(using Tor Browser 13.0.6)
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/12/15/google-groups-is-dropping-usenet-support-and-that-is-a-good-thing/
>Google Groups is dropping Usenet support, and that is a good thing
>Martin Brinkmann
>Dec 15, 2023
>Google
>Listen to article 2 minutes
>Google announced this week that it plans to cut the ties to the Usenet in
>Google Groups. Starting February 22, 2024, Google Groups users can no longer
>post content to Usenet groups, subscribe to Usenet groups or view Usenet
>content published after February 22.
>Native Google Groups content and communities continue to be available, as the
>change does not impact them. Google notes further that it will disband its
>Usenet infrastructure. These servers can not be used anymore to interact with
>the Usenet according to the announcement.
>Google explains that activity in text-based Usenet groups has declined over
>the years. Large parts of the userbase have moved on to "more modern
>technologies and formats". The majority of content that is available on the
>Usenet is either binary files or spam, according to Google.
>The Spam problem
>While Google mentions that spam is a problem, it fails to point out that most
>of the spam posted to text-based Usenet groups originates from Google Groups.
>In fact, many Usenet regulars started to use filters to weed out anything
>that comes from Google Groups as a method to eliminate spam in their
>subscribed groups.
>The tie cutting is therefore a welcome change for many Usenet users who are
>subscribed to text-based groups on the Usenet. Come February 2024, spam will
>drop to levels that are significantly lower than current levels.
>What users can do about it
>The shutting down of the news server is the main problem for users. They need
>to find another service that offers newsgroup access. One free option to
>access text-based groups is provided by Eternal September.
>Besides having to find a new provider, users need to find a new client as well.
>Several free clients are available, including Mozilla Thunderbird, which
>supports newsgroups. You can check out Wikipedia's list of Usenet readers here.
>Content posted before February 22, 2024 continues to be available on Google
>Groups, according to Google.
>Closing Words
>Google ending support for Usenet in Google Groups and disbanding its
>infrastructure is certainly disruptive for users who used the service to
>interact with the Usenet. On the other hand, it resolves a long-standing spam
>problem that Google did nothing about.
>Now You: do you use the Usenet?
[end quote]

for example double-clicking on <news:alt.comp.freeware> works great using
a dedicated newsreader, but experts say this does not work in Thunderbird;
also, many usenet news servers have retained all or part of "googlegroups"
posted articles, so they too will have "content posted before 22 february
2024" and with the looming spam void expected after google cuts the chord,
some spam has always come from other servers so who can predict that they
won't do their level best to pick up the slack? troll farms are pervasive

D <noreply@mixmin.net> wrote:
>for example double-clicking on <news:alt.comp.freeware> works great using
>a dedicated newsreader, but experts say this does not work in Thunderbird;

What dedicated newsreader are you talking about? Are you talking about
having a browser set up with a newsreader as a helper application? You can
configure that if you want. I am using a text newsreader, rn, and so I
can't double-click on anything. This is still typical of many users today.

>also, many usenet news servers have retained all or part of "googlegroups"
>posted articles, so they too will have "content posted before 22 february
>2024" and with the looming spam void expected after google cuts the chord,
>some spam has always come from other servers so who can predict that they
>won't do their level best to pick up the slack? troll farms are pervasive

This is true, but most Usenet servers aren't incompetently run the way
Google is. Most people running servers are actually willing to actively
shut down spammers, and if not they are likely small enough that they are
practical to disconnect, unlike Google.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Scott Dorsey wrote:
> D wrote:
>> for example double-clicking on <news:alt.comp.freeware> works great using
>> a dedicated newsreader, but experts say this does not work in Thunderbird;
>
> What dedicated newsreader are you talking about?

Forte Agent can fetch by m-id. Tb previously had an add-on that
provided that necessary feature. Even the musty old Outlook Express
could fetch by m-id because of its integration w/ IE.

One of Tb's WORST features is how it 'malignantly' breaks add-ons or
extensions to the point that dev/s are disinclined to try to help w/ its
deficiencies.

The m-id fetch is one example; another is losing the enigmail extension
in favor of trying to incorporate it into Tb which is much inferior.

--
Mike Easter

On 17 Dec 2023 17:45:10 -0000, kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
>D <noreply@mixmin.net> wrote:
>>for example double-clicking on <news:alt.comp.freeware> works great using
>>a dedicated newsreader, but experts say this does not work in Thunderbird;
>
>What dedicated newsreader are you talking about? Are you talking about
>having a browser set up with a newsreader as a helper application? You can
>configure that if you want. I am using a text newsreader, rn, and so I
>can't double-click on anything. This is still typical of many users today.
>
>>also, many usenet news servers have retained all or part of "googlegroups"
>>posted articles, so they too will have "content posted before 22 february
>>2024" and with the looming spam void expected after google cuts the chord,
>>some spam has always come from other servers so who can predict that they
>>won't do their level best to pick up the slack? troll farms are pervasive
>
>This is true, but most Usenet servers aren't incompetently run the way
>Google is. Most people running servers are actually willing to actively
>shut down spammers, and if not they are likely small enough that they are
>practical to disconnect, unlike Google.

e.g. using Omnimix, Tor Browser, port 563, implicit ssl, socks version 5,
with your favorite newsreader client (e.g. 40tude Dialog, Mesnews, etc.)
instead of feeding any of these sanitized web2news links, simply double-
click on <news:alt.comp.freeware> and voila! this traditional syntax is
really more user-friendly because it invites the reader to browse in any
of these aforecited newsgroups using their favorite default newsreaders
and downloading all or part of what article headers may be available on
their preferred news servers; plus any downloaded messages will show the
complete raw message with full headers which can be filtered accordingly

Mike Easter <MikeE@ster.invalid> wrote:
>Scott Dorsey wrote:
>> D wrote:
>>> for example double-clicking on <news:alt.comp.freeware> works great using
>>> a dedicated newsreader, but experts say this does not work in Thunderbird;
>>
>> What dedicated newsreader are you talking about?
>
>Forte Agent can fetch by m-id. Tb previously had an add-on that
>provided that necessary feature. Even the musty old Outlook Express
>could fetch by m-id because of its integration w/ IE.

Okay, so what the original user was complaining about was the lack of an
add-on (is that a browser add-on or a newsreader add-on).

>One of Tb's WORST features is how it 'malignantly' breaks add-ons or
>extensions to the point that dev/s are disinclined to try to help w/ its
>deficiencies.
>
>The m-id fetch is one example; another is losing the enigmail extension
>in favor of trying to incorporate it into Tb which is much inferior.

That would seem a fair and reasonable reason to avoid Thunderbird then,
yes.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."