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Usenet Newsgroups can be one of the most useful and information
rich parts of the Internet, yet they are also the one of the least known.
They are specific forums for
discussion where anyone can participate by reading and/or posting text messages,
and binaries, such as pictures, related to the
particular genre of the newsgroup, in this case Halloween.
You will find
specific information relating to the
alt.halloween.boo and
alt.binaries.halloween
newsgroups, including a description of both newsgroups, a frequently
asked question area, information about newsgroup reading software, and
more.
NEWSGROUP READERS
To access Usenet Newsgroups you need two things:
First - The name of your ISP's (Internet Service
Provider)
newsgroups server, your username and password for your account. You will need this information to setup your newsgroup reader.
The newsgroup server name
usually looks something like: news.myisp.com.
Once you install and
configure your newsreader software and start it for the first time, it
will connect to your ISP's news server to compile a list of all the newsgroups they
subscribe to. From this list you can select the newsgroups you want to
access.
If your ISP does not subscribe to a particular newsgroup, you can
usually send their
support an email requesting that they subscribe to it.
Note - Not all
Internet Service Providers have access to the Usenet. If yours doesn't,
you can subscribe to a commercial news-server such as
Super News, for a
small monthly fee.
Second - You will need Newsgroup reading
software.
Newsgroup readers, as they are commonly called, are programs that allow
you to access, read and post messages and binary files to Usenet
newsgroups. Once you get the hang of using them they are quite easy. There are many different newsreaders available. Some are freeware
and cost nothing, others are shareware and allow a trial use before you
have to buy them. Two of the most popular are listed below.
XNEWS - NEWSGROUP READER
"XNews" is a free newsgroup reader
that has the all the features most people will need. We
like it for its simplicity and ease of navigation. For more
information or to download a free copy, visit the official
website at
http://xnews.newsguy.com.
AGENT - NEWSGROUP READER
"Agent" is a commercial
newsgroup reader that has lots and lots of features. While it is
very robust in its features, it can be difficult to master,
particularly for those new to using the Usenet. You can
download a trial version and try it out before buying it.
For more information visit the Agent website at
http://www.forteinc.com.
HALLOWEEN NEWSGROUP FAQ
ALT.HALLOWEEN.BOO
alt.halloween.boo is dedicated to the discussion of the Halloween
holiday. This newsgroup is for text messages only. Binaries files
should not be posted to this newsgroup, but to alt.binaries.halloween
instead.
ALT.BINARIES.HALLOWEEN
alt.binaries.halloween is dedicated to the sharing of Halloween
related binary files such as pictures, images, video, sound files, etc.
Text messages should not be posted to this newsgroup, but to
alt.halloween.boo instead.
Can anyone read messages in these newsgroups?
Yes, anyone with a newsreader and who's ISP subscribes to the
newsgroup can read messages posted on a newsgroup.
What if my Internet Provider does not carry a newsgroup I want?
If your IP does not carry a newsgroup that you want to access, you
can subscribe to a commercial newsgroup service for a small monthly fee.
We use Supernews.
Their service includes 400 days of binary retention, 1,000 days of text
message retention and up to 30 simultaneous connections. These features
with unlimited Usenet access only cost $10 a month at this time.
Can anyone post to
these newsgroups?
Yes, if you have an interesting story, information, technique, idea,
news, etc. related to Halloween, your are invited to post. Or, if you
have a Halloween related question, people will be happy to help you out
with it. Please remember that your message is going to be read by a lot
of people. Include all relevant information. Read through your message
before posting it to make sure that you have covered every aspect and
that there are no errors.
Who owns the
newsgroups?
No one! No one person or group in particular owns the Usenet or
the newsgroups associated with it.
How do I "Kill File" advertisers or annoying people?
All newsreaders have a function that can filter out messages from
specific posters. If someone is posting annoying messages or
advertisements your can configure your newsreader to automatically
filter them out. Check the documentation of your newsreader for
instructions.
Are political or religious posts appropriate?
No!
These newsgroups are dedicated to the enjoyment of Halloween. Nothing can
become more heated than political or religious debates. Please avoid
these types of posts, even in the guise of public information.
These types of posts should never be posted to either of these newsgroups
unless it is directly related to Halloween. There are many
newsgroups specific to these topics and that's where they should be posted.
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