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Posted by Blinky the Shark on 05/05/06 07:53
Jose wrote:
> Usenet is a subset of the internet; it is something like the original
> message board. It is typically accessed through software (a newsreader)
> very similar to (and often bundled with) Email software. I use Netscape
> 7.2, which is a suite of programs that includes a newsreader.
>
> When the web became popular (the web is another subset of the internet),
> somebody figured out that they could make a site that displays usenet
> content as a web page, and let people post messages to usenet by posting
> on a web page. Often they "brand" it as their own, and in doing so, they
> deceive users into thinking they are getting content from the website,
> when in fact they are just being given another interface to the existing
> usenet newsgroups.
>
> Google bought the Usenet archives and provides an interface to (all?)
> groups, but they don't do a good job of it, and they hide what it really
> is. "Google groups" are just newsgroups in drag.
Beautiful metaphor. You just made my evening. :)
> Subscribing to a Usenet group through a newsreader merely indicates to
> the newsreader that it should download messages from the group on
> command. A subscription is basically an entry in a file that tells the
> newsreader what newsgroup you want to read. The word "Join" makes
> people feel like "members" of the website that is palming off the
> newsgroup as its own. But it means pretty much the same thing, except
> that (I believe) the website keeps track for you.
>
> I think one of the reasons they do this is to confuse people, because
> confused people can be sold a bill of goods.
Jose, may I use your explanation on (or on a separate page linked from) my
Google Groups page at blinkynet? (The link is in my sig.) If yes, how
would you like to be credited. Thanks much.
--
Blinky RLU 297263
Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project: http://blinkynet.net/comp/uip5.html
Coming Soon: Filtering rules specific to various real news clients
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