Many of you have probably seen the banner by now when viewing content here. At least past posts will be preserved.

Those of you that typically post here and no where else, what's the plan? Reddit (r/nethack) seems to be the logical choice as it's active. Or are their other options in mind?

On Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 11:18:08 AM UTC-5, Keith Simpson wrote:
> Many of you have probably seen the banner by now when viewing content here. At least past posts will be preserved.
>
> Those of you that typically post here and no where else, what's the plan? Reddit (r/nethack) seems to be the logical choice as it's active. Or are their other options in mind?

Of course there are other ways to access and post to usenet, just that using google groups was the most convenient. I can't even remember what program I used to use back in the 90's to view/post.

On 04.01.2024 17:21, Keith Simpson wrote:
> On Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 11:18:08 AM UTC-5, Keith Simpson
> wrote:
>> [...]
>
> Of course there are other ways to access and post to usenet, just
> that using google groups was the most convenient.

(Hmm.. - okay, opinions and preferences obviously differ.)

> I can't even
> remember what program I used to use back in the 90's to view/post.

In the 1990's I used 'nn' (on Unix), a powerful simple to use text
oriented interface. When it became unusable (in the company's IT
context) I switched to 'tin' (or had it been called 'rtin'?), but
only for a short period of time. And the next decades, since then,
I use a GUI oriented newsreader, Thunderbird; the same tool I also
use for Email exchange.

There's not much difference in replying to a mail or to a newsgroup
post; clicking to the Reply or to the Followup button. Or to 'Write'
an Email or 'Write' a post. The latter even simpler since you don't
need to compose the addressee list. :-)

I recall that I liked the CLI 'nn' tool best, but getting familiar
with a GUI tool with processes similar to mailing was no issue.

Janis

In article <2d2a320f-0143-4490-a849-0763b35522b2n@googlegroups.com>,
keith.simpson1971@gmail.com says...
>
> On Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 11:18:08 AM UTC-5, Keith Simpson wrote:
> > Many of you have probably seen the banner by now when viewing content here. At least past posts will be preserved.
> >
> > Those of you that typically post here and no where else, what's the plan? Reddit (r/nethack) seems to be the logical choice as it's active. Or are their other options in mind?
>
> Of course there are other ways to access and post to usenet, just that using google groups was the most convenient. I can't even remember what program I used to use back in the 90's to view/post.

I'm using Gravity, more to the point though, you will need an ISP which
serves UseNet groups, I don't think they all still do.

On 04.01.2024 18:17, Janis Papanagnou wrote:
> On 04.01.2024 17:21, Keith Simpson wrote:
>> On Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 11:18:08 AM UTC-5, Keith Simpson
>> wrote:
>>> [...]
>>
>> Of course there are other ways to access and post to usenet, just
>> that using google groups was the most convenient.
>
> (Hmm.. - okay, opinions and preferences obviously differ.)

It just occurred to me that there was a time when many companies
changed their IT policies (for "security" considerations) and
allowed access only through a single dedicated communication port
with HTTP protocol and using a browser. In these contexts there
was no possibility to use more sophisticated applications, and
many folks used Google. The Google newsgroup interface was full
of flaws, though, and also lead to spoiling sensible Netiquette
conventions (that are obviously still prevalent by Google users).

In my book, Google's only conveniences (in Usenet/NNTP context)
were the workaround for Usenet access in stupidly restricted IT
areas and its inherent option to access the archive of posts.

I suggest to try some Real Newsreader. (And to read Netiquette.)
:-)

Janis

On 04.01.2024 18:19, Ken Sharp wrote:
> In article <2d2a320f-0143-4490-a849-0763b35522b2n@googlegroups.com>,
> keith.simpson1971@gmail.com says...
>> [Usenet access]
>
> I'm using Gravity, more to the point though, you will need an ISP which
> serves UseNet groups, I don't think they all still do.

There are also free services available (like eternal-september.org).

Janis

On Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 12:19:12 PM UTC-5, Ken Sharp wrote:
> In article <2d2a320f-0143-4490...@googlegroups.com>,
> keith.si...@gmail.com says...
> >
> > On Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 11:18:08 AM UTC-5, Keith Simpson wrote:
> > > Many of you have probably seen the banner by now when viewing content here. At least past posts will be preserved.
> > >
> > > Those of you that typically post here and no where else, what's the plan? Reddit (r/nethack) seems to be the logical choice as it's active. Or are their other options in mind?
> >
> > Of course there are other ways to access and post to usenet, just that using google groups was the most convenient. I can't even remember what program I used to use back in the 90's to view/post.
> I'm using Gravity, more to the point though, you will need an ISP which
> serves UseNet groups, I don't think they all still do.

I'll give Gravity a try when I get home. I'm on Comcast, we'll see how that goes. Seems several of the big name ISP's have blocked direct access over the years.

On Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 12:17:43 PM UTC-5, Janis Papanagnou wrote:
> On 04.01.2024 17:21, Keith Simpson wrote:
> > On Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 11:18:08 AM UTC-5, Keith Simpson
> > wrote:
> >> [...]
> >
> > Of course there are other ways to access and post to usenet, just
> > that using google groups was the most convenient.
> (Hmm.. - okay, opinions and preferences obviously differ.)
> > I can't even
> > remember what program I used to use back in the 90's to view/post.
> In the 1990's I used 'nn' (on Unix), a powerful simple to use text
> oriented interface. When it became unusable (in the company's IT
> context) I switched to 'tin' (or had it been called 'rtin'?), but
> only for a short period of time. And the next decades, since then,
> I use a GUI oriented newsreader, Thunderbird; the same tool I also
> use for Email exchange.
>
> There's not much difference in replying to a mail or to a newsgroup
> post; clicking to the Reply or to the Followup button. Or to 'Write'
> an Email or 'Write' a post. The latter even simpler since you don't
> need to compose the addressee list. :-)
>
> I recall that I liked the CLI 'nn' tool best, but getting familiar
> with a GUI tool with processes similar to mailing was no issue.
>
> Janis

Yeah, opinions and preferences will differ, and that's ok. There's a whole generation of people who never used newsreader software, or even really know what Usenet is. Google groups makes it easy to read and post. This change will probably affect traffic here and the amount of discussion. Hope I'm wrong, but we'll see.

I think I used Netscape Navigator initially, and then switched to another program. Can't remember for the life of me what that was...

On Thu, 4 Jan 2024 08:18:06 -0800 (PST), Keith Simpson wrote:
> [...]
> Those of you that typically post here and no where else, what's the
> plan? Reddit (r/nethack) seems to be the logical choice as it's active.
> Or are their other options in mind?

NNTP is a decentralized open protocol, but reddit is a centralized
corporate website, so no, is an illogical choice. Just use a real Usenet
server!

In article <un6qis$3o00q$2@dont-email.me>,
janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com says...
>
> On 04.01.2024 18:19, Ken Sharp wrote:
> > In article <2d2a320f-0143-4490-a849-0763b35522b2n@googlegroups.com>,
> > keith.simpson1971@gmail.com says...
> >> [Usenet access]
> >
> > I'm using Gravity, more to the point though, you will need an ISP which
> > serves UseNet groups, I don't think they all still do.
>
> There are also free services available (like eternal-september.org).
>
> Janis

Replying using Gravity app via eternal-september.org service. Using my
hardfought email account instead of gmail. Neat :)