Despite the attractions of being online, you may even worry that the Internet is something to avoid, full of problems, scoundrels, and dangers. The key is to take a little time to learn about Internet safety before you get started. An online bulletin board is a forum for sharing ideas and discussion. Your message stays posted so that later readers can also view it. You can also read all past messages from other visitors.
Discussions can be brief or go on for months, as long as there are interested participants.
Never, ever post personal information such as passwords, credit card numbers, your home address, or other private information on a board. If you see an ad, contest, sweepstakes, or anything on a bulletin board that seems too good to be true, treat it with a healthy dose of skepticism. Nicknames can be fun to choose, and they can also be a good way to protect your privacy. The idea of posting on a board can be intimidating at first. Post only when you have something to add to the discussion.