Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 23, 1994 TAG: 9410010004
SECTION: WELCOME STUDENTS PAGE: WS94 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BETTY HAYDEN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"I'd die without my e-mail," said Brady, who majors in chemical engineering at Virginia Tech.
Brady says he handles about 30 electronic mail messages a day. He's not alone: Many people have switched from regular mail to electronic mail, because a message can be delivered in a few seconds or minutes rather than days or weeks. The U.S. Postal Service also can't compete with the price of sending e-mail - there's only a minimal charge and in some cases it's free.
E-mail is just one of the services available on the Internet, a way to reach out and touch someone without spending a fortune. It doesn't even involve one of those 1-800-Call-Your-Mom-And-Make-Her-Pay numbers.
This call is placed over a modem instead of a telephone, and the number dialed is for a network gateway.
When the connection is made, you've gained access to a worldwide linkup of computer networks.
Where you go once you reach the Information Superhighway is up to you, but seasoned travelers agree it's worth the effort.
Tech students who live on campus and own a high-speed modem can hook up to the Internet free; those who live off campus pay $8.60 a month for unlimited service.
Rick Nyman, a senior in mechanical engineering at Tech, set up an e-mail account for his mother more than a year ago.
He said they "talk" more now than they did over the phone. His mom buzzes him about once a day.
The Internet offers a great deal more than speedy mail service.
Merging onto USENET, a network of about 3 million people, allows you to wade through the thousands of newsgroups dedicated to topics ranging from O.J. Simpson to computer tips to R.E.M.
Newsgroups focus on one topic, and interested parties post articles in response to previous comments, ask questions or make a statement.
Arguments, also called "flame wars," sometimes erupt when someone posts what's called a flame message.
For example, a David Letterman fan who posts a message panning Jay Leno in the Leno fans' newsgroup is asking for trouble.
"Think before you type. Don't even get involved in flames," Brady said. "It doesn't add to anything."
While some newsgroups spend their time debating the finer points of popular culture, others debate personal and social issues.
One student, who asked that his name not be used, said he disclosed his homosexuality on the Internet in April, something he hasn't done in public.
Members of newsgroups that focus on gay and lesbian issues offered him support and reassurance.
"They let you know you're not the only one to go through what you're going through," he said.
The community spirit of the Internet also means people can get their questions answered on a variety of topics from math problems to the best way to get around New York City to dream interpretation.
Leslie Fowler, a senior in mechanical engineering at Tech, often "visits" the network's File Transfer Protocol sites to download free software. She gets information about her computer, asks questions in one newsgroup and follows engineering trends in another.
The Information Superhighway isn't all facts and figures. It can also branch off into Lovers' Lane.
Drew Dickerson, a journalism major at Radford University, met his girlfriend, Kristina Wilder, via e-mail.
Dickerson, who says he wasn't looking for love, "met" Wilder when her roommate was trying to contact his roommate.
Wilder, a respiratory therapy major at Indiana's Ball State University, asked Dickerson out in one of her messages and traveled to Radford to meet him.
The couple met in a Radford Burger King and have dated for the past year and a half. Wilder did bring a friend with her to that first meeting, just in case Dickerson hadn't been honest about himself.
While some people plug into the Internet for its social value, others use it to tap into vast databases, including the Library of Congress, Supreme Court rulings and weather forecasts.
Still others enjoy playing backgammon, solitaire or any of the various fantasy role-playing games available.
For beginners, using the Internet may mean sending e-mail and surfing through newsgroups, but informative road maps and guide books are available at local bookstores and network veterans are usually willing to steer you in the right direction.
The best way to learn is to leap into cyberspace and stumble around until you can find your way home.
Christian Toto contributed some information to this story.
by CNB