Usenet
Usenet, also referred to as "newsgroups", was born from what old-timers still refer to as, "bulletin boards".
A simple explanation would be to say that the Usenet is like a bulletin board where people post email-like messages that everyone can read and anyone can reply to.
Like email, Usenet is accessed by a software client or through a web page, yet it is a separate type of service from web pages or email.
By coincidence, many email programs also act as a client for newsgroups, however, there are many clients available exclusively for Usenet.
Messages are posted into categories.
Some are "moderated" and some are not.
To be moderated means to have a person 'in charge'; monitoring posts and directing the discussion, depending on how involved the moderator chooses.
When one posts a comment, it is known as starting a 'thread'.
The thread continues as people comment on the original note, or responds to a response, etc.
Lurking
Lurking is the term used for when one reads messages in a particular thread or category, but does not contribute comments.
It is custom to 'lurk' in a new category to get the feel of the culture before contributing or starting a thread.
F.A.Q.'s
Although they are used everywhere now, FAQ's, pronounced "fak" or "fax", were actually born from Usenet.
Every group has a set of rules, whether explicit or intuitive, and the Usenet is really just a bunch of groups of people.
As new people joined in, it seemed they all asked the same questions while getting into the swing of things, hence, "Frequently Asked Questions".
The standard format starts with an index of frequently asked questions.
The second part of the document then starts with the first question listed and the answer, and so on.
And so, always look for a FAQ, before asking a question.
Flaming and Godwin's Law
"Flaming" is the slang term for what happens when a conversation deteriorates to emotional outbursts and name-calling.
Godwin's Law was born of a peculiar pattern that generally develops in Usenet discussions.
To quote FAQs.org:
Godwin's Law is a natural law of Usenet named after Mike Godwin (godwin@eff.org) concerning Usenet "discussions".
It reads, according to the Jargon File:
As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.
And also, the first side to do so "loses" the debate.
On a side note, the quoted web site contains a wealth of net lore and history and is very much worth checking out in greater detail.
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