Unlike chat rooms, these Internet services are not "live." Individuals post messages about a specific topic that can be read and responded to by others. These groups exist for almost any topic imaginable - some O.K., some not O.K.

Remember that when you post to a newsgroup, you are sending e-mail, and your e-mail address is then publicly available for all to see. Do not post any message to a newsgroup that you would not want the public to read.