Some of these propagate to other news servers while others do not. For the searcher, it is important to realize that these newsgroups may not be found when searching Usenet archives like DejaNews. I intentionally saved chat for last, since I continue to avoid online chat. Like the other tools mentioned, there are many chat programs available that can be installed on a Web server or used via a chat hosting company. One user types a message, and another user can respond even while the first is still typing.
Some people spend considerable amounts of time in various chat rooms and other online chat space.
Typically, chat sessions are not archived, so they're not searchable unless someone chooses to record the session and post it on the Web. The communications and community side of the Net continues to flourish. As communication patterns change and new online communities thrive, they can become increasingly important for communicating with vendors, clients, patrons, and colleagues. The more familiar you are with the communication vehicle, the easier it will be to use whatever specialized techniques are needed to search them. Online Inc. All rights reserved.