Re: Do you picture your fellow posters?

Rita wrote:

On Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:55:22 -0500, Alan Lichtenstein <arl@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:


Rita wrote:

On Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:13:16 -0500, Alan Lichtenstein <arl@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:



Evelyn wrote:


"Alan Lichtenstein" <arl@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:4922fede$0$14311$607ed4bc@xxxxxxxxx



rick++ wrote:



Back in the "old days", before 1995, the usenet newsgroups
were more intimate and geographically concentrated near
research universities. Some would have in-person social
events like dinners or hikes. Since many of the groups were
technical, these were often associated with annual conventions
in field. I both attended and hosted such events. Some groups
did keep picture and participant databases,
not unlike Facebook does today.
Since this was before the web, you had to upload and download
files from a server rather than click at a web page.

When the Web came into existence in the mid-1990s, newsgroup
membership exploded and became less intimate. Also anonymous
accounts came into existence with the associated effect of
bad manners- also called trolls. (In the old days computer accounts
were precious resources labeled with your real name and actual
institution and it was hard to get more than one of them.)
Sometimes I think the value of social networks are the partial removal
of anonymity. Some require you certify your identity and picture to
join,
though you can hide most of this from other viewers. This tends to
promote more honesty and manners in my experience.


I wasn't around prior to 1994, but I've heard that Usenet at that time was as you describe. However, by the time I went on-line, Usenet had already been established in the manner that we know it today. I do think, however, that since most individuals don't have browsers that contain imbedded news readers, the numbers of people participating in Usenet are declining. ISP's are dropping the service, because of that.

I have yet to come across a person who knows what Usenet is, or has the capability with the software they use to access it.



Vista mail comes with newsgroup capability, but you have to have a server to subscribe to in order to then subscribe to the various newsgroups. So it is there, but not that many know how to use it.


Most people don't have VISTA, nor is it likely they will, given its problems and the fact that Microsoft has already stated they will produce an upgraded version of Windows. I don't know if older versions of Internet Explorer have mail and news capabilities, since I don't use PC's. Apple's browser, Safari, which people say is an excellent browser and which comes with the Apple products, does not have news or mail capabilities, although Apple does include a separate mail program. although the cable services have news capabilities, they don't provide browsers, and most people use what's on their machines, which likely doesn't contain a news reader. As Rick has said, if one came to the Internet, recently, one would likely not have a clue to what Usenet is.
I only came to Usenet because the browser which my first ISP provided contained a button 'news,' which I clicked on and came to the Usenet screen. At that time, the browser contained a built-in subscription to news:news.newusers/.questions which gave me my first indoctrination into Usenet. The moderators of that NG gave a brief history of Usenet and how they came to be 'installed' on current browsers. Unfortunately, because of lack of use, that NG is now automated, and barely monitored.


Microsoft has the Outlook Express newsreader It was the first
newsreader I used. But if your ISP does not offer a news server
then you have to find a free one or pay a small monthly fee to
subscribe to one.

I don't use Microsoft software anymore other than the OS. I use
Firefox for browsing. Far superior to Internet Explorer. And
Mozilla offers in addition to Firefox the Thunderbird Email and
news reader. I use the Email which is excellent but not the
news reader, much preferring Agent.

Most of the cable companies offer a news server, as does Verizon with Fios. However, neither of those companies, which IMHO, are going to be the big two( actually cable is a whole lot of companies ) in Internet Service, do not provide browsers with their service. Understandable, since all computers now come with a browser installed. That wasn't so when I first came to the Internet in 1994. I got Netscape and I've been with it ever since, now using a more advanced version. Mozilla, which was Netscape and Netscape parted ways, and Mozilla separated their browser from their news and mail programs, IMHO, a major error. At any rate, you can now get Netscape free from the archives in a stand alone browser or with news and mail capabilities. Unfortunately, some sites are not supporting Netscape, so I have to use Safari for those sites.

Apple has a separate mail program, which I don't use, because my browser has capabilities.


The cable companies did offer Usenet servers but are dropping them.
Time Warner which is my cable ISP dropped it and Comcast, another big
provider, did also I believe. Just not enough demand or usage for the
companies to maintain a news server. I have used Forte Agent as a
news reader for many years and like it even better now that it has
an option to not download cross posted messages.

Really? Here in NY Cablevision offers Usenet, as does Fios. I also believe Time Warner offers Usenet as well, due to competition.

Some of the newsgroups I used to read, such as misc.consumers.frugal-
living have deteriorated so greatly they are now filled mostly with
spam posts. Others I once looked at have gone the same way.

Soc.retirement may be one of the more durable newsgroups.

Usenet offers much for those who wish to download free music in the
binary music newsgroups. There are groups to suit every taste from
the big band era, to classical, to country western and more.

I agree. It will be sad when the public bulletin boards go the way of the commercial chat rooms.
.

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