Usenet newsgroups provide discussion forums on a wide range of topics. You can read the forums from a news server installed at your site.
|
The topics are organized into hierarchies. Some of the main categories are
- alt - alternative topics
- comp - computers and computing
- misc - miscelleneous newsgroups
- rec - recreational topics
- sci - science-related topics
- soc - social and cultural topics
|
Subtopic names are always shown as part of the hierarchy
- sci.chem.electrochem and comp.parallel
|
People participate in newsgroups by contributing messages, called ÒpostingÓ, which everyone else on the list can read.
|
Some newsgroups are moderated, which means that posted messages are scanned by a human for appropriate content and style before being made public.
|
Many software packages are news readers, including Netscape web browsers - just ask your systems administrator what news server to use.
|