Listserv and Newsgroups

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Listserv and Newsgroups

• BCIS 82 Introduction to the Internet
• Marge Hohly

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Names for Listserv?

• E-conference
• List Processor
• Mail Reflectors
• Mailing Lists
• Mailserv

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Whats a Listserv?

• E-conference (discussion group)
• Topical in nature
• Questions and Answer (problem solving)
• One address for many people
• Two way communication
• Delivery by e-mail

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What is a Newsgroup?

• Collection of tens of thousands of electronic
  bulletin boards subdivided by topic
• Post messages called articles

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Guidelines for Listserv and Newsgroups

• Check out FAQs when available
• Generally business advertising and off-topic
  articles not appreciated
• Vicious replies called flames should be avoided
• Messages and articles are generally the authors
  OPINION

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Listserv vs. Newsgroups

• Listserv
• Distribute by e-mail
• Subscribe to
• Topical in nature
• Problem Solving
• Not real-time
• Stays in mailbox until deleted

• Newsgroup
• Posted to central site
• Dont need to subscribe - called register
• Topical in nature
• Problem Solving
• not real-time
• Posted for fixed time period

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How to find a Listserv

• Use Liszt http//www.Liszt.com
• Global Search
• Send message to listserv_at_kentvm.kent.edu
• Message should be as follows
• list global /topic (where you choose a topic)
• Results will be emailed back to you

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Subscribing to Listserv or Mailserv

• Two parts to a listserv/mailserv
• Managing software (no people)
• subscribe and unsubscribe to list
• help (commands)
• general information about list and listserv
• To join a List (members of discussion group)
• Send message to Mailserv_at_cerritos.edu
• no subject
• subscribe bi-list_at_cerritos.edu

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Communicate with members of List

• To communicate with members on list
• send message to bi-list_at_cerritos.edu
• CC yourself
• Subject (should reflect topic of communication)
• Reply to members of list or individual
• when reading message type REPLY
• ccbi-list (this returns message to all on
  list)
• If reply to only one person, place correct to
  address

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Newsgroup sources

• http//www.liszt.com/news/
• http//www.deganews.com
• Alpha system Newsgroups (information on another
  slide)
• Newsgroup Hierarchies http//home.magmacom.com/le
  isen/master_list.html
• http//sol.csd.unb.ca/0/FAQ/newsgroups (list of
  newsgroups)

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Newsgroup Hierarchies

• Newsgroup names usually consist of three words
  separated by periods (dots)
• First name is newsgroup category
• Left to Right is general to specific
• comp.infosystems.www.browsers.ms-windows

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Newsgroup common categories

• alt - alternative newsgroups
• biz - business
• comp - computer hardware and software
• k12 - education
• misc - odd topics that dont fit anywhere else
• news - information about the newsgroups
• rec - sports, music, dance, games, hobbies
• sci - science
• soc - social and cultural topics
• talk - heated discussions on controversial issues