What are newsgroups?

[IlanaK]

And how do you subscribe to them? Sorry for the thick question!

I haven't subscribed to news groups for years but sometimes access them through Google Groups

Alternatively you can subscribe to receive regular downloads of messages, using your email software. Best thing to do is look in your Help file of whatever email software you are using.

Newsgroups are fantastic, IMO, as they are so focussed on one area. But some are very intolerant of people who do not understand good netiquette and, unless you are fully confident of your ability not to stuff up, it's worth lurking to see what the peculiarities for any particular groups are.

If you are desperate for an intense debate on breast/bottle or circumcision then parenting newsgroups are the place to go. I once used a car newsgroup to find out what was wrong with one of the lights on my car.

Enjoy

Is it the same as Yahoo groups? I belong to a few of those. I think what I am looking for is some sort of email alert to any news story that is on a specific topic. Is there some way of doing this?