1. Category listings 2. Keyword search 3. Referral from (hopefully) a friend
1. The category listings start with the list of topics on the left side of the MSN Groups page.
Choose a topic of interest and follow links down to a list. The list has a few extra pieces of information. The arrow points to Activity Meters and the circle is around the lock, the icon for private group. There are other icons, most noteably the pipe for mature groups and the black glasses for MSN Cool Groups of the month.
MSN organizes the list by activity. The meters show the busiest groups. If you like a lot of activity, you would want a group near the top of the list with a meteer that is full to the right. If you want something with a slower pace , you would scroll down a little. The description gives valuable info and clues about the prospective group.
There are three basic levels of privacy. Public and public-restricted groups allow anyone to read the posts and look at the pictures without being a member. Public-restricted and private groups require Manager approval for applications. Private groups offer the most privacy. (Remember: don't put anything on the net that you want to keep private). If you want that level of privacy, choose a private group. If you want to pre-screen the group before joining, choose a public or public-restricted group.If you want to join without waiting for Manager approval, then choose a public group. Public and public-stricted are not lableed and you find them by hit and miss. If you try to join and the application has a Message to the Manager section, it is a pulic-restricted (or private) group.
2. The keyword search does not have activity meters or icons to help you choose. It does however only search public and public-restricted groups for one specific word at a time.
Think of a few keywords that are important to you. Put the most likely word in the box at the top of the left most column (circled on the graphic). Click the "Go" button. Keep entering words until you get a list to look through.The lists are organized by how frequent the keyword is in the name and description of the groups. Use the description to decide which groups to view. Remember there are no private groups listed so you can view any of the groups listed in a keyword search. The Advanced Search link under the "Go" button narrows searches by language and area (US vs World-wide). It might be handy to search for a group using a language other than English.
3. Referral from a Friend comes as an email that is generated when a friend clicks a link on the What's New page of a group. Referrals from friends have a caution on them. Make sure the email is from a friend. There are cracker schemes that use "group" apps to gather passwords. There are groups trying to build their membership that will send these emails to anyone whose address they get. That being said, if your friend likes the group, it may very well be one you would choose.
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