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Internet Basics: Newsgroups

What is a newsgroup? A newsgroup is similar to a mailing list in that it is composed of threaded conversations by topics and subject, except that there are thousands of newsgroups, available through the Usenet network. Be warned, however, that some newsgroup topics can be quite lewd but most are extremely valuable resources of information. You will want to carefully control the access children have to newsgroups.

Accessing newsgroups: Your access to newsgroups will likely depend on those supplied by your Internet service provider. My service provider supplies full news group access on a remote news server called Super Zippo News, which also makes newsgroup postings available via the Web (except you have to give a name and password).

Netscape's newsreader interface is very similar to its e-mail program but some people find it confusing and limited. I also like Newswatcher for the Mac but there are numerous other newsreaders available. Be warned, though, once you tell the newsreader to load all news groups, this could be a long download! Ideally, you would then mark the groups you are interested in seeing and download messages only from those groups. You can find lists of newsgroups in many Web publications as well as online.

Try these links:

• Infinite Ink's Finding Newsgroups
• Usenet Info Center
• Internet Newsgroup Directory

Searching newsgroups: Ths function can be particularly helpful if you have a specific problem to solve or a topic you are interested in. Chances are someone's talked about it before on the net. If so, you can find it in the Usenet archives. Try AOL NetFind's Search Newsgroups

Increasingly, many listservs and newsgroup archives are now being made available via websites. This is a nice trend, I think.

Posting to a newsgroup: Similar rules of netiquette apply to news groups as apply to mailing lists: Lurk awhile to become familiar with the group, read the FAQ first and make sure your posts are appropriate for the entire group.

c. 1996-99 Julie Wolpers, Poplar Bluff, Mo. Made with Macintosh