Electronic Forums
Newsgroups: Students can use them in ways they like
By Wylie Yeo
Currently, there are more than 6,000 newsgroups. They serve two major functions — as public and academic forums.
Since 1991, The Chinese University of Hong Kong has been pioneering network interconnectivity among tertiary institutions. Of the 6,000 newsgroups, 200 were initiated by the Chinese University.
Local newsgroup topics range from the issues concerning a single university to the rise in fees for tertiary education.
Miss Polly Tang, a Year 2 student at Lingnan College, said, “I read news in newsgroups so as to get information. They are much faster at providing information than print media.”
Mr. Chung Chi Kong, a Year 2 computer engineering student at the Chinese University, said information about new products are also posted on newsgroups. For example, he can get information on computer games from newsgroups.
Sometimes, newsgroups can be students’ “private tutors”.
Said Mr. Johnson Yip Kim Fung, a final year student at the Chinese University: “Once I had a problem about a computer programming language. I posted it on the corresponding newsgroup. Soon, I received replies.”
For the Faculty of Engineering at the Chinese University, lecturers and tutors post their announcements on newsgroups.
Students can also post their academic problems. Other students and tutors may then offer help. Thus, many students read newsgroups regularly.
Mr. Tam Tsz Kit, a Year 1 student in the Systems Engineering and Engineering Management Department at the Chinese University, spends half an hour reading newsgroups everyday.
“I mainly seek information about assignments, quizzes and examinations of my major courses in the newsgroups,” said Mr. Tam, who started the habit of reading newsgroups since he entered the university.
Some newsgroups users spend three to four hours a day communicating with newsgroups. They say they get a lot of personal satisfaction there.
For example, Mr. Benjamin Tsang, a Year 2 student at the City University of Hong Kong, posts his short stories on newsgroups.
“I like writing funny stories. Nevertheless, I have never given them to any publishing company. The (traditional) channels for creative stories are inadequate.
“If I send them articles, publishing companies just throw them away.
“However, if I post my stories on newsgroups, I can leave them there and let other users read them,” said he.
Articles posted to newsgroups are supposed to be relevant to the newsgroups’ aims or themes. However, these aims are not clearly defined.
Also, aside from computer system operators, there is no authority censoring articles in newsgroups. There are advertisements, foul language and pornography on some newsgroups.
Nevertheless, Mr. Tsang does not agree that censorship should be imposed on newsgroups, because users should be able to enjoy a large degree of freedom of speech.
He said, “The system depends on self-censorship and mutual censorship among users.”
On the other hand, students who post messages with foul language may have their computer accounts cancelled by their respective universites.
Some newsgroup users may even develop friendships.
Said Miss Tang: “Users can share their laughter and tears in newsgroups. They may even gather regularly.”
Mr. Tsang once joined a barbecue party organized by a group of active newsgroups users, so-called “net-friends”.
When he introduced himself by his family name, the crowd was puzzled. Soon someone recognized him as Mr. Kam Tim Yat, the nickname he uses in the newsgroups.
Some users look forward to further development of newsgroups.
“Now,” said Mr. Tsang, “many users are demanding more detailed classifications and diversity of newsgroups.
“When Internet has become more common owing to the decreasing prices of personal computers, newsgroups can be better developed.”
Miss Tang of Lingnan College agreed. “I hope to see a more well-organized structure for newsgroups. Now, a single discussion topic in newsgroups may prompt over 200 replies a day,” she said.
