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NewsgroupsPrivate Web AreasMore |
What are newsgroups?
Can't everybody already read and post to newsgroups on Usenet?
I can't find the SFF Net newsgroups on Usenet.
I can't find any private SFWA newsgroups on SFF Net.
I can't start a newsgroup for me in the "people" hierarchy.
How do I know which newsgroups to read?
Do I have to use a special program to get to the newsgroups?
What's a newsreader?
Where can I get a good newsreader?
Can't I just use my browser's newsreader?
I'm from AOL and I can't get SFF Net newsgroups at all.
Can Web TV and Lynx users read these newsgroups?
I followed all your instructions and I still can't see any private SFWA newsgroups.
What are newsgroups?
A newsgroup is like an electronic bulletin board or messaging system. Usenet
has thousands and thousands of newsgroups and millions of users. SFF Net is
a private, non-propagated news server (that means its newsgroups are not available
on Usenet, and Usenet newsgroups are not available on SFF Net) with hundreds
of newsgroups and hundreds of users: a much cosier place than Usenet. It is
an online community for people who like to read, write, and talk about genre
fiction. SFF Net public newsgroups
are available to everyone, not just to members of SFF Net and/or SFWA.
Can't everybody already read and post to newsgroups on Usenet?
Yes, certainly. But SFF Net is a private news server, available only through SFF Net.
I can't find the SFF Net newsgroups on Usenet.
That's because SFF Net's newsgroups don't propagate: that is, they are not made available to Usenet.
Occasionally, some news service will scan through the SFF Net's public newsgroups and
repost the messages on a Usenet feed without permission, but any
responses posted from Usenet will never be seen on SFF Net.
You have to be on SFF Net's server to join in the community conversation.
Note: Private newsgroups such as the SFWA areas are not publically readable so they cannot be
picked up by such a news service scan. They are not available anywhere but from the SFF Net news server.
I can't find any private SFWA newsgroups on SFF Net.
That may be because you are logged in as "anonymous"--or not logged in at all. Private areas won't show
up until you have successfully logged in to SFF Net first.
See this helpful page to test your SFF Net username and password and gain access to the private newsgroup areas using WebNews.
If you are using a newsreader, please see SFF Net's helpful pages on How to Set Up your System to read the newsgroups on SFF Net. These include information on providing ID and password so that the private groups will become available.
I've forgotten my username and password.
SFF Net can reset your password for you.
I can't start a newsgroup for me in the "people"
hierarchy.
If you are a paid member of SFF Net--Pro, Basic, or Virtual--you have a right to a personal newsgroup of your own in the "people"
hierarchy. However, if you did not check the box for one when you signed up,
and you've now decided you want one, you'll have to write to SFF
Net tech support to get it.
How do I know which newsgroups to read?
That's entirely up to you: what you're interested in and how much time you
have. It's important to remember that newsgroups are not always easy to classify.
Some newsgroups have hundreds of new posts in a day, while others are very low-traffic
except for certain times of the year. Some newsgroups have fairly focused discussion
topics, while others are less formal and may range wildly in tone and scope.
SFF Net newsgroups are a lot like Usenet newsgroups in that the best way to learn about a newsgroup is to lurk. A lurker is someone who is subscribed to a newsgroup but does not post. It's like going to a party where you don't know everyone there--you wander around, getting a feel for the room and the conversations, and then join in when you feel comfortable. Or you can simply continue to lurk and never post at all. Most of the newsgroup titles are fairly self-explanatory, and you may wish to ask some of your fellow SFWAns which newsgroups they find most useful, but the best thing to do is observe for yourself. Don't be in a hurry to judge, particularly in newsgroups with heavy traffic. Give yourself enough time to really see what a newsgroup is like before you decide to unsubscribe.
Do I have to use a special program to get to the newsgroups?
You won't necessarily need a program you don't already have. You can use your
Web browser, either via WebNews,
or by using the browser's built-in newsreader. Some users find those methods
quite satisfactory. Others prefer a dedicated newsreader. There's a list of
freeware and shareware ones for various platforms on SFF Net's
"Recommended Software for SFF Net" page,
complete with links to download them, and information on setting them up for use.
What's a newsreader?
A newsreader is a program designed specifically for reading Usenet and other
newsgroups, such as SFF Net newsgroups. Many users find dedicated newsreaders
more suited to the task than browsers. They have bells and whistles that most
browser newsreaders don't have, including ways to mark messages read or unread,
ways to filter out threads or people or subjects you don't like or find boring,
and ways to see only one spam where there are many (but on SFF Net spam is a
rare occurrence, rigorously guarded against and discouraged).
Where can I get a good newsreader?
There are links to downloadable browsers, freeware and shareware, for many
different platforms, on SFF Net's
"Recommended Software for SFF Net" page.
Can't I just use my browser's newsreader?
You can. The only difficulty will be authentication: with some browsers,
it is difficult to get logged in as yourself instead of as a guest, and
if you are logged in as a guest, you can't see the private newsgroups. However,
you can use your browser (not its newsreader, but the browser itself) via
WebNews. Netscape users can
use the authentication specifically
provided for them by SFF Net. You can learn more about browsers, newsreaders,
how to get them, and how to get them set up, on SFF Net's
"How to Set Up Your System" page.
I'm from AOL and I can't get SFF Net newsgroups at all.
Apparently AOL puts some stumbling blocks in the way of members who want to use
a different newsfeed from the one they provide. There is specific help at SFF Net
for people coming from AOL.
Can Web TV and Lynx users read these newsgroups?
WebNews works well for both Web TV and
Lynx users.
I followed all your instructions and I still can't see any private SFWA newsgroups.
There are several possible reasons for this. If you're using a dedicated newsreader, check to make sure you've instructed it to login with username and password. If you had not done that, do it now. Then shut it down and start it up again, so that it will log on with your password this time.
Or you may just need to refresh your groups list. With different newsreaders, this is done in different ways, but if you look around among the "online" menu options you should be able to find it.
If you're using your browser, the same solutions may work: if you have been logged onto any SFF Net private area with a different ID and password, you'll need to reboot your browser to get the news server to offer you a new chance to enter your ID and password. If rebooting the browser doesn't seem to work, try reloading the page in question.
If you've tried all the suggestions above and you still can't see any private areas, please write to techsupport@sfwa.org. Please describe your problem in detail and describe all the measures you have taken to try to solve it. Please don't forget to say what newsreader or browser you were using, and what you were trying to do. "I can't get into the private areas" isn't very helpful: we can't tell from that whether you want into a newsgroup or a Web page, what you've tried, what application you're using, or even who might best be able to help you. Please be clear and specific. We will be glad to work with you until you have access to all the private areas, including newsgroups, to which you're entitled.
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