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Participating in newsgroups
What is a newsgroup?
How did newsgroups originate?
What's the difference between a newsgroup and a mailing list?
What do newsgroups have to do with news?
What subjects are covered in newsgroups?
How do newsgroup titles work?
Are newsgroups open to all?
What are newsgroup discussions like?
Is there an etiquette to participating in newsgroups?
What are the advantages of moderated vs. unmoderated newsgroups?
How do I find newsgroups that suit me?
How do I access specific newsgroups?
How do I access newsgroups with a Web browser?
How do I access newsgroups with a freeware newsreader?
How do I access newsgroups with a Unix newsreader?
Are all newsreaders about the same?
What does an offline reader do?
How are my newsgroups managed?
How do I read newsgroup messages?
How are the messages organized and displayed?
How do I sort and search?
How do I reply to messages?
How do I join and unjoin newsgroups?
Does it cost anything to join newsgroups?
Do I have to post to my newsgroup?
Do I have to use my real name when posting to newsgroups?
Can I post anything besides text?
How do I initiate a posting on a whole new subject?
How can I send a posting or thread to someone who doesn't follow the newsgroup?
How can I save postings for myself?
Are all the messages archived?
Can I start my own newsgroup?

What is a newsgroup?
Newsgroups are topic-centered electronic discussions that take place via Usenet (a Users Network, also called Netnews)--a network of computer networks. Each newsgroup consists of a body of messages posted by users and passed from computer to computer primarily via the Internet. The messages are held on news servers, and you must visit these locations via computer to read them. Some newsgroups are technically non-Usenet, but you still access and post to them the same way. And it's still possible to access newsgroups through computer systems without Internet accounts: Their systems administrators can set up "newsfeeds."

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How did newsgroups originate?

Usenet started in 1979, when two students at different colleges scripted a program using Unix, a computer operating system, to move messages and news between their computers. Other Unix users could contribute to this ongoing electronic discussion group, too. The system grew, and in the mid-1980s, an improved protocol was developed so the Internet community at large could participate in newsgroups.

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What's the difference between a newsgroup and a mailing list?

Mailing lists send newsgroup-style messages right to your electronic mailbox. Newsgroup conversations are stored for a few days or weeks on someone else's computer; you visit the newsgroup to find out what's new.

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What do newsgroups have to do with news?

Newsgroups actually do contain news about many subjects--for example, an academic newsgroup about astronomy might publish some new research findings--but their messages also contain arguments, questions, theories, jokes, and flirtations, making newsgroups one of the most exciting and unpredictable communications resources available today. "Discussion groups" might be a more accurate term for these exchanges of opinions and ideas.

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Know the lingo
Most Web terminology was created in the past few years, but newsgroup jargon is very user-friendly. Newsgroup terminology evolved from a newspaper metaphor--you "subscribe" to a "news" group so you can read its postings, which are also called "articles."
What subjects are covered in newsgroups?

You name it, there's a group for it. Newsgroups are collected by subject in broad hierarchies, with numerous subcategories in each one. Seven main topics are approved by Usenet for its participating newsgroups.

comp: You'll find more computer-related groups on Usenet than you care to count. Read discussions of the latest product or ask for help in solving that thorny printing problem.
misc: Look here for such groups as misc.jobs.offered, misc.forsale, and misc.taxes, as well as K-12 groups for teachers and students.
news: If you're new to Usenet, check out this category, especially news.newusers and news.misc.
rec: Here's where to look for groups on sports, arts, entertainment, games, food, drink, and most things fun.
sci: If your buddy doubts that anything important happens on the Net, send him or her to the science newsgroups. And if you're a science buff, be sure to tell friends and family where you are before delving into this Usenet category.
soc: Social issues rule here, with subgroups that range from soc.feminism, soc.couples, and soc.veterans, through some 100 groups in the soc.culture subcategory.
talk: The talk category contains groups for debating everything from talk.environment to talk.religion.

Many non-Usenet newsgroups also exist, which are not officially approved by Usenet and follow no set of rules as far as content goes:

alt: The infamous alt prefix stands for alternative. Often controversial, generally free-wheeling, alt groups aren't carried by all Internet providers. The alt category is often responsive to current events and interests.
bit: These are the Bitnet newsgroups. The more than 250 bit.listserv groups are a nifty way to follow mailing lists without your mailbox forever overflowing.
biz: These business-oriented newsgroups often address a given company or its products, but they include such useful groups as biz.jobs.offered, for those seeking employment.

In addition, Usenet has several place categories, such as la (for Los Angeles), nj (for New Jersey) and de (for Deutschland, a.k.a. Germany). For instance, la.general is the place for general questions and discussions about Southern California; la.eats is the place to talk restaurants.

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How do newsgroup titles work?

Let's start by considering a typical Internet newsgroup: rec.arts.books. The name explains where it fits in the hierarchy. Rec is short for recreation, a populous and pleasant category. The next part of the title, arts, describes the basic subject area within recreation, and books shows which area of the arts is being discussed.

With this in mind, then, it's obvious that rec.music.classical is the place to go for opera discussions. But you can also find rec.arts.bodyart, for tattoo lovers, and rec.arts.bonsai, about vertically challenged trees. Rec.arts.books has its own subgroups, including rec.arts.books.childrens, rec.arts.books.marketplace and rec.arts.books.tolkien.

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Usenet and Unix
In case you're wondering, the Usenet newsgroups use lowercase letters and periods between the words in their titles to conform to the standards of the Unix computer operating system, because that's where Usenet got its start.
Are newsgroups open to all?

Newsgroups are available for everyone, but whether or not you can access them is another story altogether. It's the news administrators at Internet domains--universities, businesses, and commercial access providers--who make the decisions about which of the more than 17,000 newsgroups to carry.

Some Internet Service Providers and commercial services refuse to carry or list certain newsgroups because they contain controversial categories or memory-hogging photos--alt.sex and alt.drugs being prime examples. And if your Internet account is through your office or school, the management may decide to block newsgroup access altogether.

If you're setting up your own account with a commercial provider such as CompuServe or a private Internet Service Provider, be sure to ask about its newsgroup policy before you subscribe. Many commercial Internet Service Providers provide access to a substantial but not exhaustive set of groups.

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What are newsgroup discussions like?

Questions or statements are posted to the groups along with reader responses. Users provide the content, both good and bad. You may find rude, stupid, or inflammatory comments in some groups, or participants who wander off the subject.

But netizens are generally a remarkable resource, making Usenet endlessly fascinating, inventive, and--in the true spirit of the Net--helpful.

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Is there an etiquette to participating in newsgroups?

Yes, you should follow certain guidelines when you're in a newsgroup. Don't feel compelled to post a message the first time you visit. When you feel comfortable enough to actually put in your two cybercents, try to avoid the following:

Do not spam. No one enjoys this, save perhaps the immature prankster.

Do not flame. There may be people who deserve your wrath, but like screaming in a fit of anger, flames can not be taken back once sent.

Do not troll. Even if you think it's hilarious, no one at alt.chinchilla is interested in your desire for the latest chin stew recipe.

DO NOT SHOUT. It discourages people from reading your posts, and it's just not nice. So don't do it, even if it looks nifty on your screen.

All these things can come back to haunt you. Even though you may not care who sees your message at the time you write it, you may live to regret sending it. Remember, anyone with access to AltaVista has the power to see every online document you've ever written.

As for things you can do to look good in newsgroups, here are a few trade secrets:

If you want to emphasize something, you can put asterisks on the side, like *this* or underlines, like _this_.

When you reply to a message, if your e-mail system doesn't automatically insert little arrows in the left margin to differentiate your message from the snippets you're quoting, you should add them.

Lest we forget: emoticons. If you want to communicate humor, you can use the smiley face :^) or variations thereof.

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What are the advantages of moderated vs. unmoderated newsgroups?

A moderated newsgroup is monitored by a person or persons--or sometimes even a computer program--who screen the messages to decide if they should be posted. This can help avert flame wars, spamming, overly long threads--a series of related messages, and discussions that veer too far from the topic at hand.

Unmoderated newsgroups are just that--anything sent gets posted. Depending on your viewpoint, this can make for a lively forum or an uncontrolled free-for-all.

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How do I find newsgroups that suit me?

Just like their cousins, mailing lists, newsgroups are so prolific that they can be hard to keep track of. Here are several comprehensive Web indexes to help you get started:

Your first stop should be the Usenet Info Center Launch Pad, which contains a very extensive primer on newsgroups as well as listings of newsgroups by hierarchy, with links to each group. There's even a search engine to help you locate newsgroups by subject area.

Internet Newsgroups is another comprehensive listing of newsgroups. They're indexed by hierarchy, with links to each group.

A quick way to locate newsgroups by subject is Find Newsgroups, an index with its own search engine. Just type the subject area you're investigating into a box and up pops a list of related newsgroups, with links.

If you already have access to newsgroups via your newsreader check out the news.lists newsgroup, which provides an index of newsgroups, and news.announce.newgroups, which keeps you abreast of newsgroup news.

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New kid on the block
If you're new to Usenet, you should check out the sources available to newbies. Among these is the very useful news.newusers.questions, where you can ask any question without fear of seeming dumb.
How do I access specific newsgroups?

Newsgroups can be reached via commercial services such as AOL and CompuServe, through Web-site pathways, and through software programs called newsreaders.

The way you read and post to Usenet depends on your provider and browser. On AOL, for example, Usenet comes to you filtered through AOL's easy-to-use graphical interface. Here you can simply click on buttons to perform various actions, such as posting a message in a newsgroup. Netscape offers a similar interface with its newsreader program.

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How do I access newsgroups with a Web browser?

In Netscape Navigator 3.0, you have to enter your info in the Mail and News Preferences under the Options menu. Click on the Servers tab and fill in the appropriate information. Most important is to identify your news server. If you can't figure it out yourself, ask your information systems person or contact your Internet Service Provider for help.

After you get this set up, go to Window and select Netscape News. You will get a separate Netscape window, divided into three frames. The upper left will be the newsgroups that you are subscribed to, the upper right will show the title of the messages, and the lower frame will display the text of the messages. When you first get set up for newsgroups in Netscape, you will automatically be on the subscription list for several newbie groups.

To access new groups, open one of the groups you are already subscribed to. If you can't see the names of the groups, enlarge the field by placing the cursor on the bar above the frame and dragging it to the right. Next, go to the Options menu and select Show All Newsgroups. From there, scroll down the alphabetical list of categories until you find the one you want. If the folder has a "+" sign in a box next to it, you will find numerous newsgroups within that category. Click on the one you want, find a message title (in the upper right frame) that interests you, click on it and read the text in the bottom frame.

Accessing a newsgroup in Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 is somewhat similar. First, check to make sure that you're set up with Internet mail. Click on View in the main tool bar and scroll down to Options, then click on the Programs tab. Your mail setting should be Internet Mail; your news should default to Internet News.

Go to the Mail icon on the main tool bar. Click and scroll down to Read News. The first time you access your newsgroups, an Internet News Configuration box will pop up that prompts you for information about your computer set up. Key in the information and click Next to continue. A frame will follow that asks you to enter your name and e-mail address. Click on Next to continue.

You must now enter your preferred news server. If you don't know which news server you should use, ask your information systems person or contact your Internet Service Provider for help. Click Next, then key in the method of your computer connection. And voila, you are now ready to access newsgroups.

If you need to change any information you've just entered, go to News on the Internet News tool bar, scroll down to Options and click the Server tab. Once you click Finish in the Internet News Configuration, Explorer will automatically display the newsgroups available to you from your mailserver.

To access your Explorer newsgroups for the first time, click on the All tab where the newsgroups have just downloaded. At other times, click on the Newsgroup icon in the Internet News tool bar. A list of available newsgroups will pop up. Click on the newsgroup you'd like to visit, then click the Go To button.

If you like, click the Subscribe button on the right-hand side of the screen. A newspaper icon will show up next to the newsgroups you're subscribed to. Newsgroups you subscribe to will pop up each time you click the Subscribed tab, located below the list of newsgroups.

Once you've opened your newsgroup, double click on the posting you wish to read. To respond to the message, click on either the Reply to Group or Reply to Author icons, or pull down the News menu in the Internet News tool bar and scroll down to the appropriate addressing for your message. If you'd like to go back to the other newsgroups available to you, click the Newsgroup icon on the Internet News tool bar.

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How do I access newsgroups with a freeware newsreader?

Many freeware newsreaders are available on the Web. All you have to do is download the one you want. We'll be using Free Agent as an example.

For PC users:

Download Free Agent

Download NewsXpress

Download WinVN

For Mac users:

Download Newswatcher

Download Yet Another NewsWatcher

Download Nuntius

For Unix users:

tin, trn, rn, and nn should already be installed in your Internet Service Provider's software, so that you can just type in the appropriate command at the prompt in your Unix shell.

From there, you can set up the program with your information and preferences, select the group you want to read, and start reading. In Free Agent, go the Group menu, choose Show All Groups, and click on one that you like.

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Read me
If, after downloading a free newsreader, or any freeware for that matter, you see a read-me file in the contents, read it. Often it will include installation help and troubleshooting tips that almost always shorten your learning curve.
How do I access newsgroups with a Unix newsreader?

In the Unix newsreader market, you will hear four names over and over again: nn, rn, tin, and trn. Which one you choose depends on your preference.

Nn, whose motto is "No News is good news," is a "threaded" newsreader. It gives you a list of unread messages in newsgroups and lets you pick what you want to read. The order in which info is displayed is a bit different than most newsreaders, which could be confusing.

Rn used to be big in Unix newsreader circles, but trn has made it virtually obsolete. Rn presents you with a single unthreaded message, which may be hard to follow.

Tin is the most popular Unix newsreader among newcomers because it is relatively easy to use. It is menu-driven and handles threading very well. A menu of commands at the bottom of the screen makes it simple to search for what you want.

Trn is similar to tin, except that instead of displayed topics, it presents the messages themselves, one at a time. Even though they are threaded, if you want to see all the topics, trn is not the place to do it.

Since it is the easiest Unix newsreader to use, our examples will employ tin. You can begin tin in several ways, but the best is to type tin -q at the prompt. (This tells the host not to ask you if you want to subscribe to every new newsgroup that comes down the pike.) If you know what group you want to read, you can add it to the initial command and go directly to it. For instance, to read the broad Usenet newsgroup about television, you would type tin -q rec.arts.tv.

The host computer will then give you processing messages until it has found the group you want and listed it. At that point, hit Enter and you'll see a list of message threads, each a separate chain of messages on the stated subject. Let's say one of the subject lines catches your eye. Just move the cursor to it, hit Enter and you'll see the first posting in the thread.

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Are all newsreaders about the same?

Some newsgroups are home to copious amounts of encoded binary information, such as picture files or programs. Since those files are generally encoded and sometimes chopped into several parts, it's a hassle to piece them together and translate them into something readable. If you often hang out in groups that regularly include multimedia files, a newsreader that can decode binary files is a must. NewsXpress, Free Agent, and Newswatcher are three newsreaders that handle binaries particularly well.

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Get out that decoder ring
Sometimes it's handy to encode parts of your message (such as sensitive information or punchlines to jokes). If your newsreader has a decoder function, you can save yourself a lot of time because you won't have to encode your messages by hand.
What does an offline reader do?

Some online time costs just enough that you don't want to waste a buck an hour reading (or whatever you wind up paying). With that in mind, a few newsreaders let you read Usenet news offline. After you choose which newsgroups you're interested in, the software logs on, downloads new posts, sends any messages you've composed offline, and logs off. Once offline, you can read news--and compose it--at your leisure, without feeling like you're "on the clock" or in need of a speed-reading course. Some programs let you save additional time and money by fetching only the author and subject lines of your favorite newsgroups, then allow you to choose the specific messages you want to receive in full.

Although offline readers are relatively rare, they are definitely worth looking for. Currently, Free Agent 1.0 handles online and offline reading.

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How are my newsgroups managed?

Your newsreader, whether it is a browser, freeware, or software, contains a file called a .newsrc file in which all of your newsgroup information is stored and sorted. It contains all the newsgroups that the Internet Service Provider has elected to carry, the ones you have subscribed to, and the messages you have read. The .newsrc file is very smart and does not need human interaction. In fact, you should never attempt to edit it.

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How do I read newsgroup messages?

Your newsreader will display a list of your newsgroup's messages in the same fashion your e-mail program displays your mail. Just put your pointer on the messages you want to read and click. It's that simple. A separate box or frame will display the message you're reading. When you're done with that message, move your pointer back to the list of messages and click on the next message you want to read.

Keep in mind that you do not have to subscribe to newsgroups to read or post to them.

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Don't overquote!
When you reply, since most newsreaders quote the prior message, trim out all but the essential sections that you are responding to. For instance, chop off the signature line. If your response is only a small fragment of what's in the return message, you are probably not trimming the message enough.
How are the messages organized and displayed?

Depending on your newsreader, your newsgroup postings will appear either grouped by subject or in the order of their arrival.

Newsreaders that group postings by conversational threads--a chain composed of an original question or remark followed by a series of responses--are the easiest to follow.

What complicates this is thread drift--when postings on a topic wander off the subject. For instance, responses to Selling My Motorcycle might evolve into an argument about Harleys vs. Hondas. If you want to carry on this new vein, be sure to put Harleys vs. Hondas in the subject line of any message you post, so those interested in the original subject "Selling My Motorcycle" won't get dragged into your debate.

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How do I sort and search?

The ability to search through newsgroups is vital. You'll definitely want a newsreader that can scan 1,500 posts in alt.internet.services, for example, and pick out the FAQ file or just the posts from users at your business.

Kill files are a great help when sifting through newsgroups. These let you filter out messages about specific subjects or mail from certain people that you have no interest in. Most kill file functions are based on keywords and mark unwanted messages as read, so you never even see them. Unfortunately, not all newsreaders can do this.

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How do I reply to messages?

You can post a follow-up message, also known as a reply, e-mail a private message to the author, or both.

In Netscape, after choosing the Netscape News option, look under the Message menu for Post Reply, Mail Reply, and Post and Mail Reply. Post Reply will put your message on the newsgroup. Mail Reply will send a private message to the author, and Post and Mail Reply will do both.

In Free Agent, you'll find Follow Up Article and Reply via Email under the Post menu. Both programs include icons on the toolbar for each of these functions, as well.

Remember, if you're posting a message to the newsgroup, you're typing a public reply for all to see. Often your newsreader will automatically quote the previous message, which might contain quotes from prior messages, so you should edit these.

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Crossposting
If you think your message would be of interest to more than one newsgroup, you should consider crossposting it. Post as you would normally, then add the additional newsgroups to the To: field, separated by commas.
How do I join and unjoin newsgroups?

As long as your Internet Service Provider allows you access to it, you can read and, if you want, subscribe to any newsgroup.

Subscribing is like bookmarking a favorite Web site; when you turn on your newsreader it displays a list of the newsgroups you subscribe to.

In Netscape, if you check the box next to the newsgroup, you will be subscribed to the group and it will show up when you open the newsreader. To unsubscribe, uncheck the box.

In Free Agent, while you have a group highlighted, select Subscribe from the Group menu. From then on, a newspaper icon will appear next to the subscribed group. To unsubscribe, choose the Subscribe option again.

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Does it cost anything to join newsgroups?

No, reading and subscribing to newsgroups is free. The biggest cost you might encounter is the charge from your Internet Service Provider for your time online. Reading newsgroups is not different from surfing the Web in that you or your company won't be billed a surcharge over your regular time online. Given that reading and responding to newsgroups can become a time-consuming addiction, you might want to use an offline reader to save money.

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Do I have to post to my newsgroup?

No. In fact, just as in any gathering of people, some will have a lot to say and others will just listen. It's quite possible to subscribe to many newsgroups without ever contributing a message to any of them. This practice is known as lurking, and it's quite acceptable, if a little less fun, than being an active participant in the ongoing conversation.

Conversely, you don't have to subscribe to a particular newsgroup to post to it. You can drop into any newsgroup with a question or comment. Just make sure you mind your manners if you're new to the conversation.

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Don't shoot from the hip
Use common sense when visiting a newsgroup: Check out its FAQ as well as its ongoing discussions to make sure you aren't bringing up something that's already been talked to death. And be sure you stay on the topic: Don't just pop into a newsgroup of dairy farmers with an offer to sell your used car.
Do I have to use my real name when posting to newsgroups?

No, you can send messages anonymously by using a computer service known as an anonymous remailer (also called anonymous server). This free service intercepts and forwards your messages for you, replacing your real name and e-mail address with a dummy address. Because these services are generally provided gratis by friendly members of the online community, they tend to come and go. Check out the Samaritans Web site for instructions.

A simpler way to post to newsgroups without your real name appearing at the top of your message is to set your e-mail name and preferences without including your actual name. So the return address and sender name of a message from Jane Smith could appear as kitty@domain.com (Kool Kitty).

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Going incognito
If you're a woman you might want to think twice before mentioning your gender in some newsgroups, especially ones of a sexual nature, since other readers can bombard your e-mail address with unsolicited personal messages. Keep this in mind when you come up with your e-mail alias, too.
Can I post anything besides text?

Sure you can. Follow the instructions for either replying to a message or initiating a posting and then attach the non-text file as you would in e-mail. In both Netscape and Free Agent, the Attachment button appears to the left of the address fields in a reply or new mail form.

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How do I initiate a posting on a whole new subject?

Write in a concise and polite manner, and remember not to post unless you've checked to see if the same subject has been covered already. If your posting involves a question, be sure to check out the FAQ for the group answers. Then select New News Message in the File menu of Netscape or use the New Article function under Post in Free Agent. Give your message a subject and start typing.

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Find that FAQ
If you've got a question and can't find the FAQ for your newsgroup, try looking in the news.answers group. You will find literally hundreds of FAQ lists, one of which should supply you with an answer.
How can I send a posting or thread to someone who doesn't follow the newsgroup?

This is very similar to forwarding e-mail to a third party. In Netscape, while the message is displayed on your screen, go to the Message menu and choose Forward, or click on the forward icon. In Free Agent, Forward via Email is located in the Post menu. With both programs, type in the address of the recipient and hit Send. Free Agent gives you the option of Send Now or Send Later.

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How can I save postings for myself?

You can save messages as you would any other file. In Netscape, you go through the Save As feature under the File menu; in Free Agent, the Save Article As function is also in the File menu.

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Are all the messages archived?

No. Unlike mailing lists, newsgroups typically save messages for about two weeks, and unless they're moderated, you won't find archives for many groups. In that case, the moderator would be the one to contact, by sending e-mail to list-request@host address. You could also try an FTP search tool called Archie or the FAQ for your newsgroup.

Some online resources archive newsgroup postings. Deja News for example, archives back to March 1995. Deja News does, however, offer an option to exclude messages from archiving.

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Watch what you say
Many search engines, including AltaVista, can access newsgroup messages. So even if your boss doesn't have access to a newsreader, he or she can still find out what you've been posting.
Can I start my own newsgroup?

Sure, but you should check to make sure your idea doesn't already exist. Then check out news.announce.newusers for more information. You might also want to look at mailing lists and chat rooms to see if the subject has been covered on some other part of the Net.

It's a good idea to join any group you think might be interested in your new group. That way you can feel out the members about the dynamics of the new group. If you're interested in forming a new Usenet group within any of the big seven categories, you must fill out a Request for Discussion and post it to news.announce.newgroups as well as any related newsgroups. If there is interest in your subject, a vote taker will take over with a Call For Votes. If you get enough votes, you can start your newsgroup.

However, if you're interested in starting an alt group, you don't have to do any of the above. All you have to do is post a proposal to alt.config and, if your idea generates enough interest, you can start a successful new group. But remember, news administrators at Internet Service Providers are the ones who decide which groups to carry and do not have to choose yours. You have to convince them to carry your group so that it will be seen. Check out So You Want to Create an Alt Newsgroup for tips on new alt groups.

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By Kathryn M. McGrail and M. Trouble Sample, with contributions from Daniel Akst and Kevin M. Savetz.

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