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An important Usenet tradition is the FAQ, or frequently asked question list. Over the years, people noticed that most newcomers to a newsgroup seemed to ask the same questions. In the computer newsgroups, beginners would ask the same computer questions; in the cat-related newsgroups, beginners would ask the same cat-related questions; and so on.
In general, people who spend a lot of time using Usenet like to help one another and answer questions. However, answering the same questions over and over (for years) gets tiresome. I'm sure this makes sense to you.
As a solution, many of the newsgroups have a volunteer who produces a FAQ containing all the frequently asked questions with their answers. Usenet has hundreds of FAQs on a large number of topics. Most FAQs are posted regularly — typically once a month — to the appropriate newsgroup. In addition, there are special newsgroups to which copies of many of the FAQs are posted. These groups are shown in the table below.
Newsgroups to which FAQs are posted
Newsgroup Description news.answers Most of the FAQs from other newsgroups alt.answers FAQs from the alt newsgroups comp.answers FAQs from the comp newsgroups humanities.answers FAQs from the humanities newsgroups misc.answers FAQs from the misc newsgroups rec.answers FAQs from the rec newsgroups sci.answers FAQs from the sci newsgroups soc.answers FAQs from the soc newsgroups talk.answers FAQs from the talk newsgroupsWhenever you start reading a newsgroup for the first time, it is a good idea to begin by checking out the FAQ. It will contain wisdom and knowledge that has been distilled from the newsgroup over a long period of time. Personally, I find the various FAQs fascinating, and I like to browse through them every now and then.
There are literally thousands of different Usenet FAQs, many of which are available on the Web, as well as within the Usenet newsgroups. Below, you will find links to several Web sites that serve as important FAQ repositories.
— hint —
On Usenet, it is considered good manners to look in the appropriate FAQ before you ask questions.
When you start to read a newsgroup that has a FAQ, you must read the FAQ before you post your first article to that group.
Continue to the next section...
Newsgroup Charters
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