Introduction to USENET


The USENET is a collection of thousands of discussion groups, called
newsgroups. Many of these are distributed world-wide. The names for 
each newsgroup is identified by and organized into different descriptive
parts, from the broadest classification of the newsgroup on to more 
specific ones.

Specifically, the beginning, or top level, of a newsgroup name usually 
denotes its broadest classification.  Some examples are soc (social 
issues), rec (recreation), sci (science), to name but a few.

The remaining segments of a newsgroup typically are more specific. For 
example, if you want to participate in a discussion about baseball, you
might choose to reference the newsgroup:

	rec.sports.baseball

To read up on the latest chit-chat on cold-fusion look to:

	sci.physics.fusion

Descriptions of how to "look to sci.physics.fusion" can be found in The
World's help area under the specific USENET newsgroup utility you choose
to use (see below).  


	       Some Rules (We Have To Ask You To Honor!)

Almost all USENET newsgroups prohibit the distribution of ANY commercial 
messages.

	For example, you can't brag about the great prices at your
	brother-in-law's hardware store or try to sell anything.

	However, if the topic comes up in a general discussion (for 
        example, in the	cooking group people are always asking for 
        recommendations of kitchen knives) it's usually alright to 
        recommend a product you were personally happy with if you 
        have no financial interest at stake in recommending it.

	Similarly, you can gripe about a product you were unhappy
	with as long as you don't have any financial interest in it, 
        only personal experience. However, don't be shocked if you get
	a call from the company that sells that product the next day, 
        there are more people reading these newsgroups than you might 
        think! When in doubt it's usually better to drop the subject
        altogether from your article.


	There are several groups with names like ne.forsale (ne is
	New England) where it's okay to sell personal items like your
	car or dining room set but it's not okay to sell commercial
	products. For example, if you sell Avon or Tupperware products
	as a company representative DO NOT pitch these on those groups.

	Why not? Well, there are several reasons.

	First, because it's been mutually agreed to by everyone on
	the network. It's part of the deal. There's a general fear
	that if people were allowed to advertise the network would
	soon become overrun with advertisements.

	Second, a lot of this traffic is supported by corporate or
	government networks.  Corporates have no interest in paying 
	to allow advertisements for someone else's product to pass 
   	through their computers. And the government is strictly 
	forbidden from doing this because it would be considered an 
   	unapproved government subsidy of those companies doing the 
      	advertising.


	Finally, this policy is necessary because if other sites
        were to learn that commercial messages were coming from this 
	computer they could and would likely cut us off from the
	network entirely. That's how the policy is enforced. We won't
	risk that, so in order to maintain our connection to the
        network we have to instead cut off network access for any
	individual responsible for such a breach of policy, but only
	when we	receive legitimate complaints about that individual.


IN SUMMARY:

  NO COMMERCIAL MESSAGES ON THE USENET OR ELECTRONIC MAIL NETWORKS!

Locally, on this machine we can provide plenty of places for you to
sell goods and services if that's what you want to do.  For instance,
our Vendor Archive Servicee may be a relevant option.

On the other hand, we will not let people bother others by trying to
sell them things. It will always be VOLUNTARY whether anyone is
exposed to such messages or not.

The only major exception on the USENET is the biz.whatever groups.
These are commercial newsgroups that are supported voluntarily by
various organizations. Many places carry these newsgroups so if you
are interested, be on the lookout for this newsgroup classification.


	 Obscenity, Copyright and Other Illegal Behavior...

In the first place, if you are considering playing a clever prank on a
person, a computer or the network, don't.

It won't be a novelty, we've seen it all and it will likely only result
in making people angry. In many cases certain pranks may get you into
legal trouble, even if your intentions were only to get a laugh.

Software Tool & Die, as an Enhanced Services Provider, must cooperate
with all investigations of illegal behavior and must do what it can to
correct any such situation.

We do not and will not edit posted material actively as a corporate
policy. We have no control over lewd or otherwise questionable text
people distribute over the network unless it is strictly illegal or 
being complained about for breaking agreed-upon rules of network behavior.

Another area to be careful about is distributing copyrighted materials
that you do not own. It is likely that the copyright holders will go 
after you, legally.

As a general rule, always remember that when you're putting information
onto the Internet that you are speaking in public.


		      How to Access USENET!

There are several programs available to you on The World that can be used
for reading and posting to USENET newsgroups.

For beginners we recommend a program called 'tin'.

Refer to this utility directly for information on its use.

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