I've used rn, nn, tin to access usenet through corporate nntp servers.

Nowadays I use google as it seem more reliable, if slower.

Usenet is a really great resource - the prime programming resource I use and often more helpful than books.

I use is mostly to get answers to technical questions.

Most of the time, I can find the answer to my question by simply searching a particular group. A few times, I have come up empty on searches and posted queries. Sometimes I later find that the topic has indeed been discussed, but using a different terminology. I get reasonable answers a fair amount of the time.

There is a problem with spam. There is also a problem with people posting inappropriately. There is also a problem with "regulars" in some of the groups just waiting for a perceived neophyte to come in so they can put said neophyte in his place. Finally, the search issues are just as serious with groups as they are with the rest of google, and it takes some finnagling to narrow the search appropriately.

But overall it's a great thing. I've been reading using Usenet on and off for maybe close to 20 years - since my early college years. I discovered it within a year or so of discovering Bitnet (I'm not sure if bitnet was actually part of The Internet ... I didn't actually know much about networks back then).

Anyway, the different usenet groups have different dynamics - and yet there are similarities. I'm not anticipating that you will have any trouble, but I will say this: try not to take whatever gets said personally. You may think, "My interest is purely intellectual. Why should it turn personal?" I don't know that it will, but I'm just saying, if it does, bear in mind that there are people whom you might swear live for the sole purpose of finding people they can badger. Also, there are certain personalities that are inevitably going to clash.

Still, it can be a heckuva lotta fun and it's kinda like a big university in the sense that no matter what your interests are, you can find a few people who share it.

k