Communication Studies - Internet Skills - Usenet Newsgroups

Introduction

Usenet is a distributed, decentralized, international discussion system. Participants in Usenet read and write "articles" that are posted to a large, hierarchical set of "newsgroups." Computers which provide access to Usenet communication are supported by corporations, educational institutions, or individuals who choose to implement the newsgroup system at their own expense. This service may also be known as NetNews.

The newsgroups are divided into hierarchies, not all of which are carried by all systems. The main groups are:

  • alt - alternative or controversial topics
  • bionet - research biology
  • bit.listerv - newsgroups originating as discussion lists on the BITNET network
  • biz - business
  • comp - computer-related discussion
  • news - news about Usenet
  • rec - recreation
  • sci - science
  • soc - sociological discussion
  • talk - chit-chat
  • miscellaneous

Newsgroups differ from discussion lists in that you need not be subscribed to a newsgroup to post to it. While some are moderated, most are a discussion "free-for-all". As with discussion lists, there are suggested guidelines This is a link to another web site <http://www.vonl.com/vtab24/news102.htm> for communicating via newsgroups. By following them, you will communicate responsibly and effectively online.

Accessing Newsgroups

If you choose to use the Web, go to Google Groups This is a link to another web site<http://groups.google.com/>. This site is both a directory and search engine service for newsgroup articles. Articles are arranged in subject categories, much like a web directory. You may select a topic or search by keyword. Once you have selected a newsgroup to explore, you may read previous messages and then respond to them.

Additional Reading

The Core Rules of Netiquette This is a link to another web site. By Virginia Shea. Retrieved January 10, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html

Usenet Info Center Launch Pad This is a link to another web site. (1998, November 24). Retrieved September 12, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://sunsite.unc.edu/usenet-i/home.html

Provides help, lets you locate groups of interest, and provides additional resources.

Zen and the Art of the Internet - Usenet News This is a link to another web site. By Ben Jonson. (1993, July 31). Retrieved September 12, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.cs.indiana.edu/docproject/zen/zen-1.0_6.html

Describes Usenet news, what it is and isn't, its history, how to use it, and more.