When I was first getting involved with listservs, mail, and netnews,
I had difficulty relating to the differences.  This doesn't do
a good job of answering the newbie question either, BUT ...
 
    mail is mail and
    netnews is netnews
 
Having been around for a while now, I think I see that wisdom.
 
(Another phrase that I like is from CICnet, "Connectivity is
more than a Connection".  I think this is a play on "the total
is greater than the sum of its parts".)
 
/Pete