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Newsgroups are like self-governing communities; there are no "Newsgroup Cops." Instead,
posters regulate themselves. Below are some simple rules of newsgroup etiquette to understand before you venture into a
newsgroup. Think of newsgroup etiquette as a set of guidelines that will keep you from making mistakes and make you look
and sound like a veteran newsgroup poster.
- Lurk. Read the newsgroup without posting for a few weeks. This is known as "lurking," and it will give you the flavor of the newsgroup.
- Read the FAQ. Find and read the newsgroup's FAQ, or list of Frequently Asked Questions and other important and useful information. It can answer questions you didn't even know you had, and it's the quickest way to learn a newsgroup.
- Stay on-topic. Know what's on-topic and what's off-limits. Every newsgroup is a little different in what it talks about, and how it does the talking.
- DON'T SHOUT. TYPING IN ALL CAPS IS CONSIDERED SHOUTING. It's easier to read a mix of upper- and lower-case letters.
- Never, ever post "MAKE MONEY FAST." It doesn't work, it gets people really mad, and no matter what it says, it's probably illegal.
- Everyone hates commercials. Be very hesitant about posting advertisements or commercial messages. This also gets people really mad.
- Ignore "trolls." Some people get a thrill from posting "flames" (really obnoxious messages) just to get a rise out of people. Sad, isn't it?
- Don't "spam." Spam is posting the same message to dozens, even hundreds or thousands of unrelated newsgroups. No matter how important you think your message may be, it's not worth it. Think about it - if everyone posted about every topic, no one would be able to find anything.
- Be Original. Don't overquote: Copying a long post (more than 20 lines) just to add "I agree" or "me too" is considered bad form.
- The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember, every expert was a newbie once.
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Helpful Newsgroups
news.newusers.questions
An entire newsgroup dedicated to answering the questions of new users.
news.announce.newusers
Helpful messages, posts, and resources for the beginning user.
news.answers
No talk here, only newsgroup FAQs (Lists of Frequently Asked Questions and other useful information). The first place
to look for FAQs, and a great place to learn about interesting newsgroups. |
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