|
Join the community
Find out how to get to chats, newsgroups, and community forums on MSN.
January 4, 1999
I like friendly conversation.
Just not all the time. Take, for example, my recent flight home to Chicago. I was sandwiched between a dark window, and a person who clearly was running for the "Queen of Fruity Lotion and Perfume." It's
hard to talk with someone you're allergic to.
As with most public places, you generally find people who would more likely be willing to try sweetbread
than hold a conversation with you - a stranger - especially if you smell like a fruit cocktail. But the Internet makes it easy and fun to talk with people you don't know. MSN Web
Communities is full of lots of people to talk to - and they want to talk to you, too.
Chat
It's the one place for communities on the Internet we all know and love. For years, chats have been providing a
place for people to talk in real time. You don't have to worry about how you look, you can wear your pajamas to the party, and you don't have to deal with anyone's overwhelming
fragrances!
Our community site allows you
to browse MSN Chats, User-Created Chats, and start your own chats using a Web interface. If you prefer, you can always use your favorite chat utility to connect to the chat server at chat.msn.com.
The Boards
Newsgroups are also a great place to hold a conversation. Same rules apply, except you're posting messages to a virtual "bulletin board." The
advantage is that you're not only talking to those who are there when you are, but everyone who visits can run across your post. You can reply to existing posts creating a message
"thread" or start your own. On MSN, you'll be taken to this world using Microsoft Outlook Express.
Forums
This is where it all comes together. You can use the MSN Web Communities site for general forums, or check out the forums on MSN
Computing Central for technical topics. Forums provide special content and information on a variety of topics, guide you to their respective newsgroups and chats, and tell you
about special events and guests on the network.
MSN Web Communities feature
everything ranging from serious discussion about UFOs, politics, sports, or more relaxed places to learn hobbies. MSN Computing Central has forums to discuss everything from telephony
to the open-source operating system Linux.
Whether you're looking for a
friendly conversation about music or a heated debate about foreign policy, MSN Communities put you in touch with people like you.
Getting Started
There are a few great places to get you going...
|
.gif){kind=small}
.gif){kind=small}
