Cyberspace is buzzing with all kinds of conversation. Whether it's as simple as an e-mail-based news group or as leading-edge as a real-time video conference, virtual conversation can be almost as good as the real thing. And sometimes -- when you assemble a cyber-group that could never meet in person, for example -- virtual conversation is even better than face-to-face discussion.

E-mail is the easiest way to converse on the Internet. It is, in fact, the most commonly used capability of the Internet. It is a convenient and inexpensive way to keep in touch with your colleagues down the hall and your friends across the ocean. Many friendships have been rekindled when old pals discover each other's e-mail addresses. Use the people-finding sites mentioned above to find old friends or make a new one.

Bulletin boards and similar discussion forums work to let you read what has been posted then let you reply with your own posting (if you care to-or you can just read the discussions). Many Web sites include bulletin boards. Among the better known and most frequently used are Salon magazine's "Table Talk" and the Utne Reader's "Cafe Utne." Internet-based "virtual communities" like Parent Soup and Electric Minds also include vibrant discussion forums. Forum One's Web site offers a search engine that can help you find discussions that interest you.

Chat rooms let you talk live with fellow internauts. The ambiance of these rooms can range from pub-like pick-up banter to serious academic discourse. America Online popularized the chat format, but it is now used on Web sites all over the Internet. The key difference between a chat room and a bulletin board is that although bulletin board postings accumulate over time chat happens right now, in real time. If you just want to talk to somebody, a chat room is a good place to start your Internet browsing.

Usenet news groups are a somewhat anarchic compendium of Internet discussions. They function like bulletin boards, but no one has authority to monitor them, so the quality (and decency) of the postings varies widely. You need a news reader to view these groups, but if you have a Web browser, it almost certainly includes the reader you need (in Netscape Navigator 3.0, for example, select Netscape News from the Window menu). Two Web sites can help you negotiate the news group chaos: DejaNews categorizes and lets you search news groups for individual postings. Liszt lists both news groups and mailing lists. Both sites include tips on how to use news groups.

As you browse, keep your eyes peeled for discussions. You will often find the best information -- and the best experiences -- when you interact with your fellow browsers.

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