Discussion group
Encyclopedia
A discussion group is an online forum
for individuals to discuss various topics amongst each other. People add their comments by posting a block of text to the group. Others can then comment and respond. In the early days of the Internet
, USENET
was the most popular type of discussion group, but now discussions mostly take place over the World Wide Web
using special server software. The term discussion group encompasses web-based forum
s, bulletin board
s, listserv
s, mailing list
s, and newsgroup
s.
Discussion groups differ from chatrooms and instant messaging
because they usually deal with one topic and personal exchanges are typically discouraged. Discussion groups are often archive
d. These archives may be organized by thread
, which means all the messages that reply to a starting message can be read in some order. Participants in discussion groups should realize that what they have to say will be public knowledge for years to come. For example, Google
's Groups (formerly DejaNews) is an archive of Usenet articles dating back to 1981. Discussion group archives are sometimes the best way to find an answer to very obscure questions, such as how to fix a particular computer problem.
Internet forum
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
for individuals to discuss various topics amongst each other. People add their comments by posting a block of text to the group. Others can then comment and respond. In the early days of the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, USENET
Usenet
Usenet is a worldwide distributed Internet discussion system. It developed from the general purpose UUCP architecture of the same name.Duke University graduate students Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis conceived the idea in 1979 and it was established in 1980...
was the most popular type of discussion group, but now discussions mostly take place over the World Wide Web
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
using special server software. The term discussion group encompasses web-based forum
Internet forum
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
s, bulletin board
Bulletin board
A bulletin board is a surface intended for the posting of public messages, for example, to advertise things to buy or sell, announce events, or provide information...
s, listserv
LISTSERV
LISTSERV was the first electronic mailing list software application, consisting of a set of email addresses for a group in which the sender can send one email and it will reach a variety of people...
s, mailing list
Mailing list
A mailing list is a collection of names and addresses used by an individual or an organization to send material to multiple recipients. The term is often extended to include the people subscribed to such a list, so the group of subscribers is referred to as "the mailing list", or simply "the...
s, and newsgroup
Newsgroup
A usenet newsgroup is a repository usually within the Usenet system, for messages posted from many users in different locations. The term may be confusing to some, because it is usually a discussion group. Newsgroups are technically distinct from, but functionally similar to, discussion forums on...
s.
Discussion groups differ from chatrooms and instant messaging
Instant messaging
Instant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
because they usually deal with one topic and personal exchanges are typically discouraged. Discussion groups are often archive
Archive
An archive is a collection of historical records, or the physical place they are located. Archives contain primary source documents that have accumulated over the course of an individual or organization's lifetime, and are kept to show the function of an organization...
d. These archives may be organized by thread
Conversation threading
Conversation threading is a feature used by many email clients, bulletin boards, newsgroups, or Internet forums in which the software aids the user by visually grouping messages. Messages are usually grouped visually in a hierarchy by topic. A set of messages grouped in this way is called a topic...
, which means all the messages that reply to a starting message can be read in some order. Participants in discussion groups should realize that what they have to say will be public knowledge for years to come. For example, Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
's Groups (formerly DejaNews) is an archive of Usenet articles dating back to 1981. Discussion group archives are sometimes the best way to find an answer to very obscure questions, such as how to fix a particular computer problem.