Here are some links with instructions on how to use newsgroups and forums:

Newsgroups:

I like to think of newsgroups as "public emails." When you send an email to a newsgroup (this is referred to as "posting a message") it is available for all those who are logged into that newsgroup to see. In almost all newsgroups that message can also be responded to by the readers to either the group or to the message writer personally.

A moderated newsgroup is one where each message posted is subject to review and/or rejection by a moderator or group of moderators. Some moderated newsgroups have moderators who must view every message before posting, some moderated newsgroups allow every message to be posted, then the moderator(s) delete inappropriate messages that appear.

The purppose for moderating messages is simple: Eash newsgroup is on a certain topic, each post should in some way conform to that topic. When there is a post that is "off topic" (sometimes referred to as "OT"), it dilutes the effectiveness of that newsgroup for its memebers.

Some moderated newsgroups have a closed membership and posting is only allowed by "approved" members.

To search for a newsgroup in your topic area, use the search function built into your newsgroup browser.

Some other things you should know about posting to Newsgroups:

• Do not send unsolicited commercial postings
  
  Except where it is explicitly allowed, newsgroups do not allow posting of advertising messages. Posting of a brief "signature line" promoting your site is considered appropriate in almost all newsgroups.
  
  
• Mask your Email Address
  
  Any email address posted on a newsgroup is available to basically everyone in the world. If you want to reduce the amount of junk email you receive, you need to either NOT post your email address and say something like "reply to group" (meaning you will read any replies in the group) or mask your email address so that spam robot harvesters can't get the correct address. Masking is a simple process of using that address "john@REMOVE-TO-MAILall-in-one-business.com" followed by the comment "to email me remove the part "REMOVE-TO-MAIL" from my address. This allows people to respond to you personally without responding to the group but still keeps you from receiving robot harvested spam.