What are alternative binary newsgroups?

Among the various types of newsgroups are those that allow file data sharing and those that only allow posting of text messages. There is also a hierarchy that allows the creation of newsgroups that fall outside of the standard newsgroup categories.

Essentially, an alternate binary group is a group that doesn’t fit easily into the overall hierarchy and allows users to transfer files to each other through their posts. They are usually accessed using NZB files to locate the desired content without classifying each post.

The main categories that newsgroups fall under cover interests such as science, recreation, computers, and various other categories. Specifically, they are: “sci” for science; “news” for Usenet information; “rec” for recreation; “comp” for computer-related discussions; “soc” to socialize; “speak” for more heated debates; and “misc” for miscellaneous topics.

Alt Binaries groups differ at the top hierarchy as they don’t fit easily into this scheme. “Alt” stands for “alternative”, which communicates to the user that any group under this classification will be specific in its theme, but not necessarily one that is easily categorized.

Alternative binaries differ from non-binary pools in that users can post and download files to and from these pools. Most of the time, these files are images, movies, or audio content. This is one of the most efficient means of sharing files online, and binary pools have seen increasing use in recent years.

Very large files can be shared among thousands of users with much less bandwidth than other file sharing technologies require. For this reason, they have become the preferred method for sharing large files. The various ways files can be verified also make them much more reliable than other methods, as does the user feedback that any post is likely to contain.

Alt Binaries groups cover a wide range of topics. Some of them are for adults and not at all appropriate for children. Other topics include specific interests that can’t fit into the other categories without a lot of shoehorning that rather ends up destroying the usefulness of the overall hierarchy system.

An example would be a group that focused specifically on the supernatural but incorporated elements of pseudoscience into many of their discussions. It is not science; therefore, putting it in the “science” category is something of a disservice to users.

Alt Binaries is one of the latest hierarchical currency categories for the newsgroup service. Originally only the other seven were available. As the use and popularity of Usenet expanded, the services decided to create this category so that all users would have a place on Usenet without being inappropriately listed in a more specific category.

These categories can be a lot of fun, especially if you specifically want wacky binary content that isn’t available in other groups. Some of these binary files include old images and video material that is very specific in its appeal.