|
|
|
|
<!-- <?xml version="1.0" ?>
|
|
|
|
|
<!DOCTYPE chapter PUBLIC "-//KDE//DTD DocBook XML V4.2-Based Variant V1.1//EN" "dtd/kdex.dtd"> -->
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<chapter id="knode-journey">
|
|
|
|
|
<title>A journey in the World of Newsgroups</title>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<anchor id="anc-knode-journey"/>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>This chapter is supposed to be glance over the World of Newsgroups
|
|
|
|
|
and their <quote>inhabitants</quote>; someone who has never dared to go
|
|
|
|
|
there before will encounter some strange customs, which may give you a feeling
|
|
|
|
|
of being a lonely alien without backup; but stay calm, it is not like
|
|
|
|
|
this. The Usenet is a meeting place for all kinds of normal and
|
|
|
|
|
not-so-normal folks; it is here where they are distributing a lot of
|
|
|
|
|
information but also gossip and other stuff.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<tip>
|
|
|
|
|
<para>References to more detailed and qualified essays on the Usenet
|
|
|
|
|
can be found at <link linkend="knode-more-info">More
|
|
|
|
|
Resources</link></para>
|
|
|
|
|
</tip>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<sect1 id="about-news">
|
|
|
|
|
<title>What are ...</title>
|
|
|
|
|
<anchor id="anc-about-news"/>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<sect2>
|
|
|
|
|
<title>... online-readers?</title>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>An online-reader connects to a newsserver and gives you access to
|
|
|
|
|
its content. &knode; is an online-reader: you are reading your News
|
|
|
|
|
and publishing your own <glossterm>articles</glossterm> while the
|
|
|
|
|
online-reader stays connected.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<sect2>
|
|
|
|
|
<title>... offline-readers?</title>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>An offline-reader connects to the Server and fetches only the
|
|
|
|
|
headers of new articles; then, the connection is closed and you can
|
|
|
|
|
mark (offline) the articles you are really interested in. When you
|
|
|
|
|
connect next time the offline-reader fetches the articles you
|
|
|
|
|
marked and sends the articles you have written whilst offline.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>There is no connection while you are reading or writing
|
|
|
|
|
articles.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<sect2>
|
|
|
|
|
<title>... newsgroups?</title>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>You can look at newsgroups as public bulletin boards and forums,
|
|
|
|
|
where everybody is allowed to participate. Articles you have
|
|
|
|
|
published in a newsgroup can be read by everybody subscribed to this
|
|
|
|
|
newsgroup and, normally, everybody is allowed to publish their articles
|
|
|
|
|
in a newsgroup.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<sect2>
|
|
|
|
|
<title>... news?</title>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>News is the collective term for articles published in a newsgroup.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<sect2>
|
|
|
|
|
<title>... threads?</title>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>A thread is a topic of discussion in a
|
|
|
|
|
newsgroup.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
|
</sect1>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<sect1 id="nettiquette">
|
|
|
|
|
<title>Online Manners</title>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<anchor id="anc-nettiquette"/>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>There are lot of different people meeting and talking in
|
|
|
|
|
newsgroups; it is seen as some kind of courtesy to obey some rules of
|
|
|
|
|
manner, the basics of which are listed here.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<orderedlist>
|
|
|
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
|
|
|
<para>Before you ask questions be sure you have read the newsgroup's
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>FAQ</acronym> (Frequently Asked Questions) and didn't find
|
|
|
|
|
the answer.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
|
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
|
|
|
<para>If you take part in a discussion be aware of the fact that everybody
|
|
|
|
|
can read the answer: do not say anything that you would not say to the others
|
|
|
|
|
if you were facing them; avoid insults.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
|
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
|
|
|
<para>Try to avoid crossposting: do not ask a question in more than
|
|
|
|
|
one newsgroup when you do not know which is the right one. Ask in one
|
|
|
|
|
newsgroup; if it is wrong, you will be told which is right one.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
|
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
|
|
|
<para>Formulate your articles accurately; nobody likes to read an
|
|
|
|
|
article with lots of typos, even with content worth a Pulitzer. Think
|
|
|
|
|
of your articles as letters: your letter speaks for you; it represents
|
|
|
|
|
you; somebody reading your article will draw conclusions about you
|
|
|
|
|
from it, wrong or right.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
|
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
|
|
|
<para>Remember, nobody sees your grin when you are writing an ironic
|
|
|
|
|
sentence: it may be funny for you, but it can be very serious for the
|
|
|
|
|
person reading it. It is very difficult to include emotions in an
|
|
|
|
|
article.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
|
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
|
|
|
<para>The most important rule: use your common sense when you are
|
|
|
|
|
answering or publishing an article.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
|
|
|
</orderedlist>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
</sect1>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<sect1 id="usenet-slang">
|
|
|
|
|
<title>The Usenet language</title>
|
|
|
|
|
<anchor id="anc-usenet-slang"/>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>You will not be surprised about English being the main language on
|
|
|
|
|
the Usenet; however, there are special trees for German (de.*), French (fr.*)
|
|
|
|
|
and many other languages. If you are unable to determine the main
|
|
|
|
|
language of a newsgroup the only possibility is careful listening
|
|
|
|
|
or a possible explanation in the description of the group in the
|
|
|
|
|
grouplist.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>In addition, over the time the Usenet has developed its own language
|
|
|
|
|
but it is easy to learn.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<sect2>
|
|
|
|
|
<title>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>RTFM</acronym> and other typos</title>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>When you read news, after some time you will read some strange
|
|
|
|
|
combinations of letters; for example, you can get a reply like:</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>RTFM</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>Nothing else. Strange, but absolutely intended; to solve the
|
|
|
|
|
riddle: those, most of the time, are shortcuts, acronyms. It is easier
|
|
|
|
|
to drop some letters than to write the same sentence over and over
|
|
|
|
|
again.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>But what is the meaning of <acronym>RTFM</acronym>? The writer
|
|
|
|
|
is asking you to read the manual, documentation or
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>FAQ</acronym> before asking questions in the
|
|
|
|
|
newsgroup. It stands for: (R)ead (T)he (F)...ing
|
|
|
|
|
(M)anual; <acronym>BTW</acronym> this is advice you should adopt.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>Wait, what is <acronym>BTW</acronym> now? Another often-seen
|
|
|
|
|
acronym which means (B)y (T)he (W)ay. It is easy when you know
|
|
|
|
|
it; to avoid you having to continuously speculate over the meaning of
|
|
|
|
|
acronyms there is table at he end of this section containing the
|
|
|
|
|
most-often-used acronyms.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>This table does not try to be complete and is based on a list by
|
|
|
|
|
Martin Imlau.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<table>
|
|
|
|
|
<title>
|
|
|
|
|
Acronyms on Usenet</title>
|
|
|
|
|
<tgroup cols="2">
|
|
|
|
|
<thead>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
Acronym</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
Meaning</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
</thead>
|
|
|
|
|
<!--TRANSLATORS: Write the translation in the second column in brackets! -->
|
|
|
|
|
<tbody>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<g></entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
grins</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
AAMOF</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
As a matter of fact</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
ACK</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
Acknowledge</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
AFAIK</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
As far as I know</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
AFAIR</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
As far as I remember</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
AWGTHTGTTA</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
Are we going to have to go through this again?</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
ASAP</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
As soon as possible</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
BFN</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
Bye for now!</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
BTW</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
By the way</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
BYKT</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
But you knew that</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
CMIIW</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
Correct me if I'm wrong</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
CU</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
See you!</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
CU2</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
See you too!</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
CYL</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
See you later!</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
DAU</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
German abbreviation for the silliest user you can imagine (Dümmster
|
|
|
|
|
anzunehmender User)</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
EOD</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
End of discussion</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
ESOSL</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
Endless snorts of stupid laughter</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
FYI</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
For your information</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
GOK</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
God only knows</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
HAND</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
Have a nice day!</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
HTH</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
Hope that helps</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
HSIK</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
How should I know?</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
IAE</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
In any event</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
IANAL</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
I am not a lawyer</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
IIRC</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
If I remember correctly</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
IMCO</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
In my considered opinion</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
IMHO</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
In my humble opinion</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
IMNSHO</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
In my not so humble opinion</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
INPO</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
In no particular order</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
IOW</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
In other words</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
LMAO</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
Laughing my ass off</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
LOL</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
Laughing out loudly</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
NAK</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
Not acknowledged</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
NBD</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
No big deal</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
NFW</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
No f...ing way</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
ROTFL</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
Rolling on the floor, laughing</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
RTFM</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
Read the f...ing manual</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
SCNR</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
Sorry, could not resist</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
<row>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
TIA</acronym>
|
|
|
|
|
</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
<entry>
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks in advance</entry>
|
|
|
|
|
</row>
|
|
|
|
|
</tbody>
|
|
|
|
|
</tgroup>
|
|
|
|
|
</table>
|
|
|
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<sect2>
|
|
|
|
|
<title>Smile!</title>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>Again, such a strange thing. What is this ;-) meant to be? Turn
|
|
|
|
|
your head so the left side of your screen is on top; got it? It's
|
|
|
|
|
a smile with a wink? This is a so-called emoticon; emoticons are an
|
|
|
|
|
often-used possibility to express emotions, one thing missing in
|
|
|
|
|
conversation on the Usenet (but there is a substitute, remember?
|
|
|
|
|
;-)</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>It is very difficult to express emotions in email or news; your
|
|
|
|
|
joking comment appear to be very serious to the recipient and can lead to
|
|
|
|
|
unmeant reactions or conflicts (flames); so use emoticons to express
|
|
|
|
|
your intention.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>There are a lots of emoticons, which express a great variety of
|
|
|
|
|
emotions; the interpretation is easy if you turn your
|
|
|
|
|
head and think of a face.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<sect2>
|
|
|
|
|
<title>PLONK!</title>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<para>This PLONK! looks like some comic-sound, does it not? And that is
|
|
|
|
|
exactly what it is used for. The one who reads it knows he was just
|
|
|
|
|
added to the killfile of a newsreader; normally this means the
|
|
|
|
|
recipient of the PLONK! annoyed the sender. The PLONK! is meant to
|
|
|
|
|
play back the sound of the recipients name hitting the ground in the
|
|
|
|
|
<glossterm>killfile</glossterm>.</para>
|
|
|
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
|
</sect1>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
</chapter>
|
