Mailing Lists and Newsgroups CSCI170 Internet Resources
Mailing Lists What is it? What is it? A list of names and addresses for a group of people who share a common interest A list of names and addresses for a group of people who share a common interest Subscribing to the mailing list Subscribing to the mailing list Posting to the mailing list Posting to the mailing list List Server (ListServ, MajorDomo, ListProc) List Server (ListServ, MajorDomo, ListProc)
Mailing Lists Which address to use? Which address to use? List Address – for posting List Address – for posting Administrative Address – for commands Administrative Address – for commands Don’t get them mixed up! Don’t get them mixed up!
Mailing Lists Commands list: Commands list: subscribe listname yourname subscribe listname yourname unsubscribe listname unsubscribe listname review listname review listname index listname index listname get filename get filename Also… conceal, vacation, digest, daily Also… conceal, vacation, digest, daily
Mailing List Moderated or unmoderated? Moderated or unmoderated? Open list or closed list? Open list or closed list? Lurking Lurking FAQs and list rules FAQs and list rules List Administrator List Administrator
Mailing Lists Finding Mailing Lists: Finding Mailing Lists: Search Engines Search Engines i.e. “extreme sports mailing list” i.e. “extreme sports mailing list” On Individual pages On Individual pages i.e. i.e.
Mailing Lists Find a mailing list to subscribe to Find a mailing list to subscribe to Read messages Read messages Post a message to it Post a message to it Finding archives Finding archives Unsubscribing from mailing list Unsubscribing from mailing list
Newsgroups Usenet News Service (Usenet) founded in 1979 at Duke U as a way to collect and store information by topic category Usenet News Service (Usenet) founded in 1979 at Duke U as a way to collect and store information by topic category Newsgroups, new forums, discussion groups Newsgroups, new forums, discussion groups
Newsgroups News Server – database storing articles News Server – database storing articles News Feed – store and forward News Feed – store and forward Articles – individual postings Articles – individual postings Newsgroups – organized by category Newsgroups – organized by category
Newsgroups Top-level categories: Top-level categories: comp – computers comp – computers rec – recreation and entertainment rec – recreation and entertainment sci – science sci – science soc – social issues and socializing soc – social issues and socializing news – operation and administration of Usenet news – operation and administration of Usenet talk – conversations, debates and arguments talk – conversations, debates and arguments misc – miscellaneous topics misc – miscellaneous topics alt – alternative and controversial topics alt – alternative and controversial topics
Newsgroups Examples: Examples: biz.marketplace.computers biz.marketplace.computers biz.marketplace.computers.pc-clone biz.marketplace.computers.pc-clone biz.marketplace.computers.mac biz.marketplace.computers.mac biz.marketplace.discussion biz.marketplace.discussion biz.marketplace.services biz.marketplace.services alt.rec.tv.simpsons alt.rec.tv.simpsons alt.rec.beer alt.rec.beer
Newsgroups Accessing newsgroups Accessing newsgroups Web access – Web access – Google Groups – Google Groups – NewsReader software NewsReader software