Where to post your very first message - Revision history

Rayner Lucas: Add horizontal rule before credits

2024-08-18T23:35:12Z

Add horizontal rule before credits

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:35, 18 August 2024
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	This article is based on material authored by members of the {{news\|news.newusers.questions}} Moderation Board and nnq-workers mailing list, particularly by Jon Bell (until 2005) and Thor Kottelin (since 2007).		This article is based on material authored by members of the {{news\|news.newusers.questions}} Moderation Board and nnq-workers mailing list, particularly by Jon Bell (until 2005) and Thor Kottelin (since 2007).

Rayner Lucas: Add credits and footer

2024-08-18T23:30:24Z

Add credits and footer

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:30, 18 August 2024
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	* "How do I chat in real time (IRC) with other people on the net?"		* "How do I chat in real time (IRC) with other people on the net?"
	* "Don't these people who answer questions have a real life?" ☺		* "Don't these people who answer questions have a real life?" ☺


			This article is based on material authored by members of the {{news\|news.newusers.questions}} Moderation Board and nnq-workers mailing list, particularly by Jon Bell (until 2005) and Thor Kottelin (since 2007).

			{{nnq-license}}

	[[Category:news.newusers.questions]]		[[Category:news.newusers.questions]]

Rayner Lucas: Add category

2024-07-22T01:00:12Z

Add category

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:00, 22 July 2024
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	* "How do I chat in real time (IRC) with other people on the net?"		* "How do I chat in real time (IRC) with other people on the net?"
	* "Don't these people who answer questions have a real life?" ☺		* "Don't these people who answer questions have a real life?" ☺

			[[Category:news.newusers.questions]]

Rayner Lucas: Add newsgroup link

2024-07-16T23:46:59Z

Add newsgroup link

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:46, 16 July 2024
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	== If you actually want to ask a question ==		== If you actually want to ask a question ==

	...then news.newusers.questions may be the right place. Strictly speaking, this newsgroup is for questions about Usenet in general, but most of us do not mind questions about other network services such as FTP and email. If your question is rather specialized, though, be prepared to be referred to another newsgroup where "real" experts hang out.		...then {{news\|news.newusers.questions}} may be the right place. Strictly speaking, this newsgroup is for questions about Usenet in general, but most of us do not mind questions about other network services such as FTP and email. If your question is rather specialized, though, be prepared to be referred to another newsgroup where "real" experts hang out.

	=== Exception: If you have a question of the form "Is there a newsgroup about xxx?" ===		=== Exception: If you have a question of the form "Is there a newsgroup about xxx?" ===

Rayner Lucas: Add newsgroup link

2024-07-16T23:46:09Z

Add newsgroup link

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:46, 16 July 2024
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	== If you just want to practice the mechanics of posting (which are sometimes not trivial) ==		== If you just want to practice the mechanics of posting (which are sometimes not trivial) ==

	...and verify that your messages really do go out to the rest of the world, you should post to {{news\|misc.test}} or {{news\|alt.test}}.		...and verify that your messages really do go out to the rest of the world, you should post to {{news\|misc.test}} or {{news\|alt.test}}.

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	=== Exception: If you have a question of the form "Is there a newsgroup about xxx?" ===		=== Exception: If you have a question of the form "Is there a newsgroup about xxx?" ===

	You should post it in news.groups.questions, which was created specifically for this purpose.		You should post it in {{news\|news.groups.questions}}, which was created specifically for this purpose.

	=== If you're using an on-line service that has its own proprietary software ===		=== If you're using an on-line service that has its own proprietary software ===

Rayner Lucas: Initial import of page from NNQ FAQs

2024-07-16T23:44:12Z

Initial import of page from NNQ FAQs

New page

Eventually, every newcomer to the Internet gets tired of just reading news, and wants to post something. Since {{news|news.newusers.questions}} often seems to be part of default subscription lists, a lot of these first postings end up here, whether they're really appropriate or not.

Herewith, some tips on where to post your first message, depending on what kind of message it is:

== If you just want to practice the mechanics of posting (which are sometimes not trivial) ==
...and verify that your messages really do go out to the rest of the world, you should post to {{news|misc.test}} or {{news|alt.test}}.

A site might monitor these newsgroups and automatically send email responses to all messages that appear in them. (Greetings from beautiful Contra Costa County, California!) These groups are also nice for practicing how to write messages with your text editor, because you do not have to worry about real people seeing your typing mistakes and formatting blunders.

Read more about [[Where to post test messages|test messages]].

== If you want to exchange messages with people ==

...but do not have anything in particular to talk about ("Hi, I'm Wally in Podunk, Iowa. Please send me mail!"), try the newsgroup {{news|soc.penpals}}, which is intended specifically for this sort of thing.

== If you actually want to ask a question ==

...then news.newusers.questions may be the right place. Strictly speaking, this newsgroup is for questions about Usenet in general, but most of us do not mind questions about other network services such as FTP and email. If your question is rather specialized, though, be prepared to be referred to another newsgroup where "real" experts hang out.

=== Exception: If you have a question of the form "Is there a newsgroup about xxx?" ===

You should post it in news.groups.questions, which was created specifically for this purpose.

=== If you're using an on-line service that has its own proprietary software ===

...such as America Online, Netcom Netcruiser or CompuServe Information Manager, you should ask questions about that software in a "local" forum, where you are more likely to get a response from an expert.

=== Finally, before you post a question in news.newusers.questions ===

Please scan through all the message titles in this newsgroup first. Certain questions get asked (and answered) repeatedly. There is a chance that your answer may already be sitting in your news server. Remember to check the "previously-read" messages, too (how you do this depends on the software you are using).

If you do not see what you are looking for, and you are not in a life-or-death hurry, you might consider waiting and watching for a few days, especially if you suspect that your question might be an FAQ (Frequently Asked Question). — Examples:

* "How do I view the pictures that are posted in some groups?"
* "Where can I get a complete list of newsgroups?"
* "How do I make a signature file?"
* "How do I set up a home page?"
* "How can I create a new newsgroup?"
* "Why does my message disappear right after I post it?"
* "How do I chat in real time (IRC) with other people on the net?"
* "Don't these people who answer questions have a real life?" ☺