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