What is a Usenet Newsgroup?
Santim Vah
Usenet is an online bulletin board system that began at Duke
University in 1979.
Usenet users can post messages to newsgroups that can be read (and
responded to) by anyone who has access to the system through a
newsreader.
Over the years, the number of newsgroups has grown into the thousands;
they're hosted all over the world and cover every conceivable topic.
Google Groups contains the world's most comprehensive archive of
Usenet postings, dating back to 1981. Using *Google Groups*, you won't
need a newsreader and you can search this archive the same way you'd
search on the web.
You can also use Groups to post your own comments to an existing
Usenet newsgroup.
FROM http://groups.google.com.au/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=46854
===================================
Readers may notice that no where in the above is the word DISCUSSION
mentioned ... USENET is therefore NOT a primary mode for Discussion,
despite the fact that *responses to newsgroup messages* could be
interpreted in some cases to be a discussion.
YAHOO ... run Discussion groups in a format that suits Discussion.
Maybe readers cannot tell the difference between a Yahoo Group and
Usenet Newsgroups and Google Groups archiving and posting system that
is a work around for newsgroup readers.
Well they are there. But what is the point???
Good question the point is this ..... JUST because someone posts a
message to USENET, does not in anyway give a concrete indication that
the person was ever, will ever be seeking a DISCUSSION about the
content of that MESSAGE.
IOW there is simply nothing untoward nor unusual in a person choosing
to simply post INFORMATION in a post and have no need whatsoever to
discuss it, argue it nor defend the valdity of it.
and at other times they may well be willing to discuss things. And
then the other key issue comes into play ... maybe the person is happy
to discuss the content but NOT with the individuals wanting to discuss
it with the poster. Such things are good to be mindful of, imho.
Cheers sean
Etznab
> What is a Usenet Newsgroup?
>
> Usenet is an online bulletin board system that began at Duke
> University in 1979.
>
> Usenet users can post messages to newsgroups that can be read (and
> responded to) by anyone who has access to the system through a
> newsreader.
>
> Over the years, the number of newsgroups has grown into the thousands;
> they're hosted all over the world and cover every conceivable topic.
>
> Google Groups contains the world's most comprehensive archive of
> Usenet postings, dating back to 1981. Using *Google Groups*, you won't
> need a newsreader and you can search this archive the same way you'd
> search on the web.
>
> You can also use Groups to post your own comments to an existing
> Usenet newsgroup.
>
>
> ===================================
>
> Readers may notice that no where in the above is the word DISCUSSION
> mentioned ... USENET is therefore NOT a primary mode for Discussion,
> despite the fact that *responses to newsgroup messages* could be
> interpreted in some cases to be a discussion.
>
> YAHOO ... run Discussion groups in a format that suits Discussion.
> Maybe readers cannot tell the difference between a Yahoo Group and
> Usenet Newsgroups and Google Groups archiving and posting system that
> is a work around for newsgroup readers.
>
> Well they are there. But what is the point???
>
> Good question the point is this ..... JUST because someone posts a
> message to USENET, does not in anyway give a concrete indication that
> the person was ever, will ever be seeking a DISCUSSION about the
> content of that MESSAGE.
>
> IOW there is simply nothing untoward nor unusual in a person choosing
> to simply post INFORMATION in a post and have no need whatsoever to
> discuss it, argue it nor defend the valdity of it.
>
> and at other times they may well be willing to discuss things. And
> then the other key issue comes into play ... maybe the person is happy
> to discuss the content but NOT with the individuals wanting to discuss
> it with the poster. Such things are good to be mindful of, imho.
>
> Cheers sean
Good points and clarification. IMO. Much appreciated.
Etznab