It's as simple as that. To take maximum advantage of the internet you must communicate.
Communication is two-way.
You cannot just watch if you want to survive and prosper. You must become active, participate and you must give as much or more than you take. If you see something in a newsgroup which you can question, answer or add to, then by all means do so. Become a participant in as many newsgroups as you have time for. If you are worried about spam, see the section on Newsgroup security for some suggestions.