As with any industry or application, a terminology evolves. The message service (NetNews) has its own 'lingo'. This document will help familiarize you with some of the common terms.

Article: A message placed on a message server is commonly called an article.

Charter: defines the terms of a message area. The most important purpose of a charter is to define the topic for the discussions that will occur in a message area. ECSI charters include a purpose (the topic), message formats (text, html), archive (duration messages are kept), moderation (how the group is run and who is welcome), distribution (is the group local to ECSI), availability (how to access the area) and any additional information.

Follow-up: is a response to a message that is posted for public review. You place a follow-up to a specific article. Your message becomes part of the thread (discussion) which everyone can read. Replies are best used when your response contains private information. Follow-ups are for public responses.

Lurk: The term means you only read messages. No one knows you're participating in a group unless you post a message.

Message: see article.

Message Area: Any of a number of places where messages can be posted. A message area generally has a single theme or topic. Having each message area focus on a defined topic enables you to participate only in those discussions in which you are interested.

Newsgroup: see message area.

Post: The action which places a message in a message area. Sometimes used interchangeable with the message itself ("your post" can mean "your message").

Reply: A response that is sent by email. Replying by email does not permit other participants to review your response. Replies are best used when your response contains private information. Follow-ups are for public responses. Use a reply (email) when you are passing information that should remain private.

Spam: Either canned meat or - in this context - the 'junk mail' that always finds its way to your in-box or the newsgroup.

Subscribe: Means you want to participate (read or post) in a discussion area. You cannot read messages in an area unless you subscribe first.

Topic: each message has a subject which should identify the topic. Messages, like paragraphs, should generally have one main topic.

Thread: A series of articles that constitute a discussion. A thread ultimately relates to a single article (and hopefully a single topic).