Networking is sharing something for someone else to use. Let's say you have a Blazsto Super-Duper Industrial Strength Pressure WasherŪ capable of drilling holes
through steel with ordinary garden hose water. Let's also say that your neighbor, Don Juan, has two inches of mildew all over his garage. Let's also say that the two of you are friends who would do anything
for each other not involving your respective spouses.You have the pressure washer that your neighbor wants. This is your resource to share. Your neighbor's mildew has recently started communicating
vocally. Don really needs your pressure washer so goes outside with a megaphone and faces towards your house. (most people use the telephone but this is an example) Don puts the megaphone to his face
and yells, 'Hey Neighbor!' at the top of his lungs. This is the transmission medium. Don's voice will travel to your ear (if he has quit smoking like you've been telling him to) and you will shout back to
his ear.
Notice also that Don yelled 'Hey Neighbor'. This is an example of a protocol rule. Typically people start a conversation by saying 'hello', 'hey' or 'hi'. You can't start a conversation by
smacking someone with a 2x4 because that is outside of this culture's protocol. We designed 'hi' to be a quick and painless way of saying 'I want to talk so listen to me'.
Once a conversation is started there
are rules to make sure that the conversation is going well; you nod your head as the other person is talking, you say 'uh-huh' and so on. If you were to fall asleep during a conversation, the other person would
check on you to make sure you are listening. Networking components work in the same way.
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