguin Internet Club contact
Jerry Weers, weersjt@texas.net;
Gloria Rivera, riverag@connecti.com, 303-4764;
or Alton Hierholzer. altonh@connecti.com, 303-9260.
To contribute to this public service column, contact Gloria Rivera, column coordinator.