How Usenet Newsgroups Are Organized
Usenet is structured using a system of newsgroups, which serve as containers for related discussions. These groups are organized hierarchically, meaning each group falls under a broader subject.
The Big 8 hierarchies include:
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comp.* Focuses on computer-related discussions, encompassing both hardware and software topics.
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humanities.* These groups cover discussions and topics such as religion and spiritualism.
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misc.* Serves as a miscellaneous category for topics that don't align with other specific hierarchies.
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news.* Dedicated to discussions about Usenet itself and news-related content.
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rec.* Encompasses recreational activities, hobbies, and entertainment topics.
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sci.* Centers on scientific discussions across various disciplines.
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soc.* Pertains to social issues, cultural discussions, and societal topics.
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talk.* Facilitates debates on controversial or open-ended subjects.
Each newsgroup is named using dots to separate its categories, such as comp.os.linux
. This format makes it easier to find and follow subjects of interest. Easynews organizes these discussions for easy searching, allowing subscribers to explore years of articles thanks to long-standing article retention.