List of newsgroups
This is a partial list of newsgroups that are significant for their popularity or their position in Usenet history.
As of October 2002, there are about 100,000 Usenet newsgroups, of which approximately a fifth are active. This number varies, depending on the news server carrying the newsgroups.
The Big 8 hierarchies
These are the most widely distributed and carefully controlled newsgroup hierarchies. See Big 8 (Usenet) and the Great Renaming for more information.
comp
Computer-related topics.
humanities
Topics related to the humanities (fine arts, literature, philosophy, Classical Latin, etc.).
misc
Miscellaneous topics. Examples include:
- misc.legal.moderated — A moderated legal forum.
- misc.taxes.moderated — A moderated professional tax forum open to the general public.
news
Matters related to the functioning of Usenet itself. Examples include:
- news.admin.net-abuse.blocklisting — discussion related to the use of blocklists to deal with spam and other unwanted network traffic.
- news.admin.net-abuse.email — discussion of abuse of email by spammers and other parties.
rec
Recreation and entertainment topics. Examples include:
- rec.arts.movies.current-films — The latest movie releases.
- rec.arts.movies.past-films — Past films.
- rec.arts.poems
- rec.arts.sf.tv — Discussing general television SF (i.e. science-fiction, or "speculative fiction").
- rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated — discussion of Babylon 5 and other projects of J. Michael Straczynski.
- rec.arts.tv — Television, its history, and past and current shows, i.e. the main television newsgroup.
- rec.arts.tv.soaps.cbs — discussion about soap operas broadcast by the CBS television network.
- rec.arts.tv.mst3k.misc — discussion of the TV series Mystery Science Theater 3000.
- rec.humor.oracle — Internet humor
- rec.sport.cricket — general discussion of world cricket.
- rec.sport.soccer — general discussion of world football (soccer).
- rec.woodworking — general discussion of woodworking.
- rec.arts.tv.x-factor - General discussion of the X-Factor tv show and all its worldwide editions.
sci
Science-related topics.
- Sci.bio.*
- sci.skeptic
soc
Discussion related to society and social subcultures.
talk
Discussion of various topics, especially controversial ones.Includes political topics as well. Examples include:
- talk.bizarre — a newsgroup for experiencing the bizarre.
- talk.origins — evolution-creationism controversy which maintains an extensive FAQ.
The alt hierarchy
This is the most extensive newsgroup hierarchy outside of the Big 8. Examples include:
- alt.2600 — Official group for 2600: The Hacker Quarterly
- Alt.Adoption — for adoption
- alt.arts.poetry.comments — for poetry and poetry critique
- alt.atheism — discusses atheism
- alt.binaries.boneless
- alt.binaries.slack — artwork created by and for the Church of the SubGenius.
- alt.callahans — Spider Robinson's Callahan's Place online
- alt.config — creation of new newsgroups in the alt.* hierarchy.
- alt.digitiser — discussion of the video games magazine Digitiser.
- alt.fan — fandom discussions.
- alt.gothic — a gothic newsgroup and birthplace of Convergence
- alt.horology This Internet newsgroup concerns all aspects of horology (the science of time and timekeeping, clocks and watches). Those posting to it range from novices to collectors to professional watchmakers & clockmakers.
- alt.religion.kibology — He who Greps.
- alt.sex — the first alt.* newsgroup for discussion of sexual topics.
- alt.sex.bondage — discussion of BDSM sex.
- alt.sex.cancel — set up specifically as a means of defeating newsgroup spam cross-posted to the entire alt.sex hierarchy
- alt.sex.stories — text-based erotic stories of all types.
- alt.slack — Posting relating to the Church of the Subgenius.
- alt.suicide.holiday — pro-choice discussion of suicide.
- alt.sysadmin.recovery — the Scary Devil Monastery.
- alt.tasteless — discussion of subject matter in too poor taste to be discussed elsewhere.
- alt.tv.simpsons — discusses the TV show The Simpsons.
- alt.usage.english — discussion of English words, grammar, etymology
- alt.usenet.kooks — discussion of Usenet kooks and their idiosyncratic theories.
- alt.zines — discussion of small-press publications, magazines, and pamphlets (zines).
Other newsgroups
These newsgroups fall outside of the official Big 8 hierarchies, as well as the less formal alt hierarchy. Other newsgroups can consist of geographic regions (official or unofficial), corporations, and other institutions or groups.