Usenet, the OG social network, rises again like a text-only phoenix

Re:Usenet, the OG social network, rises again like a text-on... by reidrac on Thursday August 31, 2023 @12:40PM (#37339965)

> sign up for a free Usenet provider

Sorry, but you make it sound like there are many. That allow posting, and free, I think I only know one.

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Re:Usenet, the OG social network, rises again like a text-on... by mindcrime on Thursday August 31, 2023 @01:04PM (#37340391)

Sorry, but you make it sound like there are many. That allow posting, and free, I think I only know one.

It's been a while since I looked. I could have sworn there were at least a handful, but either A. I might be mis-remembering or B. the landscape might have changed since I checked last.

That said, there seem to be quite few who offer cheap if not actually free access. And by "cheap" I mean, on the order of $10.00 (USD) / month or less.

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Re:Usenet, the OG social network, rises again like a text-on... by dvdkon on Thursday August 31, 2023 @03:22PM (#37342390)

I don't think 10USD/month for access to a forum is anywhere near cheap or even reasonable, no matter how big it is. I can't imagine anyone paying that for non-warez Usenet access.

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Re:Usenet, the OG social network, rises again like a text-on... by kxrm on Thursday August 31, 2023 @03:48PM (#37342755)

That pricing is definitely targeted at users who use usenet to trade binary files.

If you do not care about binary files then use https://www.eternal-september.org, it's free.

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Re:Usenet, the OG social network, rises again like a text-on... by sigio on Thursday August 31, 2023 @04:34PM (#37343340)

Get a provider with a block account... 1GB will last forever on text-groups, and block accounts usually go for 10-1000GB for a few bucks

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Re:Usenet, the OG social network, rises again like a text-on... by fluoridation on Thursday August 31, 2023 @03:22PM (#37342392)

That seems rather expensive given the service being provided, i.e. read-write access to a text-only discussion board. Where's all the cost going?

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Re:Usenet, the OG social network, rises again like a text-on... by ZWoz on Friday September 01, 2023 @12:56PM (#37353332)

Most paid services have binary feeds. Those few, who offer text-only groups don't have big enough client base to make service cheap.

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Re:Usenet, the OG social network, rises again like a text-on... by ZWoz on Friday September 01, 2023 @12:41PM (#37353119)

In the last few years some Usenet providers are closed their doors. Aioe.org was pretty popular and known, disappeared this year. One of few ISP-s still offering Usenet access for clients, Finnish Elisa, closed their usenet server 2021. Russian neva.ru was sadly closed (probably forced by goverment) 2021 (I group it with free servers, because it had read-only access open for everyone and some point allowed posting). Albasani.net disappeared 2020. Some free servers are still around, but don't offer public accounts. Few places give account, if you ask. Eternal September is strongest-biggest still running and free service. Mixmin allows anonymous posting, but sometimes restricts it to fight with abuse. Google still relays groups to Usenet, though they have their own thing going and some servers are blocking posts from google.

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Re:Usenet, the OG social network, rises again like a text-on... by hkt on Thursday August 31, 2023 @02:21PM (#37341583)

https://sdf.org/?faq?USENET?03

Not free, but a few dollars for ARPA membership for life is good.

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Re:Usenet, the OG social network, rises again like a text-on... by reidrac on Thursday August 31, 2023 @02:34PM (#37341786)

I'm on sdf-eu. Not sure SDF has external groups anymore, they may do. Just double check because the website has had outdated info before.

AFAIK the best options are https://www.eternal-september.org/ and https://usenet.blueworldhosting.com/ (read only though).

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Re:Usenet, the OG social network, rises again like a text-on... by throwaway14356 on Thursday August 31, 2023 @03:14PM (#37342309)

http://www.eternal-september.org/

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Re:Usenet, the OG social network, rises again like a text-on... by ogurechny on Thursday August 31, 2023 @11:12PM (#37346371)

> Subject: Free News Servers Listing

Web interfaces:

https://www.rocksolidbbs.com/rocksolid/article-flat.php?id=8...

https://www.novabbs.com/rocksolid/article-flat.php?id=715&gr...

Check the alternative hierarchies and connection options while you're at it.

The difference, I suppose, is that Google Groups are run by autopilot with nobody in the cockpit, Eternal September doesn't ask the average user too many questions (it is as accepting as its name suggests), but those small server admins will ask you questions if you start posting crap, and will delete it, and ban the account.

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