A Usenet Experience

A Usenet, Experience

As an “Older-Something” person and an admitted member of the Boomer Generation, I’ll confess that since returning to finish my degree, I have had many (many) new experiences—quite a number of them involving a computer and the Internet. Now, for most of you, these two interconnected communication systems are symbiotic with life, itself. Unfortunately, for many of my generation (I, myself, included), a computer was not a part of our birth appendages. In other words, my new “birth” of computer knowledge started about 3 years ago. At this point in time, I have successfully learned how to turn the “beast” on and even learned the name of various parts in a computer. Through classes such as this one, I am learning how to research topics on the Internet. Up to now the “web” has been a nebulous, mysterious realm where, with a few keystrokes, Wallah! Instant knowledge (or not—one has to be very careful, as I found out the hard way, that information, unless verified or found on a substantiated site such as educational one (“.edu” sites) may be falsely relayed or may be an opinion rather than fact or truth. This is especially true when one visits a Usenet site. On these sites it seems that “anything goes.” Rules of Nettiquette such as “#4- Respect other people’s time and bandwidth” and “#6- Share expert knowledge” seem to be ignored by many of the participants in the newsgroups that I visited. (Ross, 2005).

Though extremely entertaining—everyone can find a topic of interest—a person must be aware that not all information is fact, and indeed, most, if not all of the forums (the ones that I visited) are opinion-based. Some sites, such as “alt. support.depression.flame” (http://tinyurl.com/3drpx3), was an odd mix of facts and opinions; one post was about the business environment (http://tinyurl.com/345q4t); some were jokes (this was a blonde joke: http://tinyurl.com/39zjmw); to, well, questionably “tasteful” posts (Indian Actress Pictures hot sex )—I did not go into this post as I was not comfortable doing so—(and, no, I am NOT a prude, just not curious or interested in such posts, thank you very much). Some posts were conversational ramblings aimed at…? (Luna hates me—didn’t bother to investigate what that post even involved). It was amazing that almost every group that I visited had posts from people complaining that Rule #1- “Remember the Human” (Ross, 2005) was frequently broken. It is inconceivable that so many people would forget the Golden Rule of “do onto others…”

I did go on to one googlegroup site which I “searched” as “pets.” I then went to “rec.pets.dogs.behavior” (http://groups.google.com/group/rec.pets.dogs.behavior/topics?lnk=gschg). I logged in as “afriend4u” and posted a message about the problems my husband and I were having with our 14 year-old dog named Stoney. My post (“My Stoney”- http://tinyurl.com/38h5qc)
drew 7 messages; some were from sympathetic dog lovers; one was very informative and I will follow up with my vet on some meds that could alleviate the problems we are experiencing with Stoney (“FurPaw”); one message, I have yet to figure out (it starts out “HOWEDY afriend4u…)--I have no idea what that person is saying to me except to tell me to read a booklet that he has written. His name is Jerry Howe and I wrote back to thank him for his time and advice.

Another site that I investigated was the WELL community site. I found the introduction interesting as well as the forums that were offered (Pamela McCorduck, “The Edge of Chaos” http://tinyurl.com/2tmch9). I watched one of the videos “The Martian Report: Episode Two, Extraterrestrial Anthropologist Investigates Solar Energy”, Howard Rheingold’s Vlog. The jury is still out on that one, Ladies and Gentlemen. (http://vlog.rheingold.com/).

All and all, my experience with the Usenet was intriguing although I am not sure that I will be a “frequent flyer” there, at this point in my life; the lack of respect for others and the liberal topics of discussion are not to my liking although the outpouring of sympathy and the candor of some respondents were touching—I found them to be refreshing. Although newsgroups and googlegroups are not my favorite things to do at this time, I know that these sites are very popular with many people and I don't feel that they will decline or disappear. Because they are a pure form of "Freedom of Expression" and a great socialization tool (even though I prefer "face time"), I think that this method of communication will continue to evolve and develope into a primary factor of interconnectivity as the world becomes acclimated more and more toward a global environment.

Later, when I have time on my hands and don't have to worry about working (I am just starting a new business), I may link up to some sites and enjoy a leisure perusal of them but for the time being, I haven’t the time or the need to seek conversations with those I don’t already know well such as friends or family.

References:
Ross, S. T. (2005). The core rules of nettiquette.http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html