The started as dial-in systems offering email and messaging systems similar to Usenet News. Some have jumped into the internet age and have Internet connections. Internet tools seem to come in pairs. There are many different channels, as diverse as the Usenet newsgroups. On a channel, a number of people can enter in their comments, which are then distributed to everyone listening to that channel.
Conversations can at first be quite confusing until one gets used to their style.
In internet-speak, a lurker is someone who reads a newsgroup but never makes his or her presence known by posting to it. Lurkers greatly outnumber posters on most newsgroups. By exploring newsgroups a bit further you can learn the technical details of posting as well as the general netiquette that will prevent you from being flamed too badly if you decide to make the transition from passive observer to active participant. First, you should always keep netiquette in mind when posting an article. Netiquette is the generally accepted code of bahavior for forums on the internet and is espeically important for the newgroups.