Operator Headgap Now has Newsgroup areas!
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¥What are Newsgroups?
Newsgroup discussions are among the most fascinating and diverse sources of content on the Internet.  Newsgroups offer Headgap members the unique opportunity to participate in discussions on a wide range of subjects with millions of people around the world.

Newsgroups are similar in concept to the message boards that you find throughout Headgap.  The major difference is that -- since these newsgroups are distributed through the Internet -- you'll find many more topics (and millions of people!) in these globe-trotting discussions.

USENET newsgroups originate outside of Headgap, and Headgap therefore has no guidance toward their message content.  Headgap uses some of the Internet's generally accepted guidelines for posting content. 

¥How will this affect your experience with newsgroups?
You may find that in some newsgroups, the participants use language and discuss subjects that would not be acceptable on Headgap Although this is the exception rather than the rule, you may want to avoid these newsgroups if you are uncomfortable with the discussion that takes place in them.

¥Why are they called "newsgroups"?
Who knows!  Since they are not really "news" but rather discussions, the name is a matter of 'net tradition.  If you've followed the news media coverage of the Internet, you may have heard them referred to as "USENET news," "Net News," "Internet News," "News," and "Newsgroups." Here on Headgap, we'll call them "newsgroups," since this is the most familiar name.

¥Who creates newsgroups and who can participate?
Like message boards on Headgap, newsgroups are created and maintained by the people who use them.  Participants include the millions of people who are connected to the Internet (as an XENON member, that includes you).  When you post a Newsgroup message, readers around the world will be able to read and respond to it.

¥Note:  most newsgroups are "unmoderated," meaning that every message you send will appear in the newsgroup discussion.  Some newsgroups are "moderated," meaning that only messages that are "pre-approved" by that newsgroup's particular administrator will get posted to that group.

¥What subjects are available in newsgroups?
Just about any subject you can think of!  As of July 1995, there are over 20,000 local and USENET newsgroups.

¥What's in the newsgroups?
Each newsgroup contains messages from the people who participate in them.  At the top of each message is the name of the author of the message, a subject, the date and time the message was posted, the name of the originating computer system (remember, most of these people won't be America Online members!), and the body of the message itself.  Some of the messages will be new, others will be responses to previous postings.

¥Any tips for participation?
A lot of the same unwritten "rules" that apply to Headgap's message boards also apply to newsgroups.  On the Internet, these rules are called "Netiquette."
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The following tips for posting messages and responses to newsgroups are adapted from guidelines originally compiled by 'Net citizens Chuq Von Rospach and Gene Spafford.  They are good rules of thumb for any online communication, but are particularly appropriate on the Internet.
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¥1.  Never forget that the person on the other side is a human being.
Even though you are using a computer to communicate, and your words are going outside of the familiar Headgap  community, don't forget that real people are on the receiving end.  Millions of people all over the world will read your words.  Avoid personal attacks.  Don't speak (type) hastily -- try not to say anything to others that you would not say to them in a room full of people.  Remember that you are playing an important role in building an online community -- and we all want this community to be a good, friendly place.

¥2.  Be brief.
Anything you type will be read by millions of people.  Other participants will appreciate your ability to stay on topic.  If you say what you want to say succinctly, it will have greater impact.  Likewise, don't post the same message on more than one Newsgroup unless you are sure it is appropriate.

¥3.  Your messages reflect on YOU -- be proud of them.
Although you will meet thousands of people through the Internet, most will only know you by what you say, and how well you say it.  Take time to make sure that you are proud of the messages you send, and that they are easy to read and understand.

You will notice that some newsgroup participants have "signatures" at the end of their messages -- which may include their names, organizational affiliations, even their address and phone number.  You don't need to do this yourself, but you might find that in most newsgroups your credibility is enhanced if you are accountable for and "own your own words."

¥4.  Use descriptive Subject headings in your messages.
The subject line of your message is there to help people decide whether or not they want to read it.  Use it to tell people exactly what your message is about.  For example, if you are sending a message to an automobiles newsgroup, a subject like "66 MG Midget for Sale:  Oregon" is much more informative than "Car for Sale."

¥5.  Think about your audience.
Spend some time reading the newsgroups of your choice before you jump in and participate.  This way, you will get a "feel" for the subject matter, and you'll be more likely to stay on topic and post your messages in the appropriate Newsgroup.

¥6.  Be very careful with humor and sarcasm.
Without the voice inflections and body language of personal communications, it is easy for a remark meant to be funny to be misinterpreted.  You can convey the emotions that words alone cannot express by using such online conventions as "smileys" :) .

¥7.  Summarize what you are following up.
When you are making a follow-up comment to someone else's message, be sure to summarize the parts of the message to which you are responding.  This is best done by including appropriate quotes from the original message.  Don't include the entire message, since this will irritate people who have already read it.

¥8.  Give back to the Community
If you send a message to a newsgroup requesting information, and you get lots of responses via electronic mail, it's a nice courtesy to post a summary of the responses to the newsgroup where you posted your question.  Be sure to credit the information to the people who provided it.

Likewise, be a "giver" as well as a "taker" in this online community.  If you have good and valuable information to share, please do so in the appropriate newsgroups.

¥9.  Try not to repeat what has already been said.
Read responses to messages before you chime in, so that you are not needlessly repetitive.  If you are responding to a message from someone else, it will help everyone follow the conversation if you include the appropriate quotes from the message you are responding to.  And make sure your responses have substance -- answers like "Yup" and "I agree" probably won't be widely appreciated.

¥10.  Cite appropriate references.
If you are using facts to support a cause, state where they came from.

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Operator Headgap BBS Memphis TN 901-759-1542 - bbs.headgap.com
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