there is a better chance of getting this user started in the right direction.
The page created gives the user a choice of:
Accessing the group with the traditional news URL (experienced users won't be slowed down much)
Accessing the Google Groups archive
Seeing a small sample of the latest posts via newsreaders.com (thanks to 1usenet.com)
Links to FAQs if they are at faqs.org
Instead of complaining that Usenet is getting worse, do something about it. Help direct new Usenet/newsgroup users to a resource to help them get started,
without having to clutter up your own page with multiple links, and without a big inconvenience to experienced users (the first link on the web page is a direct link to the newsgroup).
How to use this resource: (quick answer -- have a link created for you at newsgroup search page)
Just create a link to http://www.newsreaders.com/link/link.cgi?group=groupname but substitute "groupname" with the newsgroup name.
For groups on a private/corporate server, try http://www.newsreaders.com/link/link.cgi?group=groupname&server=servername
Here is a sample link to comp.test. Although you can name the link whatever you want, it is suggested that you use the group name. For example:
Use comp.test newsgroup to see if you are successfully posting articles.
If the FAQ for the group hasn't been submitted to any of the *answers groups, you can
create a link that refers to a specific page as the FAQ by creating a link http://www.newsreaders.com/link/link.cgi?group=groupname&faq=url
and substitute "url" with the actual URL.
To check to see if a group has had a FAQ submitted to one of the *answers groups, go here.
