How To Write For Usenet

The power of Usenet doesn't lie in its technology, which has remained simple and un-tinkered with for decades.  It doesn't lie in Usenet's global reach, either.  Unlike the Web, Usenet isn't dazzling and flashy.  Everything Usenet is, for better or worse, comes from the facts and ideas contributed by millions of users, and Usenet's vitality at any given moment depends on how well this content is written and presented.

Newsgroups are fragile things.  It doesn't take more than a single crackpot with a bad writing style and too much time at the keyboard to flood a newsgroup with rambling messages, turning a useful resource into a pointless waste of time.  That's why Usenet regulars cooperate with each other, by writing in a style that makes information-sharing easy and efficient.  If you're an aspiring "netizen," learning a few simple rules will make Usenet more productive for you and everyone else.

Rule 1: Pick The Right Newsgroup

Usenet's biggest headache is spam – messages that have nothing to do with the newsgroup's topic, but are just posted to every newsgroup.  Some spam is advertising, some just the ravings of attention-starved loons, but all of it is annoying, and it makes the Usenet community very sensitive about cross-posted messages (which are posted to more than one newsgroup).

It's not that Usenet users won't tolerate an off-topic message now and then, especially from a well-known contributor that the regulars have come to know and trust.  But if you're new to a particular newsgroup, you should make sure you've picked the right place to say what you have to say.

To find the right newsgroup for your topic, use the filtering features of your newsreader software to find newsgroups that match key words related to your topic.  Single words, like "car" or "art," produce the best results.  Subscribe to any newsgroups that look promising, and sample some of the messages to see what the newsgroup is really about.

If the newsgroup has very few messages, mostly advertising and off-topic postings, it may mean that this group has very few readers; if so, posting here will just waste your time.  Keep looking for newsgroups that have a lot of activity.  Once you find one that fits your topic, it's time to write your message.

Rule 2: Use A Sensible Writing Style

Usenet regulars want to read your message – after all, that's why they're on Usenet in the first place – but it's still up to you to write in a style that's comfortable and easy to read.  If your postings are a chore to get through, you'll end up talking to nobody but yourself.  Usenet veterans prefer writing that follows these guidelines:

1. Don't write in ALL CAPS.  This is the online equivalent of shouting out loud, so use it only when you actually feel like shouting.
2. Don't type your message as one long paragraph; use paragraph breaks to organize your message into logical parts.
3. Don't overuse punctuation marks.  One question mark is all you need to ask a question.  Extra exclamation mark will not make a statement extra emphatic.
4. Good writing is short writing.  Stick to the point, and avoid long, rambling introductions or digressions.
5. Check your spelling, grammar and punctuation: Is everything correct?

Rule 3: Use A Clear Subject Line

Give your message a subject line that clearly states what the message is about.  People depend on subject lines to decide which messages to read and which to ignore.  If your message has a vague subject line, it's more likely to get passed over.

For example, if you're in rec.pets.birds looking for tips about bird seed for your African Grey parrot, the best subject line might be "Best bird seed for African Grey?"  This will attract the readers who can best answer your question, while letting those who can't be of help know that they can safely skip this message.  Vague subject lines, like "Best bird seed?" or "Advice needed" force everybody to read your message, and that's bound to waste the time of a lot of people.

You should also use the subject line to identify certain special types of messages, for example:

1. If you are offering an item for sale, begin your subject line with "FS:" as in "FS: Bird cage for large parrot, So Calif. area." (Notice how this subject line also gives enough detail to make sure qualified buyers will read it.)
2. If you're selling an item on an auction site, start your subject line with "FA:"
3. If your post is off-topic, start your subject line with "OT:"
4. Some newsgroups have additional symbols that the regulars use to identify certain types of messages.  If you want to post in these groups, be sure you understand what they mean.  The newsgroup's FAQ document (posted regularly to the newsgroup and to www.faqs.org) may explain them; if not, post a message in the group itself asking for an explanation.

Many times, a thread of discussion will begin on a certain topic, but gradually shift into a completely different topic.  If you notice this happening, it's a good idea to change the subject line to reflect the new topic, but keep a part of the old subject line, so that people can see that this message is part of the existing thread.

Here's an example: A thread about bird seed for African Gray parrots evolves into a reminiscence about a Los Angeles neighborhood where wild parrots congregate.  So, if the original subject line was:

Seed for African Grey?

You could change it to read:

Baldwin Park memories (Was: Seed for African Grey?)

Rule 4: How To Respond To Messages

If another user posts a question you know the answer to, or makes a point you'd like to comment upon, go ahead.  It's that give-and-take exchange of information and ideas that makes Usenet so valuable.  Your response will not only benefit the original poster, but other people who are following your discussion.  So make your response as useful as possible, by following these guidelines:

1. Include the relevant portion of the original message in your response.  This helps people understand the context of your response, even if they aren't able to see the original message.  Your newsreader will help with this by inserting the original message into your response in a special "quotation" format.
2. If the original message is very long, and your response will only address a small portion of it, delete the unneeded portions of the quoted material.
3. If you can cite sources that support your message, either on the web or in print, do so.
4. Some writers use acronyms in their messages.  These can be familiar to many people, such as "LOL," meaning "laughing out loud," or they can be specific to the topic of that particular newsgroup.  If you use acronyms heavily, your messages may be hard to understand by people who don't know what they mean, so consider spelling out these terms at least once in your message.

Rule 5: Keep Your Signature Short

If you want, you can configure your newsreader to add a "signature" to the bottom of your messages.  This is a repeating bit of text that many people use to provide their name, contact information, professional credentials, link to personal web site, etc.  Add anything you like to your signature, but don't let it get too long.  Try for about five lines at the most.