Usenet
Usenet is absolutely new to me. I had to do a bit of reading before I found out how to even well, use Usenet Newsgroups. My ISP has a handy page on Usenet. I’m reproducing the helpful Newsgroup Terminology section below:
Newsgroup Terminology
Article A message posted to a newsgroup.
Binaries Files containing something other than text, primarily pictures and sounds, posted to a newsgroup.
Flame Derogatory comments communicated in a posting to a newsgroup.
Flame War When a discussion degenerates into nothing but a series of personal attacks, or flames (see above).
Lurk To read a newsgroup without ever making yourself known by posting.
Message An individual posting to a newsgroup (also called an “article”).
Moderated Group A newsgroup where submissions first go to an individual called a moderator, who must approve an item before it is posted to the group.
I found a news group on my favourite author, C.S. Lewis. To be frank, it doesn’t seem overly interesting, but I’m lurking there for a bit anyway.
The more I delve into the history of the Internet, the more I understand that “social networking” is hardly new: it’s simply recently that it has been “monetized”. It’s quite a shame in some ways, but such is tha nature of the world’s current materialism: it spills over into every nook of our culture. The most terrible symptom of our age is forgetfulness: the rampant disregard for how we got to where we are in the incessant rush for greater riches - sensory or material. It’s quite refreshing to be part of something a little simpler by way of a humble little newsgroup, although these are by no means immune to spam!
My newsgroup post:
