Google

Banner "Internet Course Guide," by Richard E. Gordon
Lesson 10A < Lesson 10B

Lesson 10B: Newsgroups continued

Other ways, besides Google, to view newsgroups

Google makes viewing newsgroup posts easy because it allows you to access newsgroups from the Internet with your browser just as you access any Web site. Besides using Google, there are other ways to view newsgroup posts -- and to respond to them, too. And one of those ways is using Microsoft Outlook (Express).

Using Outlook, you can view and respond to newsgroups posts as you do to e-mail messages. But you have to configure Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express to make newsgroups available to you. Microsoft Outlook Express is included with your Internet Explorer program while Microsoft Outlook has to be purchased separately, usually as part of the Microsoft Office program.

For a good explanation on how to setup Microsoft Outlook Express to allow you to participate in newsgroups, you can refer to the following Earthlink site. Even if Earthlink is not your Internet Service Provider (ISP), you can modify the directions to fit whatever provider you are using. You may, however, have to contact your own ISP for special instructions.

Special problems

With all that help available, you should have no trouble exchanging information in newsgroups. Be aware though of some special problems in participating with newsgroups.
  1. Flaming. Be prepared for flaming. Flaming is an term common in newsgroups. It means insulting words. And if you have a weak stomach for insults, you'd better avoid posting messages to newsgroups.
  2. Phonies.You never know whom you are dealing with. A poster may only be a phony, pretending to be someone he isn't. The guy claiming to be a college English professor may be a homeless drug addict sitting in front of a computer in a public library.
  3. Stuck in archives. Keep in mind that messages you send to newsgroups are stored, and then available perhaps for years to anyone searching a newsgroup. Links to all your past posted messages, in fact, can appear if someone just does a search typing in your e-mail address in the search slot. So if you have an Internet expert girlfriend, boyfriend, employer, coworker, he or she can use Google to find all your past posted newsgroup messages if they know your e-mail address. Google's Frequently Asked Questions will give you more information on this topic.
  4. Spam. Be prepared to get tons of junk mail. When you post a message, unless you take special precautions, your e-mail address appears along with you message. And unfortunately there are people and companies that copy your e-mail address and put it on mailing lists. So a few days after you first posted a newsgroups message, you may discover you're being swamped with junk e-mail (spam). Fortunately, there are some ways in a newsgroup posting to lessen the risk of having your e-mail address become a mass mailer's delight. Here is a site that explains how:
    http://www.ecofuture.org/~felbel/jmnews.html#hide

Resources

Here you will find additional information related to this lesson at these Internet sites. Other sources for all the lessons are found in the Links page.

Question Bank

Answer the Question Bank questions to make sure you have learned this lesson. Remember that your final exam will be made up of questions selected from this Question Bank.

Exercises

Be sure to do the Exercises for each lesson.
You have completed all the Lessons.

 


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Last updated: 12/28/01