The touch command creates an empty file. You can now run Tin and begin subscribing to newsgroups. Below is a sample entry for the editor. You should edit your tinrc file and make sure you have an entry like this. They are arranged in subject groupings with initial names such as rec, alt,comp, etc.
Threads are groups of postings within a given newsgroups and postings are individual messages.
If you have subscribed to any newsgroups that subscription list will appear first when you start tin. If you don't see a number around 3493 at the top of the screen then you are looking at your subscription list. I commonly use the arrow keys for moving around. The up and down arrows move the selection cursor from group to group. The right arrow displays the item for reading, and the left arrow takes me out of the current screen, up one level.