rfc2664.txt

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Network Working Group                                            R. Plzak
Request for Comments: 2664                                           SAIC
FYI: 4                                                           A. Wells
Obsoletes: 1594                                                 UWisc-Mad
Category: Informational                                           E. Krol
                                                                  Univ IL
                                                              August 1999


                      FYI on Questions and Answers
        Answers to Commonly Asked "New Internet User" Questions

Status of this Memo

   This memo provides information for the Internet community.  It does
   not specify an Internet standard of any kind.  Distribution of this
   memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1999).  All Rights Reserved.

Abstract

   This memo provides an overview to the new Internet User.  The
   intended audience is the common Internet user of today, thus it
   attempts to provide a more consumer oriented approach to the Internet
   rather than going into any depth about a topic.  Unlike its
   predecessors, this edition seeks to answer the general questions that
   an unsophisticated consumer would ask as opposed to the more pointed
   questions of a more technically sophisticated Internet user.  Those
   desiring a more in-depth discussion are directed to FYI 7 that deals
   with intermediate and advanced Q/A topics.  A conscious effort has
   been made to keep this memo brief but at the same time provide the
   new user with enough information to generally understand the
   Internet.

1. Acknowledgements

   The following people deserve thanks for their help and contributions
   to this FYI Q/A:  Chris Burke (Motorola), John Curran (BBN Planet),
   Albert Lunde (NWU), and April Marine (Internet Engines, Inc.).  Last,
   but not least, thanks are extended to Patricia Harper and Charlotte
   Nurge.  These ladies from South Riding, Virginia, consumer tested
   this document.






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2. Questions About the Internet

2.1. What is the Internet?

   People use computers to perform a wide assortment of tasks.  A
   connected group of computers is known as a network. Because people
   are connected via this network, they can use their computers to
   exchange ideas and information.  Some computers are connected
   directly to the network while others (primarily those in homes) are
   connected via a telephone line and a communication device known as a
   modem.  By connecting networks together with specialized computers
   known as routers, people on one network can engage in activities with
   people on other networks.  This INTER-connected group of NETworks is
   known as the INTERNET.

2.2. What Can I do on the Internet?

   There is a large variety of activities that users can do on the
   Internet.  These activities include surfing, searching, sending mail,
   transfering programs and documents, chatting, and playing games.

   SURFING

   Surfing is one of the most popular Internet activities. To surf, a
   user needs a program known as a web browser.  The web browser enables
   the user to connect to a location that contains information.  Many
   locations contain links to other sites that contain related
   information.  These links are usually identified by underlined text
   that is of a different color from the rest of the text in an article.
   By clicking on one of these links the user is then connected to that
   information.  This information may be at the same location or may be
   at a different location.  This new information may, in turn, have
   links to other information.  So just like a footnote or reference in
   a print publication, links can be used to find related or non-related
   information.

   SEARCHING

   Searching involves using a special program known as a seach engine.
   There are several of these engines that are located at various search
   sites.  The popular web browsers have location information about
   these search sites.  Searching is similar to using a card catalog in
   a library.  Just as a person would look up a topic in a card catalog
   and find one or more references to that topic with library location
   information, a search engine provides the user with a list of sites
   that may contain relevant information.  This list is actually a set
   of links to these sites so that all the user has to do is click on
   the link to go to the location.  Just as different library card



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   catalogs will contain different reference cards, different search
   engines will provide different reference lists.

   E-MAIL

   E-mail is another very popular activity.  It is very similar to
   sending letters through the post office or notes and memos around the
   office.  It is used to exchange messages between two or more people.
   Because email can be misunderstood or abused, users should be
   familiar with email netiquette.  For more information see Netiquette
   Guidelines [FYI 28, RFC 1855].

   Many people also participate in mailing lists.  Usually a mailing
   list is dedicated to a particular topic or interest.  Some mailing
   lists are used to provide information to subscribers, such as product
   update information for something an individual may have purchased
   while others are used for discussion.  In the latter instance people
   participate in the discussion by sending email to a "list" address
   which in turn distributes it to all members of a list.  Abuse of mail
   lists is probably the biggest source of junk email (also known as
   "spam").  Everyone should take care that they aren't the source of
   junk mail.

   FILE TRANSFER

   Programs and documents are transferred in several ways.  The most
   common way this is done between individual users is to attach the
   program or document to an e-mail message.  Programs and documents are
   usually transferred from sites to users using the save feature of a
   web browser or the file transfer protocol (FTP).   Such transfers
   enable users to obtain a variety of programs, documents, audio files,
   and video files.

   CHAT

   Chat takes place between one or more persons who are on the Internet.
   Chatting is very similar to going to a party.  Just as people
   congregate in small groups and discuss things, chatters meet in chat
   rooms to discuss a topic.  Chat rooms are generally sponsored or
   operated by an organization that has an interest in the topic area.
   For example, an online news organization would have a chat room for
   chatters to discuss current events.  To chat one person writes a
   message which can be read, as it is being written, by the others who
   can respond to it in turn.  First time chatters should be aware that
   just as at a party where some people never say anything, so there may
   be people in the room who are just listening.  Also, just like at a
   party, some people may portray themselves to be someone different
   than who they really are.  Lastly, remember that chatters come and go



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   to chat rooms the same way people move about groups at a party.

   GAMES

   Some people use the Internet to play games. These games can be role
   playing games, action/adventure games, or online versions of old
   standbys like chess.  Some games require the user to purchase a copy
   of the game and install it on their computer, while others are played
   by going to a game site.  Just like other forms of game playing,
   Internet game playing can be challenging, entertaining, and an
   enjoyable social experience.  Don't be afraid to have fun.

   OTHER ACTIVITIES

   Other popular activities include electronic shopping, banking, and
   investing.  Many retailers describe and display pictures of their
   products on the Internet enabling people to buy on line.  Shopping
   also includes purchasing services such as an airline ticket or
   ordering groceries.  Many banks allow people to transfer funds, check
   available funds, pay bills and other such activities while on the
   Internet with an account number and ID. Lastly, many people invest
   while on the Internet in everything from stocks and bonds to real
   estate.  One word of caution, if you are using a credit card, check
   to see if there are security features in place to protect your credit
   card information.  Reputable sites should tell you how they are
   protecting your information. If you are in doubt about how your
   information will be protected, don't use your credit card at that
   site.

2.3. What is an Address?

   Two commonly asked questions these days are "What's your e-mail
   address?" and "What's the URL?"  Generally, the first question is
   asking where to send information, while the second is asking where to
   get information.  The answer to the first question is usually
   something like [e-mail].  The answer to the second question
   is usually something like "http://www.newspaper.com".  What do these
   answers mean?

   E-MAIL ADDRESS

   As stated previously an e-mail address is something like
   "[e-mail]", pronounced "MYNAME at COMPANY dot COM".  An
   email address consists of two parts that are divided by an "@" sign.

   The portion to the left is like the name line on a letter, it
   identifies a particular person and usually is composed of the
   person's name.  Typical names look like this:



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     john_doe
     john.doe
     jdoe
     doej

   The name is assigned by the system or network adminstrator who is
   managing the email system and follows rules that have been
   established by the company providing the e-mail service.  Sometimes
   the name portion of the e-mail address is referred to as a mailbox.

   The portion to the right of the "@" sign is the name of the computer
   system that is providing the e-mail service.  This name is usually
   the name of the company that owns the computer system followed by a
   "dot" and an abbreviation that represents the "domain" or group of
   names which the organization falls under.  Examples of these "top
   level" domains are "edu", "com", and country codes such as "fr" for
   France and "jp" for Japan.  When an e-mail is sent the portion of the
   address to the right of the "@" sign is used to find the destination
   computer of the email.

   URL

   A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is commonly used to identify a
   computer that provides world wide web service.  It usually looks
   something like "http://www.newspaper.com".  This address also
   consists of two parts.  In this case the two parts are separated by
   the "//".  The portion to the left means find the world wide web
   service that is located at the computer identified to the right of
   the "//".  The portion to the right is the name of the computer that
   is providing the world wide web service.  Its name is composed of
   parts that are similar to those described for the name of an email
   computer.  Sometimes the portion on the right contains additional
   information that identifies a particular document at the web site.

   For example, http://www.newspaper.com/sports/article1.html would
   identify a specific article in the sports section of the newspaper.

2.4. Are There Any Rules of Behavior on the Internet?

   In general, common sense, courtesy, and decency govern good Internet
   behavior. There is no single formal rulebook that governs behavior on
   the Internet. FYI 28 that was mentioned previously is a good guide.
   Many activities such as game sites, chat rooms, or e-mail lists may
   have rules of their own.  What may be acceptable behavior in one chat
   room may be totally out of bounds in another.  It never hurts to
   check the water temperature before jumping in the pool.  Users should
   use the same precautions before joining in any online activity.




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   E-mail in particular can lead to misunderstandings between people.
   Users should remember that the reader only has the text to determine
   what is being said.  Other conversation cues such as "tone of voice"
   and body signals like winking are not present in the text.  Because
   of this, users of the Internet have developed cues to put in the
   text.  Text techniques such as capitalization and symbols known as
   emoticons (also called "smilies") are used.

                   A typical smiley looks like this  :-)

   Additionally, acronyms have evolved over time (for example IMHO - In
   My Humble Opinion).  More information about this can be found by
   searching.  Use keywords like "netiquette" and "emoticon" with your
   search engine to find more information.

   Users should also be aware that their particular programs such as
   word processors or e-mail might produce documents and messages that
   are not readable by everyone.  Very often, a reader must have the
   same program in which a document was written in order to read it.
   So, before sending an attached document, it is a good idea to make
   sure that the intended receiver of your document has the capability
   to read it.  If in doubt, send a text (ascii) version of the
   document.