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TODAY'S eTIP(TM): Taking the Temperature of a Newsgroup
A quick scan of newsgroup headers can reveal a lot of information, not only about the subjects under discussion but also about the culture and customs of the group you're about to join. They can tell you other things about the group, too:
- Do you see an abundance of current postings? If so, the group is probably active and a good place to get current information on your topic.
- Do you see a lot of spam? If so, the group is probably no longer visited by people who actually care about the subject.
- Do you see lots of nonsense headers? The group may have outlived its usefulness as a research tool and deteriorated into a social hangout or a total waste of time.
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