[Milsurplus] Usenet Newsgroup Pros and Cons

[David L. Stinson]

While there are pros and cons to Usenet newsgroups,
the information and fellowship available is far and away 
worth the effort to learn how to use them 
and the few precautions you must take.

First, the "cons:"
Since these are (with a few exceptions)
wide-open, public and unregulated boards
where you can post whatever you will,
it is a "wild west" place, with every kind of personality
you can imagine.  You'll find the majority of people 
helpful, good neighbors.  But a few "flame wars"
are inevitable.  Don't join into verbal conflicts unless you're
ready to give *and take* a few bloody noses.
Don't worry- they heal ;-).

Each newsgroup regularly posts a "FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions),"
that sets forth the "rules" (read "gentlemen's agreements we hope
everyone will follow") for their particular group.  Most people
follow these pretty well.  Some are vague and, occasionaly,
squabbles break out over their interpretation.
Trying to force someone to conform to your personal interpretation
of a vague "rule" will get you labelled a "NetCop," so it's best 
to let these little rumbles blow themselves out, as they 
almost always do.  And there's always the universal answer
to any post you don't like:  "If you don't like it, don't read it."
That works well for most people.

Some folks discourage using your real email address in the "Identity"
box on your newsreader.  You'll have to put this in your 
"log into newsreader" slot that logs you into your news server, 
but not in the one that gives that information to the world;
it's two different places.
Faking-up your email address in a newsreader is called "munging."
For instance: instead of my real address, "arc5@ix.netcom.com,"
I might use "arcfive@ix.netcom.com," with a note in the signature
to replace the "five" with "5."  Don't use obvious things like
"arc5@ixdotnetcomdotcom" or "arc5@NOSPAMix.netcom.com," because 
spambots are programed to spot and correct these.  
Use your imagination.  One of my favorites is that of 
a fellow on rec.antiques.radio+phono, who "mungs" his 
email address with the word: "finger."  In his signature line,
he says:  "If you want to reply, you have to take your "finger" out."

Personally, I don't do this; 
it's a pain for anyone who wants to write you.
I've used my real email address forever.  
I have good filters for most spam and my delete key 
works fine for everything else.

Pros:
There is a VAST storehouse of knowledge and good will to be tapped
on Usenet.  Not to mention entertainment from the occasional
"colorful personalities," self-appointed NetCops and laughable
cat-fights.
The alt.binaries..... groups provide a place to post
photographs, sound files and other binary stuff without having
to learn to use web space or learn HTML coding.

You can use Google to search Usenet, 
by using the "Groups" tab.  
Search under "AN/ARC-5," and you will get 340 threads
going back to 1985.  You can get regular posts this way,
but you cannot get photographs, mp3s or other binaries.
There are other web-based services that will give you access to 
the binary groups, but they are pay services.

Any modestly-intelligent person can learn to use Usenet,
and I recommend it.

73 DE Dave Stinson AB5S