The TCP/IP Guide  9  TCP/IP Application Layer Protocols, Services and Applications (OSI Layers 5, 6 and 7)       9  TCP/IP Key Applications and Application Protocols            9  TCP/IP File and Message Transfer Applications and Protocols (FTP, TFTP, Electronic Mail, USENET, HTTP/WWW, Gopher)                 9  Usenet (Network News) and the TCP/IP Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP)                      9  Usenet Overview, Concepts and General Operation

Usenet Communication Model: Message Composition, Posting, Storage, Propagation and Access 1 2 3 4 Usenet Message Format and Special Headers

Unmoderated and Moderated Newsgroups

Most newsgroups are open to all to use, and are called unmoderated because a message sent to them goes directly out to the whole Usenet server internetwork. In contrast, a small percentage of newsgroups is moderated, which means that all messages sent to the group are screened and only the ones that are approved by a moderator (or moderator team) are really posted.

The purpose of moderated groups is to ensure that discussions in a particular group remain on-topic. They are often created to handle topics that are controversial, to ensure that debates remain constructive and disruption is avoided. For example, rec.guns is moderated to ensure that discussions focus on the use of guns and not on endless political arguments related to gun control and the like (which has a place, in talk.politics.guns).

Moderated groups are also sometimes used for specialty groups intended only for announcements, or for groups where the content is restricted. For example, rec.food.recipes is moderated so that it only contains recipes and recipe requests; this helps people find recipes easily without having to wade through lots of discussion. Finally, moderated versions of unmoderated groups are sometimes created when a few disruptive elements choose to post large volumes in the unmoderated groups, making normal discussion difficult.

It is possible for a single article to be posted to multiple newsgroups. This process, called cross-posting, is used when a message pertains to two topics, or to allow a sender to reach a wider audience. For example, if I live in the Seattle area and have a problem with my house, I might legitimately cross-post to seattle.general and misc.consumers.house.

This is more efficient than posting the same message to each group independently for two reasons. First, only one copy of the message will be stored on each Usenet server rather than two. Second, Usenet participants who happen to read both groups won't see the message twice. However, cross-posting to very large numbers of newsgroups is usually considered disruptive and a breach of Usenet etiquette.

Usenet Communication Model: Message Composition, Posting, Storage, Propagation and Access 1 2 3 4 Usenet Message Format and Special Headers