The internet has web sites, mailing lists, newsgroups, bulletin boards, and chat rooms. If you're new to computers, It can all be very confusing. When you're ready to start surfin', check out Mimi's list of On-Line (Computer) Doll Clubs and the Best of the Web. In the meantime, let's see what the differences are:

• Web Sites:

  A web site is a collection of electronic "pages" that you may browse through. Different pages at the same web site are "linked" with buttons or underlined words that you can "click" to take you to the page for the subject described on the button or underlined words. You are now "browsing" Mimi's Dollmaker's Paradise, a web site operated by Mimi.

• Mailing Lists:

  A mailing list is a way that you can send an electronic mail (e-mail) message to many people at the same time by sending the message once to the mailing list's server (or robot) for re-mailing. You do not even need to know the e-mail addresses of the people that you are sending to — the list server takes care of that. Similarly, you receive messages from other members of the mailing list automatically from the list server.

  A mailing list always has a specific topic (such as dollmaking). The mailing list may be moderated or unmoderated. On a moderated list, all mail first goes to the moderator who decides which messages are actually posted to the list. Also, the moderator may edit messages and add comments. On an unmoderated list, whatever you send in your message goes on the list.

  All mailing lists have owners. On moderated lists, the moderator is usually the owner. The owner of a mailing list determines who may be a member of a list. Usually, anyone who wants to be a member of a list is allowed to join and participate. Sometimes there are membership limitations to keep the size of the list reasonable. People who post abusive messages may be "unsubscribed" by the list owner.

  There are two formats for mailing lists: direct mail and digests. A single mailing list may be available in either or both formats. The direct mail format sends each message to all members as it is received. The digest format saves up messages and sends a "digest" of accumulated messages to members one or more times a day.

Newsgroups:

A newsgroup is similar to a mailing list, but instead of automatically receiving the messages, you have to ask for them. In a newsgroup, the subject line of each message is listed and you can then request the specific messages of interest to you. The messages can be grouped together by subject into "threads" of conversation. You can request that all messages on a specific thread (about a specific subject) be sent to you automatically. While this may seem inconvenient compared to a mailing list, a mailing list usually has only a few hundred members at most while a newsgroup may have thousands of members. You can think of a newsgroup as a giant mailing list where you would be swamped if you read everything, so you get to select only those messages you think might be of interest. A newsgroup may be moderated or unmoderated.

• Bulletin Boards:

  A bulletin board is exactly what it sounds like. A place where you can post public messages and others can read them and reply to them. Usually, only the subject line of a message appears on the bulletin board and you have to then request the messages that you think might be of interest. Some bulletin boards are moderated, and some are unmoderated. The difference is that on an unmoderated bulletin board your message is posted immediately and anyone can reply immediately, while on a moderated bulletin board your message must first be approved by a moderator which can take time.

  Some bulletin boards are organized like mailing lists with no order to the messages except the time and date they were posted. Some bulletin boards are organized like newsgroups with "threads" about specific subjects.

• Chat Rooms:

  A chat room is the real-time version of a mailing list. Instead of saving and forwarding messages, a chat room sends messages immediately, but only to those members who are presently "in" the chat room (on-line). It's like attending a cocktail party and hearing all the conversations at the same time — terribly confusing until you get used to it. In addition to being included in the general chat, you can also have private chats with one or more persons at the same time. In fact, you can be in several chat rooms (on different subjects) at the same time and be participating in several conversations in each chat room.

  The advantage to a chat room is that it is immediate. The disadvantage is that you and the other members usually have to meet by appointment since messages are not saved.

  A chat room always has a moderator, but the moderator does not approve each message. Instead, the moderator has the ability to control access to the chat room and to remove people who are abusive.

  There is another form of chat room that is used for teaching and interviews. In this case, all messages go to a moderator who decides which items to pass on to the teacher or person being interviewed. The comments from the teacher or interviewee are then passed back to the other people in the chat room. This format prevents duplicate questions and allows some structure necessary to teaching.

Copyright © Jim and Gloria Winer. You may make a copy of this article for your own personal use. Copying for commercial purposes is prohibited.

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