This is a partial list of newsgroups that are significant for their popularity or their position in Usenet history.
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.
news.admin.announce (moderated) news.admin.net-abuse.blacklisting (moderated) news.admin.net-abuse.bulletins (moderated) news.admin.net-abuse.email — discussion of abuse of email by spammers and other parties. news.admin.net-abuse.misc news.admin.net-abuse.policy (moderated) news.admin.net-abuse.sightings (moderated) news.admin.net-abuse.usenet — discussion of abuse of usenet by spammers and other parties.
rec
Recreation and entertainment topics.
rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated—discussion of Babylon 5 and other projects of J. Michael Straczynski.
sci
Science-related topics.
soc Discussion related to society and social subcultures. Examples include:
soc.motss— for the discussion of gay and lesbian issues. soc.org.nonprofit— for the discussion of nonprofit organization management issues. soc.rights-human— for the discussion of human rights
talk Discussion of various topics, especially controversial ones. Includes political topics as well.
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.atheism — discusses atheism alt.binaries.slack — artwork created by and for the Church of the SubGenius. alt.config — creation of new newsgroups in the alt.* hierarchy. alt.sex — the first alt.* newsgroup for discussion of sexual topics. alt.sex.stories — text-based erotic stories of all types. alt.suicide.holiday — pro-choice discussion of suicide. alt.tv.simpsons — discusses the TV show The Simpsons. alt.horror.werewolves — discussed werewolf fiction and nonhuman identity.
References