List of newsgroups

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

See also: comp.* hierarchy

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.net-abuse.email — discussion of abuse of email 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

See also: sci.* hierarchy

Science-related topics.

soc

Discussion related to society and social subcultures. Examples include:

• soc.motss— for the discussion of gay and lesbian issues.^[1]
• soc.org.nonprofit— for the discussion of nonprofit organization management issues.^[2][3]
• soc.rights-human— for the discussion of human rights^[4]

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

See also: 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.